The speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-yo silver. The Lone Ranger. The Transcontinental Railroad was one of the most important factors in the winning of the West. The railroad was of prime importance to the future of the country. But powerful forces, cattlemen, stagecoach lines, and steamship companies opposed it. Outlaw opposition sprang up. And the Lone Ranger was commissioned by the President to lead the fight against the enemies of progress. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, Silver. Prepare for St. Joe. The government was building a railroad. Straight from Omaha, west across the plains and the Rocky Mountains, all the way to the Pacific coast. A ribbon of steel to tie the country together. And all over the country, railroad men were busy getting workers to do the grading. To lay the rails and hammer the spikes into the ties. Just outside the sprawling town of St. Joseph, Missouri, close to the river, a railroad agent named Dan Kincaid was talking to a group of men. Yes, sir. That's what I'm telling you. You'll get good pay and good food. Sign up to work for the railroad and you'll see the West. Clear out to the Buffalo Country. Yeah, mister, but what about Indians? Don't you worry about Indians, partner. Colonel Parkman's in charge of the construction job. He's had plenty of fighting experience and he's got specially trained soldiers to handle the Crow or the Sioux or any band of redskins. You tell them, Kincaid. Who cares about Indians anyhow? I fought at the Battle of the Wilderness. Reckon I can drop a pickaxe and use a rifle anytime. Mister, you're the kind of hombre we want. Come on now, everybody. Just step right up and sign. Work for the railroad. Reckon you can count me in, mister. Now, how about the rest of you? The main outfit is up at Omaha. The tracks are already late as far as Fort Kearney. I sign up now and you get a steamboat ride on the River Queen up to Omaha. Then you ride by train to the end of the line. Mister, it takes cash to ride the steamboat. I can't afford it. Afford it? Partner, it's free. Every man who signs up here now doesn't pay a copper to ride the River Queen. The railroad pays all transportation. I think you gents are loco. Me, I'm heading for California. There's gold in California. A man can dig up more gold than an hour. It's going to make you in a year swinging a pick on the Central Pacific. Don't be a fool, mister. If you chase after gold, you chase a shatter. There's more men starved to death looking for gold than was killed in the whole Civil War. Now sign up for the railroad. Good food, good pay. And you get paid every week. Sign up. Come on. Sign up for the railroad. Hey. Hey, look out, gents. Here comes a flock of cowhands looking for trouble. What's going on here, Kim? Rain up, you horses. Get away. This is a peaceable meal. We all like peace of wildcats and stable jets. Ride them down. There's a river below us, Tonto. Shines in the moonlight. Ah, it looked plenty quiet. There's several miles above St. Joe. Miss Barkley ought to be somewhere near here. Oh, we not fear. He must hurry. That's Miss Barkley's signal, Tonto. This way. Come on, Silver. Get him up, scout. You see, girl? Up ahead, Tonto. You notice that patch of cottonwood beside the river? Ah, but, Father... Just beyond it, look. That right, you see horse and rider. That's Miss Barkley. Teddy Silver's Teddy War. Boom. Hello, Miss Barkley. Hi. Good to see you again, Lone Ranger. You're a long way from Omaha. Yes. I came on one of the downriver trips aboard the paddle steamer. There's been trouble in St. Joe. I knew there must be trouble. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been necessary if you'd have come to this meeting place we'd arranged. You've been here every night? Just at this time, listening for you as we decided. I knew you'd hear me. Now, what's wrong with St. Joe? Dan Kincaid, one of our employment agents for the railroad, held a meeting yesterday to hire more men. Yes? A group of wild-riding cow punchers broke the meeting up, shooting off their guns and yelling like Indians. Shooting? Anyone hurt? Not with bullets, masked man. They fired into the air. But a few were ridden down by horses. Kincaid has a bruise on his arm as big as a horseshoe. Oh, that's not real trouble. Cowhands not mean to make trouble. That's where you're wrong, Tonto. At least according to Kincaid. What do you mean? Well, Dan is certain it was part of an organized plot to break up the hiring of men. The plot against the railroad? You know there are powerful interests that don't want to see the railroad completed. The stagecoach lines, the big