A cloud of dust and a hearty How Silver! The Lone Ranger! His faithful Indian companion Toto, the daring and resourceful mask rider of the plains, led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. 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! The letters M.W. represented the Many Waters Ranch, but they also stood for Minnie Watterson, who owned the outfit. There weren't nearly as many M.W. steers as there had been at one time. The ranch had been through hard times that threatened to get worse. Minnie hadn't been able to pay salaries for a long time. Only two men remained, two loyal old men who were willing to go on working without pay. One of these was Baldy Vernon. Oh, jumping Junebugs. Baldy stared as two men approached. One was an Indian, the other wore a mask. Like he's not an outlaw. Here I stand without a gun. Oh, jumping Junebugs. The best thing I can do is ramboose. Oh, see me. Oh, my such lad. We're going to speak to you. Oh, look here, mister. I ain't got nothing you want. I got nothing worth stealing. Please, mister. Say it, big fella. Take it easy, old man. You see the doggone thing here that ain't any good to you, honest to you, ain't. We got nothing at all. You're mistaken about that. But we are... How don't I like water for our horses? We got no money. What's that, you see? Water? Yes, that's all. Oh, sexy lad. If water's all you want, that's easy. Jumping Junebugs, what is about all that's left on the Many Waters ranch? Many Waters? Is that what the M.W. brand stands for? Yep, also means Minnie Watterson. She's a boss. I see. I thought you was a thief or something on the count of the mask. Maybe you are a thief or something. No, I'm not a thief. You wasn't sent here by Jed King, was you? Jed King? I never heard of him. What? Never heard of King? I reckon you and the Redskins must be strangers in these parts. We are. A who, Kingfella? Oh, the ornerous, greediest, schemeless coyote that ever lived. Oh, what about that water? Our horses are mighty thirsty. Oh, sure, sure thing. Just lead your horses this way. I'll lead you right to it. Good. Come on, Silver. Easy, fella. Yeah, water's about all we got left on this stove in the outfit. We got plenty of water. Too bad there ain't cattle enough to use it. Got her feeding into a trough right over here by the house. See that trough? Yes. Built out myself. An old man Watterson was alive. It's about the only thing left around here to send a good. How she stove him. The sheds ain't no good. The grub ain't what it should be. You horny. That's Minnie. While you're talking about the bad shape we're in, you might put in a word about the two no-account Watties I've got in you and Lou. Minnie. Shut up. Stranger, I... Mass. Please don't be a liar, Mrs. Watterson. As soon as our horses are finished, we'll leave. Oh, you need to leave. I've got nothing to fear for mass crooks. Got nothing to steal. I... Judd King ain't sent you, is he? I ask him that. He never heard of King. That crooked sidewinder. Now, there's a crook. He is. Crook it as they come. It's smart enough to stay out of jail. If I had my will... Bordy, you go and find Luke. Get the brand in them doggies that's just brought in. Yes, you mean it. But I was thinking, if this gent wants to rob... Get! Oh, darn sharp way of talking, no man. I ain't throw up pay for six months. Bordy. I'm a-go on. Jump in June, folks. I don't know why I'd let you talk. Poor old fool. It's hard to be broken if I spoke kindly to him. Oh, he'd think I was letting down on account of Judd King. What has King done? Step inside, Dr. Son. Bring the redskin with you. It ain't often I get the chance to talk to strangers. Come on. I tell you how King has grabbed up ranches around here. Come on, Tonto. Go inside for a few minutes. Well, better me wait here. Watch horses. Very well. I want to hear more about Judd King. Look, ain't no sense in hurrying to get these critters branded. Ain't going to be ours for very long anyhow. What do you mean by that, Bordy? Oh, shucks. Judd King will have his spread before the season's out. Yeah, then we'll both be out in a job. Can't you think of something pleasant for a change? Who's the pilgrims over by the house? Oh, nice man and engine wanting water. Maybe come from King's place to size this outfit up. Says not? What makes you think King will persuade Minnie to sell out? King wants his outfit might have bought it. He'll find a way to get it. Hey, this is a busy day. There's another rider bearing down this way. Yep. Looks like he's come to see us instead of Minnie. That's Red Bernard. He's one of Judd King's men. Sure enough. Ho, ho there. Ho, ho. Hi there, gents. Anytime a lazy K. Wally calls us gents is something that's being wanted. Steady, boy. Any man's a gent immediately proves he ain't. You two ain't got paid frequent, have you? How'd you know? Connor Connie ain't been into town on Saturday evenings. That's the first reason. Second is Minnie Watterson ain't got no cash. We heard that she's worn out her credit at the store. Seems like women ain't the only ones that gossips, don't it, Bolly? Sure does. You boys are right quick on the comeback. Jack. How'd you like steady jobs at good pay? Cash on the line every month. Got steady jobs right here. For no pay. We are satisfied. Ah, look here, Red. What's the reason for this here call? Judd King sent you? Yeah. That's what I figured. You wouldn't come here otherwise. He's a good boss. Pays regular and top wages, too. Says he'd like to hire you two. Yeah. Figured to get us away from Minnie, huh? He figures to buy Minnie out anyhow so he'll still be working here. This place ain't for sale. So how can King buy it? I guess Minnie will sell if she can't get the cattle to market. Jess, what are you hitting at? Well, two old gents like