a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. The leader of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. 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. It was customary in the little cow town of Dixie in Arizona Territory to start celebrating ahead of time. The annual Dixie Rodeo wasn't scheduled to start until the following morning. We're starting now. How are you gents betting on the contest tomorrow? Well, I'm an eight-eight store, my gambling man. Giving any odds, Ace? Maybe. On which events? Well, sir, now that all depends. Got a program here. I'll read them all. Let's see. Franco bustin', even money. Bulldoggin', even money. Fancy ropin', even money. And, uh... Even money. Ace stone, the big-time tin horn. Now, wait. Here's one. Teen tie roping. Who do you like in that event? Well, whose contestants? Same as every other year. Sterrett's brothers, Matt and Cal, against Bob Vane, that foreman of his, uh, Archie. Well, I suppose you'd call that a contest. Those Sterrett critters might own the biggest ranch in the territory. But they haven't got a prayer when it comes to beating Bob Vane and Archie at team roping. Sure. Everybody knows that. I'll give odds myself on that bet. Uh, eight to five? Ten to five, if you want it. Get your money down, Ace. I, uh, I'll cover it in the morning. Just line enough odds, that's all. I'll see you then. Well, uh... A gambling man. Ace Stone wouldn't bet that a Cayuse had four legs unless he counted them. Yeah. I see him heading over toward the Sterrett brothers. If they're smart, they'll offer the same odds. What'd you find out? Plenty of Bob Vane money around here. They're offering me ten to five. Good. You got the bank, old Cal. Give him some money. Sure. Here's a thousand dollars, Ace. Do you want me to bet all of them? Get as many bets as you can. First, buy a bottle of whiskey in front of Archie Potter. He's Bob Vane's foreman. All right. One drink with Archie Potter means one drunk. Hey, Matt, here comes Bob Vane dancing with his sister. They see us with... Miss Laura. Hello, Matt. I've been hoping we'd see you folks here at the dance. That so? Let's step out in the porch a minute. Lots cooler out there. All right with me. What do you say, Laura? Talking to the Sterrett brothers isn't my idea of entertainment, but I guess there's no harm in it. Oh, rejoicing, ain't she? What's on your mind, Matt? The betting odds on our team roping contest tomorrow seem to be all in your favor. No reason why they shouldn't be. Archie and I are going to win. Like to bet some money on it? Sure, but... Well, I don't... We haven't any ready cash, and you know it better than anyone else, Matt Sterrett. You and your SS brand hobbed all the winter range. We didn't ship a single steer. Well, it seems to me you can't be very sure of winning, or you'd bet on yourself. I haven't any cash. All right, you big four-flusher. I've got ten carloads of steers down at the loading pens. Let the bank appraise them, and then you match it. That's how sure I am that... Well, let's see. Ten carloads of steers. It's somewhere around $25,000. Too rich for the Sterrett blood, huh? No, I'll take that bet. See you in the morning. Just before the first event. Good. Come on, Cal. Bob, you shouldn't have done it. Those steers represent everything we own. Don't worry, Laura. Archie and I are a cinch to... Say, where is Archie? Have you seen him? Not since we rode in from the ranch. We'd better start looking. A lot depends on him staying sober. Come on. The minute I saw you, I figured you were a real smart gent. That's why I wanted to have a drink with you. Yeah? Thanks. I'd better get back over there to the dance hall. My boss might be looking for me. Boss? Who's that? Bob Bain. Me and him are entered in a team roping contest tomorrow. Oh, what do you care? That's tomorrow. There's lots of time to land. Yeah, but I ain't supposed to... Let's have one more drink. And then we'll go back. Just one more. Many miles to the east, just over the territorial border, the Lone Ranger and Toto were making camp. There was no sign of danger in the little canyon where they had stopped, so it was natural for them to remove their gun belts. It was a mistake they rarely made. A mistake they were... I'll take the horses down to the creek. Don't do anything, mister. Let me understand the fire. I'll take the paint. I'll leave your horse ground. And I'm taking these gun belts, too. I'll leave them in the saddlebag. Keep your hands up or up. But him steal guns. How can we get them? I will handle them. I ordered your campfire, and I figured you might have seen... You're searching for a pair of cans? Jim Austin. Been trailing the Jasper for six months, all the way from Montana. Is that a lawman's badge on your vest? Yeah, but you and your engine part don't have to worry. I'm no bounty hunter. All I'm interested in is Jim Austin. He an outlaw? In a way. We've got a manslaughter charge against him up in Butte. Butte, Montana. You must be Tennessee Jones, the sheriff of Butte. How'd you know? Oh, I've heard of you. Well, Sheriff, the man you're trailing stopped here just a few minutes ago. He got the drop on us and stole my friend's horse. I figured he was a foot. Found his own coyote, going lame back trail away. Which way did he head? South. He said he wanted to reach the railroad. Like his north, he was telling the truth. Austin's an outlaw, but there ain't