cattlemen, the steamship owners. Yes, the triangle. But they're honest men. They wouldn't stoop to unlawful means. Perhaps not. But there may be one or two of them that aren't honest. Oh, I see. That's plenty bad. The railroad needs thousands of men. If this goes on, Colonel Parkman says he won't have enough to lift a length of rail. Where is Dan Kincaid now? He's staying at the Missouri Hotel. That's on the edge of town. Townsend is happy where hotel is. Good. And we'll say adios, Miss Barkley. Otto and I are going to ride into St. Joe now. With your mask. It's late at night. We'll be careful. You don't know how much it means to the railroad. Having you help us. The railroad means a lot to our country, Miss Barkley. Without it, the land along the Pacific might become a separate nation. That must never happen. Tell Colonel Parkman he'll get his men. Adios. Adios. Get him up, Mr. Carl. Goodbye. The Lone Ranger. Somehow, I'm sure he'll help Dan Kincaid. Help! Help! Help! Help! Help! Sure gave me a start waking me up in the dark, mister. From what you say, I reckon you're a friend. Otto's below the balcony with the horses. Tell me the rest. There isn't much time. Kino. Like I was saying, I've got a feeling that little raid by those cowhands was planned in advance. Who was their leader? I don't know. It all happened too fast. Then what makes you suspect? The way one of the gents listening to me was acting. One of your listeners? Yeah. I found out his name later. A fellow named Slade. No matter how loud I talked, he was always busted in with talk about engines. Or how much easier it was to make money prospecting for gold than working on the railroad. And what's more, as soon as those cowpunchers rode up, he jined in with them, knocking over tables, scattering the blanks for hire, and shouting and yelling. Slade, huh? He's here in St. Joe? Yeah. Spends most of his time across the street in the River Gambling Hall. You can't mistake him. He's got a scar mark on his face like a spur. Kincaid, how's your shoulder? Huh? That bruise. You sure know a heap, mister. I won't ask you where he learned it, though. I'm a mite stiff, but that's all. And you're not giving up? Giving up? Mister, Colonel Parkman sent me out to hire men. You can't build a railroad without workers. Before I give up, there won't be any water in the old Missouri. That's the way to talk, Kincaid. I'm starting in tomorrow, and I'll get those men. I'll make right certain I hold the meetings where they can't be busted up anymore. And you can forget about Slade. I can? You can leave him to me. Oh, I savvy. The way you talk, I'd sure hate to be in Slade's boots. Thanks again, and... Yes? Who are you, mister? There's a little moonlight coming in. I can make out your mask. Perhaps this will answer you. What's this? A bullet. I don't savvy. Why, jumping fireboxes. It's a silver bullet. You're the Lone Ranger. We'll meet again, Kincaid. The Lone Ranger. Mister, it's sure an honor to... Outlaw, get him, hurry. What in blazes? Tonto, he's in trouble. Where's my guns? I'll help you. Ow. I'm as stiff as a dead center drive wheel. Adios, Kincaid. Give him what for, mass man. Tonto. How are you? Where's the outlaw? Up on the balcony. Look out, he's jumping. You'll land right in saddle. Ride for it, Tonto. Too many of them. Don't let him get away. Pour a light out of him. Yeah, I came right out here as soon as I got light, Dawson. Those hombres outside the Missouri Hotel was a Lone Ranger and his engine par, Tonto. You sure of that, Slade? Sure as I got a spur mark on my face. Like I told you, Dawson, I walked out of the River Gambling House to get a breath of air. You saw him, huh? Well, I seen the engine and the two horses. Caught a glimpse of a big gent heisting himself over the balcony. And that was enough? Yeah, it was for me. The mass man's white stallion couldn't be mistook. I've seen that horse before. You'd never forget him. So I figured right away the ranger was calling on Kincaid. I hightailed back into the hall and yelled there was outlaws in town. Mighty fast thinking, Slade. Mighty slick, too. You figured nobody would know the Lone Ranger. Yeah. All they'd see would be a mast hombre and an engine. Outlaws, far as they could see. So I got two dozen men boiling up, thumbing back their hammers, ready to pour bullets. You think any bullets hit him? Nah. The Lone Ranger sailed off that balcony like an eagle making a stoop. Lit right in the saddle and off they went. Too doggone fast for us to do a thing. Then the Lone Ranger knows. How much? That's what's worrying me. He knows as much as Kincaid does. More, most likely. He can put things