with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty, hi-ho, Silver, the Lone Ranger. The Indian companion Tonto, the masked rider of the plains, led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations, and nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. 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, there's danger on the trail ahead. Boot Kelly was going home. Leaning against the bar in the almost deserted Silver Dollar Cafe, he realized for the first time in his life how pleasant the thought of home could be. Home. The old ranch in Blue Bonnet Valley. His brother Kless and Kless's wife. Yes, from this moment on, he was through with back trails and owl hoot friends. It was then that Boot noticed the cat. A large gray cat slinking along the back bar among the stacked bottles. He would have given the matter no more thought, for he hadn't heard the cafe door open behind him, but suddenly the cat stopped mewing and stared directly over Boot's shoulder. Then Boot heard a voice, low and level. Turn around, Boot. Keep your paws bar level. Spider Bane. Why, sure, spider. Anything you say. That's better. You got the drop on me. If it hadn't been for that cat, I never would have known it. What cat? See, right over there. In the back bar. Yeah, I see. You're sneaking. Oh, my arm. Now I'll do the talking. Hey, Barkeep. Yeah? Yes, sir. Set up a couple of drinks for me and my friend, Spider Bane. Maybe I should say Sheriff Bane. Yes, sir. Right away. And take that cat away. Disturbs my friend here. Yes, sir. Here, kitty. Come on. Something you wanted to speak about, spider? I heard you were in town. I came here to tell you to get out. Yeah? Why? We don't want any owl hoots in our town. Your drinks, gents. Thanks. And if this town don't cotton owl hoots, what are you doing here? That's different. I'm a lawman. Yeah, yeah. I heard about it. Hire a wolf to catch a wolf. Is that it? My past record ain't no secret. But I'm on the law side now. So am I, spider. I'm going home. What? You heard right. I'm going home, hang up these guns, and settle down to ranching. You mean over in the valley? Spread my old man used to own. Belongs to me and my brother now. He's been working alone for the past ten years. Yeah, I know. What? I mean I heard about it. Does your brother know you're coming back? No, he ain't laid eyes on me for over ten years. I'm going to surprise him. Heard he was having some trouble with some rustling hombres down there. You know anything about that? No, no, I don't. If it's the truth, I'll put a stop to it. Pronto. Hire a rustler to catch a rustler, huh? What the... I see what you mean. Well, Spider, I'm not going to hold that remark against you because from now on I want to be a friend to lawmen. All lawmen. Even an ex-gunhawk like you. And you're going to keep moving? Get out of here? Sure I'm moving. I don't like your town anyway. Only got one more stop to make before I head for the ranch. Yeah? Where are you stopping? Over in Blue Bonnet tomorrow night. Going to get myself shaved and splicked up before I walk into my brother. Good idea. So, uh, let's finish this drink. We'll make it a drink to you. I hope you're a better lawman than you were an outlaw. Why, you... Now don't get riled up. Just remember to keep your eyes on the other man's hog leg and not on stray cats. Sure, Booth. Don't remember. So long, Spider. Keep that tin star shining. I'm going home. That's what you think. When I get through with you, you can't go home. You spoke at the Silver Dollar. Said you left word for me and Taggart. Yes, I did. Sit down, boys. What's up? Either of you remember Boot Kelly? You mean Boot that used to run with the old Stevens gang? Yeah, and then he let out for himself. Think he did some time up in Arkansas. That's him. Boot was mighty fast with his guns. That's what I heard. Yeah. He still is. Hey, you got your shoulder bendaged. What happened? Slug from a .45. Boot Kelly squeezed the trigger. Well, I'll... So Kelly's in these parts, huh? Not now. He was just going through. How come he was slinging lead at you, Sheriff? It doesn't matter. We've got a lot more than that to worry about. What do you mean? For the past six months, things have been running pretty smooth. With me holding down this law job and you two as my deputies, it's been a good cover-up. Most of the beef we've been rustling lately has come from the ranches over in Blue Bonnet Valley. Sure. Tomorrow night, we're all set to grab two or three hundred head from the Kelly spread over there. What of it? Should have been a cinch. Don't either of you hardly see any connection between Kless Kelly's ranch and Boot Kelly, who went through town this afternoon? Same name, that's all. They're brothers. Boot is on his way home to settle down. That's a good one. Boot Kelly settling down. Why that ornery gunslinging sidewinder