a man on two feet who thinks more of horses than he does. I'm glad to hear it. That's what makes him so easy to trail. I know he'll be around horses someplace. Right now, I'm interested in where he leaves a horse. How about you, Sheriff? Sure. Never heard of a masked owl who'd ride in with the law, but come on. But he's not a liar. Yeah. If he'd be as honest about your shooting scrape up in Montana, I wouldn't be on his trail. Did he kill someone? Short of gambling, he claimed, was cheating him in a poker game. Tin Horn didn't die right then. Some friends took him to a hospital over in Billings. Next day, I got a letter saying he was dead. So the charge against Jim Austin was manslaughter. Did you arrest him? Yeah, he'd left town. I've been on his trail ever since. You see, well, I'll be... What's the matter? You see that handbill tacked on the fence post? All about the big Dixie rodeo over in Arizona territory? Yes. Well, if this railroad runs through that town, I know where to find Jim Austin. He never passed up a rodeo in his life. Oh, Scott. Oh, fella. Oh, fella. Here. Here, gun belts, Kimo Sabe. I'll leave them in saddlebags. Thanks, Tonto. Sheriff, I never heard of a real outlaw returning stolen guns. I'd like to talk to Jim Austin. Do you mind if Tonto and I ride with you? Suit yourself, stranger. Good. Come on, Phil. Get him up. It was almost noon of the following day when Bob Vane found his foreman back of the stock bin near the rodeo arena. Bob, did you find Arky? Yeah. I wish I hadn't. Look at him. Dead drunk. That's all I'll have left after I forfeit the bed I made with Matt Sterrett. Oh, Bob. I'd like to... Getting mad won't help. I'll go over to the cook tent and get some black coffee. Maybe that'll help Arky to straighten out. Hey, mister. Well, what do you want? I was just drifting through town. I'm a good hand with horses. Thought maybe you might... No, I can't hire any horse wranglers or punchers. I got enough to worry about now. All right. Don't get tough about it. I would just try to... What? One of the bulls broke out of the pan. He's heading across the lot. Laura. She's right in front of him. She'll be killed. No, not if we can stop him. Here, give me that rope. Got him. Help me snuff this lime before the critter drags me down to Texas. There. You saved Laura's life and got yourself that job you were asking for. Thanks, mister. Bob, what's his name? Who is he? Where'd he go? Wait a minute. One question at a time. I don't know who he is and I don't care. He's faster than greets lightning with his loop and he'll be back here at two o'clock beside me in the team roping contest. Back from where? Someplace to dig up a mask. He says the only way he can ride in public is with a mask over his face. Mask? Why would anyone want to wear a mask? Maybe he's dodging the law. What difference does it make? A lot. He saved my life. I want to thank you. Wait, Laura. You can't expect to find one cowpoke in all this crap. I can try. Bewe camped too close to town, Tonto. Whoa, whoa, boy. You found a mask to wear. Bob told me what you're going to do. Is that so? I think you're wonderful. Not only for what you did but because you're going to help my brother in the roping contest. Am I? Oh, you're too modest. Come here. There. Kiss isn't much but I do want to thank you. Not that I object. It just happens that you're kissing the wrong man. 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. While the Lone Ranger told a very embarrassed young lady that she had made a mistake, Tennessee Jones walked into the local sheriff's office. You the sheriff here in Dixie? That's right. What can I do for you? I just wanted to introduce myself. Name's Jones. Tennessee Jones. Sheriff of Butte, Montana. Here's my credential. Oh, yeah. Glad to know you, Tennessee. You here for business or a pleasure? Well, you might say both. I'd like to see a rodeo and I'm trailing a critter named Jim Austin. Well, I'll take you to the rodeo as my guest. Got a box seat in the grandstand. But I never heard of that. What does he look like? Little kind of tall, freckle-faced gent. I got a warrant for his arrest. A lot of people in town. He might be hard to find. Not if I can spot him straddling the bronc. I'd know Jim Austin's brand of riding anyway. Come on. We better head over for the big show. It's due to start right soon. Thanks, but one more thing. Do you know an outlaw in these parts rides a white stallion and wears a black mask and travels with a red skin? Never even heard of an hombre like that. What's his name? I don't know. Rode the trail with him all last night. I still don't know. Well, I'll be... You got a warrant for him, too? No. Just curious, that's all. Does the mask look all right? Sure. Anything's all right with me, kid, as long as you can twirl that rope and cut out the Mr. stuff. My name's Bob. All right, Bob. How about the entry... I just told the entry clerk to call you the mask rider. He's got you chalked up as a bronc buster and it's my partner and team roping. Hey, who's that? Playing the entry parade. Steady, boy. We're supposed to be in it. Mount up. Get up, get up. He's riding the parade. What's up? Bob Vane's got another partner. He's going to contest in the team roping. Who'd he get? Some grub-blank house folk? They were riding right behind you in the parade. Some sort of an hombre wearing a black mask. Entry clerk says that Vane just listed his partner