together. Well, we'll just have to worry about things as they come, Slade. Right now it's Kincaid. Has he left St. Joe? I don't know. We sure busted his meat in Highway and Handsome yesterday. That don't signify a thing. You think he'll keep trying? He's no tenderfoot, Dawson. Kincaid don't give up easy. Well, it's our job to make him give up. That railroad's got to be licked. Say, uh, Dawson. Yeah? Who's, uh, paying us? Huh? I said, who's paying us? What do you care? I'm handing you cash to do your best to prevent men from hiring out to the railroad. You've got the cash. That's enough. You're being paid, too, aren't you? Sure. Me and this whole crew of hombres dressed up like cowhands. What of it? Well, I'd like to know who the boss man is. Slade, get this and get it straight. Don't ask questions. Oh, now, Dawson. You hear me or do you want your neck twisted some more? Oh, let go. You savvy? Yeah. Yeah. No more questions. Kino, I ain't curious no more. Besides Slade, I don't know myself who's paying the cash. I just pick it up at a certain spot with orders, and that's all. Kino, I reckon I'd better head back to St. Joe and see what Kincaid's planning next. Yeah, Mosey, and it wasn't tarnished. It's a steamboat whistle. The River Queen. This must be one of Kincaid's tricks. Hey, you gents, hit the saddle. Ride your horses. We're heading for St. Joe. There's been no damage to the steamboat, no fire, anything like that. The reason I had that whistle blown was to collect you men again. You recollect yesterday my meeting was sort of busted up, but I'm going right ahead. I'm hiring men for the railroad. The River Queen's already taken plenty of men like yourselves up to Omaha to work on the railroad. I need 200 for this trip. Who's ready to hire? Count me in again, mister. I was going to sign yesterday when them cowpunchers rode in here. I ain't changed my mind. So that's his scheme, Slade. I'll get the boys and bust this one up, too. Don't be loco, Tussle. It's out here on the war if you can't write in on this. Yeah, I reckon you're right. Come on, let's get out of here while we can do some thinking. The way they're signing up, you'll have 200 men inside of a week. Yeah, once they leave on the boat for Omaha, there's nothing else we can do. That's what I'm saying. Can you picture how fast a gold rush would bust up this hiring? One side, mister. Oh, sure, sure. Come on, Slade. We'll head for the River Gambling Hall. I've been puzzling my brain, but I can't get any ideas about... Why, Jingo, Tussle. What's eating you, Slade? I just thought of something. Huh? Don't you recollect what that stranger said as he was leaving the meeting? Stranger? Yeah. The fellow you bumped into as we walked off the wharf. He said, can you picture how fast a gold rush would bust up this hiring? Well, so what? I don't say, but how you... Slade. Yeah, that is an idea. A dandy. Hey, come on. We got a week. Let's get the boys and get moving. This is one scheme not even the Lone Ranger can lick. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. That evening, Dawson and his band were gathered around a campfire outside of St. Joe. The two men lying flat on the ridge above them could hear a faint murmur of their voices. Yes, we don't dare get any closer, Tonto. There's not another bit of cover. That man, Slade. Yes, he answers Kincaid's description of him. The other taller man is Dawson. He was the leader of those cowpunchers. How do you know that? You forget. I put on a disguise this morning and went down to the steamboat pier. Slade and Dawson were there, the whole band. They're planning something, Tonto. We're too far away to hear what they're saying. Yes, but we can watch. Look there. Dawson, go for a horse. Then it's all still, Dawson. Right. I'll be back in three or four days. And we'll be all ready. Adios. Adios. Adios. Kim, it's heavy. Him head south. We're going after him, Tonto. Hurry up. Back to the horses. Dawson, him ride steady. Yes. He's got his horse in the canter. That means he's going a long way. And what we do? Bring it up, Tonto. Huh? Bring it up steady, Silo. Oh, oh, oh. But why are we stopped? We not follow Dawson? I'll keep track of Dawson myself, Tonto. Someone must stay here near St. Joe to keep an eye on the rest of them. Oh, that's right. Sladen gang. Yeah, you also have to report to Miss Barkley. And if Kincaid needs help... Oh, Tonto Sabi. You want me to stay, huh? Yes. I'll look for Miss Barkley along the river tonight. Tell her where I'm heading and why. And I'll move our camp, Tonto. When I return, I'll meet you there. Ah, how to do it. But Kimo, Sabi. Yes? Where'd Dawson go? I think I have