couldn't settle down... He can do plenty. He won't be as easy to fool as these dumb ranchers. He'll know every rustling trick as well as we do. Maybe better. Well, let's stop him. That's what I intend to do. And do it inside the law. No bushwhacking. What do you mean, Spider? I want both of you to saddle up and line off for Blue Bonnet right now. I'll follow you later. We've got to be over there tomorrow night anyway. What's the idea of us going on ahead? To hunt up Boot. Like as not, you'll find him in a barbershop getting slicked up before he goes out to his brother's ranch. I thought you said no bushwhacking. Wait till I get through telling you what to do. This Boot Kelly likes to play jokes on people. That's why he'll fall for this one. Huh? What is it? You've heard of a lone ranger, ain't you? Well, sure. What's he got to do with it? Nothing. But we'll make Boot think he has. Right then is when Mr. Kelly walks into some lead. It was early the following morning when Boot Kelly arrived in the town of Blue Bonnet. He'd been on the saddle almost 18 hours, so as soon as he'd stabled his horse, he rented a room and slept until sundown. Then he visited the local barbershop. And while he was waiting his turn in the chair, he overheard two men talking. It sure is a shame about old class Kelly, ain't it? Kelly? What's the matter with him? Nothing now. It's going to be when he stands up in front of that meeting of the Cattle Raisers Association down at the Oasis Cafe tonight. Yeah? How's that? I thought you knew all about it. No. Tell me. Well, you know how the stock's been rustled out of the valley here lately. Almost every ranch has lost 100 head or more. Yeah? All the cattlemen got together about a month ago and tried to figure out some way to stop it. That's when Kless Kelly stuck his neck out. What do you mean? Kless said the only way to stop the rustling was to send for the Lone Ranger. Lone Ranger, huh? That's a blame good idea. Sure, but the hombre never showed up. Now all the other ranchers blame Kless for it. He promised the Lone Ranger and he can't deliver. It's too bad. I need to be in his shoes at the meeting tonight. So did I. Well, that's Mosie down in the cafe, huh? Yeah, good idea. All right there, stranger, you're next. What'll it be, haircut or shave? Who were those two gents that just walked out of here? I don't know. A couple of cowhams, I guess. He'll sit right down here. I want to talk to him. Hey, how about that shave? Some other time. I'm busy now. Hey there, just a minute. Couldn't help overhearing what you said back there in the barbershop. What's that? About Kless Kelly. Is that right? Is he in a tough spot because he can't deliver the Lone Ranger in front of the Cattlemen's Association? Sure, that's right. Me and my friend here were just saying what Kless ought to do is to get a hold of some hombre and put a mask on him and pretend he's the Lone Ranger. Ranchers would never know the difference. Yeah. I was just thinking the same thing. How come you're so interested in Kless Kelly? Because I was figuring on surprising him. Now this way, I can help him, too. Yeah. Yeah, I guess you could. Well, if I only had one of them black masks like the Lone Ranger would. That's funny. I've got one right here in my pocket. I figured I'm giving it to Kless. No, no, no. Let me have it. All right. Thanks. What time is that meeting tonight and where will it be? Oh, this is Cafe, nine o'clock. Now don't say anything to Kless about this. I'll walk in there and help him out of the fix he's in. And I've got another surprise for you. We won't say a word. Well, you're powerful anxious to help, Kless Kelly. Why, anyway? I'll let you know later. If you're going to be at the cafe... Don't worry. We'll be there. Almost nine o'clock when Tonto and Dan Reed rode into Blue Bonnet. They reined up their horses before the hitch rack in front of the Oasis Cafe. Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. I guess this is as good a place as any, Tonto. One ranger said to stop here in town and asked someone about the trails leading south. And he reigned since full moon. Maybe trails washed out. Yeah. Where'll we go? Into this cafe? Ah. I'll ask the bartender. Maybe he'll know. Say, mister, can you tell me if we're on... We don't serve any drinks to Indians or kids. They're better of a moose. We don't want a drink. We want to find out about some trails. Say, look at that. What's wrong? The hombre that just walked in the door. He's wearing a mask. Donald, look. Ah. Hmm. I'm looking for a jet named Kless Kelly. Where is he? Mask. What is this? Maybe it's a holdup. Where's Kless Kelly? Who wants to know? Tell him the Lone Ranger's here and wants to see him. The Lone Ranger? So that's why he's wearing a mask. What's he doing here? Why don't you stop trying to fool these people, Boot? We know who you are and what you are. Well, you're the one who... Where's Kless? Is he here? You're nothing but a two-bit outlaw trying to stick up a cafe. Why, you... You're caught in the act. It's a good thing for the rest of us that there happens to be a lawman like Sheriff Bain standing right in bag of you. Bain? Spider Bain is... I got you covered, Boot. This is one time you won't outdraw me. Frame up and I walked right into it. That cheap outlaw always yells, frame up. You dirty... Double cross... 