as the mask rider. That's him now. That Jasper can rope as well as he can ride. Maybe we have got something to worry about. Say, Tennessee, didn't you mention meeting somebody like that on the trail last night? I was just thinking the same thing. That hombre's style of riding is awful familiar. Mighty familiar. It could be. By Juniper, it is. Is what? The Gentile trailing. Jim Austin. Well, I'll be... Keep your eye on him. I'll hustle over to the judge's stand. No way, Sheriff. He's listed here on the program for one of the other events. I'll wait till it's over. Team roping. Whatever that means. Don't they have team roping contests up in Montana? I guess not. Maybe I've just never seen one. Well, keep your eyes open, partner. You've got a treat coming. I want to see how Jim Austin... Ace! Where's Ace? Right here, man. What do you want? Listen, I don't know who that mask rider is. Bob Vane must have run in a ring around us. If he slings a loop like he rides... I told you that the boy... Shut up! Cal and I are on first in this contest. While we're out there, you stop Vane or that other critter. Stop him for good. So they'll have to forfeit all bets. Understand? Yeah, but how can I? Tom Vane, his partner, will saddle up an empty load and chute on the other side of the arena. What do you mean, Cal? The gates on those chutes are mighty heavy. And they work with pulleys and ropes. I know, but what could... If the rope that holds the gate was cut real sudden-like and somebody's walking in now they shoot, it might be a bad accident. That's it. Get over there, Ace. Get to work. Now, listen, Matt. I don't know what that... You better want to do what I tell you. Otherwise, the law's going to hear all about a tin-horned gambler who's supposed to be on the... No, no, never mind. I'll do it. Get going. You're going to swing the first loot. I will. Unless you... Oh, go ahead. I'd rather heal the critters anyway. Where's your horse? Over there in that empty load and chute. Better sense your saddle and mount up. Stared boys are chalking up good time out there. You've got a lot to beat. We'll beat them. I'll hear like that. The horse must be in that chute over there. I don't want him to see us. Kimo Sabi. What's wrong? Look. Fella climb upside the corral. Him got knife. Cut rope on Gaten. It's hit Austin, Fella. What do we do? The man who cut the rope, he's getting away. Follow him, Tuttle. He finds him. What happened? Shoot, Gaten. Fella hit that fellow. The kid. Knocked him over then cut his legs. Help me raise it. Who are you? Never mind that. Hold the gate. Yeah, I think one of them is a bastard. There must be a doctor around here someplace. Get him. Sure, I'll find Doc Chant. Well, I'll be here. The mask, Chant. Where'd you come from? Oh, I've been around. The Starrett brothers must have finished up. We're supposed to be out there, Bob. Sorry I let you down at the last minute. That's all right, kid. Forget the contest. Sure, I can, but you've got everything you own bet on it. You and your sister will lose the ransom. Bob, what's wrong? My partner had an accident. I'll take this young fellow's place. The Starrett brothers and the crowd will never know the difference. Well, sure. But can you team rope? I can try. Come on. Loop him. I'll take the heels on this one. Good. Swing him over. Oh, who's in the back? Oh, who there? I've got the tie lines. That does it. Oh, city boy. I don't know who you are, mister, but I never saw a rope or a horse move any faster. If we keep this up, we'll break the record. Good, city big fella. Let's try it again. You have to wash him and ride like that? Come on, Sheriff. You said you saw the gate fall on that mass critter. I did. I heard somebody say he had a broken leg. I know, sir. Bob Bain beats us, didn't he? Beat us to the tune of $25,000, which he'll never get. What do you mean? Let's go over there. Keep your gun handy. I ought to thank you. Forget it, Bob. Well, Jim, I finally caught up with you. Tell us he joned. I might have known it. Just a minute there, Bain. What kind of double-deedal stunt are you trying to pull? Everybody said this kid broke his leg before he... Let go of my arm. No red skin can make me kill. Don't go along with what you do. Come back. Well, it wasn't my idea. Matt's there. Told me to go ahead. Shut up. Get in, Horn. Now I think I understand what's behind all of this. No, I'm not going to... Shut up or I'll drill you. Shut that gun. What the... Another armory with a mask. On that gate and made it fall on Jim Austin. Evidently, he was working with or for the... You're under arrest, Matt. You too, Cal. That's right. It wasn't my fault that that happened. Just a minute. Ain't your name Ace told? What of it? According to a report up in Butte, you're supposed to be dead. I've been trailing Jim Austin for manslaughter and you're still alive. You're the armory who's going back to Montana for a long stretch in jail. I've still got a ranch with $25,000 richer thanks to you and that other man with a mask. He's the one who did it all. Laura's arranged for you to stay here with us at least until your leg heals up. And then I've been thinking I need a good man to help me run the ranch. Why don't you take the job? Oh, thanks, Bob. I'd sure like to do it. But maybe Laura might not. Well, do you think you got the idea? Does a girl have to make all the arrangements? The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