a good idea, Tonto. But, well, the way to make sure is to stay with him. Now, don't forget Miss Barkley. And that's where the Lone Ranger's gone, Tonto? That's right. He didn't tell you what he suspects? No. Him say, wait till later. Well, suppose Dawson mixes up his trail and loses the Lone Ranger. Ha, Lone Ranger got I like ego. Him, Paula Dawson, anywhere. Oh, I'm worried, Tonto. Huh? That gang is up to something. And they've got money behind them, unlimited money. And they're gunfighters, too. Oh, isn't that right? Oh, but if the Lone Ranger says... Oh, well. Well, I've got to see Dan Kincaid in the morning. I hope he's hiring plenty of men. We'll need them. Yes, Miss Barkley, the hiring's coming along right fine. Got more than a hundred signed up already. Soon as we get two hundred, off they go to Omaha. You've had no more trouble? No, ma'am. That sleigh gent looks like he's licked. Only... Yes? Well, I better tell you something. Do you see this? Why, it's a silver bullet. Yes, ma'am. The Lone Ranger's bullet. The Lone Ranger? Yep. I saw him a couple of nights ago. He said he'd be around just in case. In case there was trouble? Uh-huh. There hasn't been any trouble. But the Lone Ranger's gone. And I've got no idea where to. It's... Well, it puzzles me a little. Hello. Hello. Hi. Steady, Silver. Steady, steady. Tell her know the way, Silver Town. Me hear you from far off. You lose Dawson? Steady. Dawson's on his way back. He's bringing saddlebags full of gold. I saw him when he got it. And what that means? Hello, I wore a disguise into town one morning, remember? That's right. On the wharf, I let a remark drop. I hoped Dawson and Slade would hear me. Well, I'm sure they did. And what'd you say? I mentioned how easily news of a gold strike would stampede all those men from hiring out to the railroad. Oh, you say that, but Kimo Sabi, that'd give bad men good ideas. I meant to do just that. But you... I wanted to know their plans ahead of time, Tonto. What better way could there be than to give them a plan myself? Oh, Tonto's savvy that. But what'd you do now? Get ready for them. Huh? How close is Kincaid to having his 200 men for the railroad? Him get last 10 men tonight. Won't leave in morning. What? Tomorrow morning? Huh? Kincaid's a good agent. But I didn't think we could work that fast. That means we'll have to work fast, too. Because Slade and Dawson will be making the final plans tonight. That's right. Head for town, Tonto. Find Miss Barkley or Kincaid. Where'd you go? I'll meet you there later. I have a little job of my own to attend to. You get your horse and ride it once. Tell them that they must be careful tomorrow morning. What do you mean, Tonto? That's when the men leave for Omaha. And that's what masked men say. What's this all about, Dan? Is this in your... He's the Lone Ranger's partner, Miss Barkley. I put my trust in him. Well, so do I, then. Go on. Well, masked men say, you get sheriff. Get 15, 20 men for deputy. Tell sheriff him have men in war before boat sail. Tell him to watch for men with mark of a spur on them. Mark of a spur? Huh. But Slade's the only hombre who's got a scar that looks like a spur. Well, this mark may be not scar. You tell him. All right, Injun. If you say so, I'll do it. Now, tell the Lone Ranger I'll attend to everything. Ah. Get him out. Get him out, Scout. Tonto, tell Kincaid and woman what you say. Miss Barkley, was she with Kincaid? Now, you not worry. She pretends she not know me. Good. It wouldn't do if she let it be known that she's working for the government with us. And you take care of where you go. Yes. Look, Tonto. Huh? Now, Kima, sorry, that's... Ha, ha. Tonto, think it's gold. That fool's gold. Yes, Tonto. We're going over to where those outlaws are camped. We're taking this fool's gold and we're also taking these. Oh, them brandon irons. That's right. Branding irons with a brand of a spur on them. We're going to burn this brand into every man's holster or glove or boot wherever we can. But outlaw bands sleep now. All the better. We won't disturb them. Spread that blanket. Pour these gold nuggets out on it. Saddle bags? Yes. Careful. Oh, don't want to make too much noise. I've got some saddle bags back. We get brandon irons now. We put them in the fire as soon as we came, Tonto. They'll be hot enough to leave a good, strong brand now. Follow me. Careful. Tonto, stop. I do. All right, you hombres. Get your boots on and hitch up your guns. You all savvy what we do? Yeah. We'll ride down near the wharf. You gents will get off your horses and mingle with the crowd, sort of natural likes. And when you come riding up on your