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 to continue our story. The frame up and the attack caught Boot Kelly wholly unprepared. Suddenly, several bullets seemed to find their mark at the same time. The next instance, Boot Kelly was stumbling backward toward the door of the cafe. His guns were silent, as were those of the man who'd been blasting him. He's walking out. Don't worry. He won't walk far carrying all that lead. Was that the Lone Ranger? He was wearing a mask. Never saw one man get hit so many times. Hey, Sheriff Bain, was that hombre the Lone Ranger? No, of course it wasn't. Just a masked outlaw me and the boys have been trailing. Know his name? Sure. It's Boot Kelly. Or it was Boot Kelly. You mean Kless Kelly's brother? Yeah. It's a lucky thing the boys and me were here when he tried to hold up this place. I wonder why he made that speech. Asked for Kless and said he was the Lone Ranger. He tried to throw you off guard. If one of my deputies hadn't recognized him, he would have had the drop on everybody another minute. Yeah, I guess so. Hey, uh, Barky. Yeah? You better send somebody for the coroner. Tell him there's an owl hoop full of lead lying down the street somewhere. He can't be very far away. Say, Mr. Barton, if you want somebody to go for the coroner, I'll do it for you. You still here? All right, kid, you can go. Know where the coroner lives? Oh, I can find it. Come on, Tonto. Golly, Tonto. That's the worst gunfight I've ever seen. Ah, that plenty bad. Three men against one. I wonder why I tried to make him believe he was a Lone Ranger. I may not know, Dan. And do you hear what he said when that deputy sheriff yelled at him? Called him Boot Kelly. Said something about a frame-up. Ah, me hear him. If we could only... Hey, look, Tonto. That's him lying over there on the ground. I guess he's dead. Oh, gee. He's a big fella. He's torn off that mask. Ah, him's got many bullets. Hurt plenty bad. Yeah, but he's still alive and... Tonto. Ah? There must have been some reason for him to pretend he was a Lone Ranger. You can take care of his wounds as good as a doctor can. Let's take him to our camp and see what the Lone Ranger says. Ah. You wait here. Me bring horses. The Lone Ranger was greatly surprised when Dan and Tonto arrived in camp carrying a wounded outlaw. Tonto bandaged boot Kelly's wounds and made him as comfortable as possible. But the Lone Ranger could tell from Tonto's manner that there wasn't much hope for the wounded man's recovery. Do you feel any better now? I... I did cash in all right. I must be dreaming. You're badly wounded and we've tried to help you. I know. Lots of slugs in my chest. What makes you think so? I remember walking into that cafe before Spider Bane and his skunks double-crossed me. It was gonna surprise my brother Kless. My God, I was a Lone Ranger. Yes. And now slugs in the head because you look just like the real Lone Ranger. Tell me. Your name is Kelly, isn't it? Boot Kelly. Yeah. You're an outlaw. You used to be. I was gonna quit. Get right with the law. I was on my way home. Why did you pretend to be the Lone Ranger? That was their idea. I'm enough to fall for it. Who do you mean, they? Oh, them sneaking deputies of Spider Banes. I can figure the whole thing now. When they told me my brother had sent for the Lone Ranger to help him stop rustling here in the valley, I believed them. Dirty sneaking. How could you help your brother by pretending to be someone you're not? I was just gonna surprise him for a minute and take off the mask. You see, Kless never had much use for me because I was an outlaw. I figured I could run down the rustlers and... Have you any idea who they are? Stranger. I walked into that cafe I didn't know. A hundred to one. Yes, I know. Everybody thinks he's reformed. That's how he got the job. But it ain't true. He's the one who's doing the rustling. That's why he set a trap for me. From what I know, Spider Bane, you may be right. But that's why he and his gunnies are in blue bonnet tonight. They figured on getting me out of the way and then rustling some steers. The moon has just risen. I'll wait until it goes down. Boot, how far is your brother's ranch from here? Too far for me to ever get there. When Kless hears what happened, he'll never know I was coming home to settle down. But I wanted to be right with the law. Yes, he will. I'll see that you get home and I'm sure Kless will understand. How do we get to his ranch? Straight east. Till you pass a spring near Chimney Buttes, the west line of the ranch. Bring up the horses, Dan. Sure. Boot, you ride double with Tonto again. Hurt plenty bad. Yes, I know, Kimo's hobby. The only way we can help is to try to get him home before he dies. Do you think he's right about Spider Bane and rustling? I don't know, Dan. But I'm going to finish the job this man started to do. You mean find out the truth? He was shot down while pretending to be the Lone Ranger. I'll see what luck I have pretending to be Boot Kelly. A short time later, just as the moon sank behind low-lying hills, the Lone Ranger, Dan and Tonto, who was supporting the injured Boot Kelly in his saddle, reined up their horses near a spring at the foot of giant Chimney Buttes. Oh, Victor. Easy, Tom. Easy. This is the spring he told us about. We'll stop and water the horses. Oh, golly. Water sure looks good to us, doesn't it, Victor? Take it easy, Dan. Don't let him drink too fast. How's Boot, Tom? Is he any better? Let me think him stop too many bullets. Boot Kelly not get home now. You mean if he would live long enough to help you lift him out of the saddle, little fella? Right here by the spring. Finally reached the fence line of his brother's ranch. Uh, him. What's the matter, Tom? Listen. We hear men move other side of Chimney Rock. I can't hear them, but move closer and see. Wait here with the horses, Dan. Sure. All right, Tonto. You lead the way. You stay down here a ways, Jim. Tiger and me will ride back and cut those peas out of the herd. And head him over this way. Right. Kelly was right. Uh-huh. And me no other men. They shoot men in cafe tonight. We're back here with the cattle. Uh-huh. Ride the blue bonnet. Tell the sheriff there that if he wants to capture the men who are stealing steers from the valley to form a posse. You ride with him. Uh-huh. Me go. I'll send Dan to the Kelly Ranch house. Now hurry, Tonto. And what do you do, Kimo Sabe? What boot Kelly would have done if he had reached home alive. You, Mr. Kelly? Place Kelly? That's right, son. What do you want? If you want to help capture the wrestlers who have been stealing all the stock here in the valley, come with me to the west line fence near the chimney buttes. What's that? Capture the wrestlers? Who are you? Your brother's over there. It was his idea. My brother? You mean boot? Yes, sir. Boot can't be here. He's in prison someplace up north. No, sir. He came home. Came home just in time to help you. The sheriff and a posse will be there, too. Well, I'll be. You wait here just a minute, shorty, till I get dressed. Then I'll saddle the horse and we'll ride. Hey, that's Jab, Sager. Where's Jab? He's supposed to watch that side. Hey, Jab, Jab. Down the no-town critters, man moose. Hey, Spider, look. Watch. Oh, oh, oh, boy, oh, oh. Right over there on that hill. It's... Why, it's boot Kelly. Can't be. Kelly's dead. We shot him. It's him or his ghost. Look, he's still wearing that mask. I can't believe it. He's drawn down on a spider. Look. We'll see how that buzzard can still walk. But if he wants more lead, I'll give it to him. You missed him. He's still there and he's coming this way. Get out your gun and start blasting. You close in. All right, boys, let's corral them varmints. Get up there. Boss, he's got them surrounded. They won't get away. You know who the rustlers are? Sure. The sheriff, Spider Bain, and two of his deputies from the next county. Spider Bain, a double-crossing lawman. No wonder we couldn't get a line in the varmints. Come on, let's ride over there. I want to see my brother boot and thank him. No, you go ahead, Mr. Kelly. I'll wait here. Good. Get up. Oh, oh, boy. Oh, there. Hello, Sheriff. Class Kelly, you're a little late, but in plenty of time to see these buzzards to be corralled. You know who it is? Spider Bain and his two deputies. Got them hog-tied and handcuffed. Yeah, somebody just told me who it was. Where's Boot? Where's my brother? Boot did a mighty fine job, Class. Fine job of shooting. I saw it with my own eyes. It's a shame. What do you mean? Where is he? Over there on the ground with a spring. He's not... You mean dead? It's the second time tonight these buzzards gunned him. First in town at the cafe. Then he must have known what they were doing because he trailed them out here and sent an engine to get me and the boys. Yeah. Well, I've always prayed that Boot would come home someday, but I didn't want it to happen this way. There's only one thing I can't figure out, Class. What's that? I saw it myself. He stood over there on the hill and shot it out with these skunks. But why was he wearing a mask? Why was he still pretending to be the Lone Ranger? What I've just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