horse... Yeah. I'll come riding up on my horse shouting for all I'm worth. Shouting that gold's been discovered 200 miles south of St. Joe. And I'll yank open my saddle bags and show them those gold nuggets. Dawson, when you do that, we'll start yelling ourselves. We'll yell, never mind the railroad. I'm going looking for gold. And the gold rush will be on. And inside of five minutes, Kincaid will be left with an empty riverboat and an empty wharf. His 200 men will be bitten with gold fever. Keto, that's it. Now get ready to ride you, umbrace. Sun's coming up and I... Hey, Dawson. What's that mark on your holster? Huh? Looks like it's been burnt with a brand and iron. Well, I'll be. So it has. And Jensen's boot. Look at it. Hey, and mine too. Hey, what kind of a joke is this? Slave this here brand looks like a spur. Just like that scar you got in your face. Have you been playing games? Dawson, I had nothing to do with it. Then who did? Nothing that means anything. Dawson, there's a steamboat whistle. The men will be flocking the river. We ain't got time to lose. Yeah, never mind those brands. Never mind nothing. Get your horses. You gotta be there. Yes, Miss Barkley. Isn't that right, Sheriff? Yeah. I don't say what's on your mind, but my men are on the wharf. We noticed at least a dozen gents with spurs on their gloves and holsters already. We're watching them. Good. I still wish the Lone Ranger was around, though. So do I, but he isn't. What are we waiting for, King James? I guess you better start talking, then. Yeah, I reckon so. Come on, let's do it. Come on, let's do it. Come on, let's do it. Come on, let's do it. All right, listen. Listen, everybody. Quiet down. There's all you men who are going aboard the River Queen to work for the railroad. And there's a lot of others come down to see us go. Yeah. We want to see what 200 crazy men look like. Never mind Slade, gents. He just don't like the idea of anybody working. Now, you men who are going line up here next to the gangplank. We've got your names. We will check them off. We don't want to make any mistakes. What from Thunder? Gold! Gold! What from Thunder? What's that hombre yelling? Gold, he's yelling. Gold! Gold! 200 miles south. You're lying! I just come from there, gents. The Delray Creek. Nugget's as big as your fist. Hey, I heard there might be gold at the Delray. Stranger, you heard right. I got saddlebags full of it myself. You can pick it up with your bare hands. Here, look at my saddlebags. Look at them. Look at them sparkle. Gold! That's gold! You better get there fast, gents. The claims will be all gone. Wait, it's a trick. There's no gold at the Delray. I believe my eyes, ma'am. Go ahead. Go to your railroad jobs. Me for the gold rush. Sparky, there's no holding it. Oh, Dan, what are we going to do? What in blazes? Look who's coming now. Come on, Silver. It's the Lone Ranger. Tell him, Silver. Tell him, boy. Listen to me. Listen, everyone. This man's not telling the truth. Boy, you'll touch your guns or I'll blast them out of your hands. You better do like he says. He's the best shot in the West. Sheriff, can you come here and take a closer look at Dawson's saddlebags? Why'd we glad to, mister? Sure, go ahead. It's gold. Gold? It's fool's gold. That's what it is. Fool's gold. It ain't worth a red cent. Fool's gold? I've been tricked. No, we're the ones who were almost tricked. How about it, you men? Are you working for the railroad? Yeah, of course. Slade, Jensen, Harris, the jig's up. Pull out your guns and start shooting. Well, remember this bird's got them. He gets the man. As the bad men scattered through the crowd, tried to obey Dawson's order and use their guns, the sheriff's deputies were right behind them. The struggle was sharp and brief. In a few moments, the bad men were disarmed, and the lone ranger himself had Dawson with his hands raised in the air. Here's the ringleader, Sheriff. Thanks, mister. These humblies will go behind bars. Half an hour later, as the railroad workers were filing aboard the River Queen... You've done us a great service once more. Donald and I did our best, Miss Barkley. Here's a gold in Dawson's saddlebag. You can give it to Colonel Parkman. He'll know what to do with it. I will. When you need this, call on us again. I will. Goodbye and thank you. Not goodbye, but adios. Come on, Silver. Head em up. Come on. Miss Barkley. Miss Barkley, are they leaving? Yes, Dan. Look at them ride. They sure say the railroad a heap of trouble. We're all ready to head upriver in the paddle steamer, Miss Barkley. You coming along? Yes. Yes, Dan. I'm coming. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