you wouldn't stand much chance of getting the critters to the railroad. all Judd King's men stood in the way, would you? Baldy, don't that sound something like a threat to you? Look, it don't sure does. And when folks come here and begin making threats... Hey, Red, Judd King wants his here land on account of the waters on it. Ain't that so? Well? Maybe he ain't had samples of that water he isn't. Better you should take some to him. That's the ticket, Baldy? Yeah, the trough I built. Look. Jess, what are you doing? Grab a hold. Let me down. Take a good hold of his feet, Luke. I'll blow your heads off for this. Let me go. Put me down, bastard. I'll get square with you. Don't toss me in that trough. Don't do it. I can't swim. You needn't swim. Trough ain't big enough for that. I'll shoot the toy in. Not for you. Try out your cartridges. Let him go, Luke. There. Get square for this. I'll see Judd King. Wait till I tell him, I'll show you. At dusk, the Lone Ranger and Tonto were camped near the M.W. ranch. The masked man told about his visit with a courageous woman. She's had a struggle, Tonto. Judd King has managed to get many ranches, but he hasn't gotten the M.W. Well, maybe him pay a good price for it. No, he's offering only about a tenth of what the ranch is worth. Oh, there's plenty good water on M.W. Maybe that's why King want it. It is. If he controls the M.W., he'll control all the water in the valley. He can fence it, divert it from the ranchers to the south. Oh. Cut off the streams and the water holes to the south will dry up. And then cattle die. Yes, that's right. And Judd King can extend his land grabbing to the south. He'll be able to get those ranches for practically nothing. Why him want so much land? Power. He's almost insane with a desire for power. That's pretty strange. Sometimes men get more money in land than they can use. And there's nothing left for them to go after but power. They want to feel that they're bigger than anyone else. Minnie Watterson must hang on to our ranch, Toto, for the protection of the land south of here. And what we do? I've been trying to think of what can be done. I don't know what Judd King's plans are. Maybe Tonto will find out. We could learn what he's planning to do. We might be able to help that woman. Tonto go to Lazy K. We might be able to learn something. He's stuck now. While you're over there, I'll see what I can learn about the ranchers to the south. Here, Silver. We'll meet again first thing in the morning. Send a big fill-up. One silver. Now, Baldy, I asked you and Luke to come into the house because we got to hold a council of war concerning that ornery land-grabby no-account polkhead named Judd King. Sure enough, we should have been him that come to see us instead of Red Bernard. We'd have held his head under the water if it had been. By Ginger, I'd like to get the chance to pinch his neck. Pinch his neck? Yeah, with both hands. Squeezing sort of. Real hard. Never mind talking nonsense. We've got to think up some way to get the cattle to the market. How's it to be done? Yeah, gosh, I ain't no idea. Red dropped a hint that King's going to try to stop us. Sure he will. Then we won't be able to sell our stock. Won't get no cash, won't have no more credit at the store. And I can sell out a king of starved to death. How many minutes had King gotten his payroll? Twenty or thirty? Plenty to keep us from getting through the valley. Yep, more than enough. And three of us. Gosh, Miss Watterson, looks to me like that coyote has his licked. In the meantime, Judd King held a meeting with some of his men. Red Barnard was still mad about the way he'd been treated by old Baldy and Luke. Soused me in the drinking trough. That's what them two done. I'll consider it a personal favor, boss, if you'd let me be the one to throw gun lead at him. No, Red, we're not going to kill anyone. That's against the law. We mustn't break the law. We tried every legal way to get the M.W. What else can we do? Vinny's cattle has to be driven through the valley to the railroad. Isn't that right? Yeah. If we have men in the hills on each side of the valley, we can wipe them out. Maybe a couple of stray shots that connect with Baldy and Luke. If that happens, I'll hold you to blame, Red, and I'll be the one to string you up. There's to be no murder, no gunplay of any sort. Oh, and thunder, can we stop the M.W. cattle without gunplay? one. The valley that the M.W. stock is to go through to reach the railroad. Yeah, but what's the idea? We've cattle enough to block that valley. M.W. cattle can't get through. Hey, there's an idea that's a humdinger. Men's cattle can't fly over ours and can't crawl under. Not a chance of it. They can't go through the mountains that break their legs and get straight or lost. Wouldn't have a chance, would they? Not a chance. None in the world, boss. Ginger, that's a scheme that'll work. With only two men, many can't get through the valley. Not if she had a dozen men she couldn't. Not two dozen men. Boss, keep talking like you didn't notice nothing. There's an Indian peeking in the wind. 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. Red Barnard, who faced the window while Judd King outlined a plan to get the M.W. Ranch, saw Tonto was listening outside. Keep talking. I'll slip outside and grab him. I'll help keep talking. Yes, sir, boss, that's a scheme that'll work first straight. That's what we'll do. You take charge there and I'll leave it all to you. Stand where you are, Red Skin. Stop! Come back here! Did you get him red? No, confounded, I missed him. When Tonto met the Lone Ranger earlier the next morning, he explained the plans that were underway. The masked mystery rider listened and nodded slowly. Then he mounted his white stallion and rode away. Meanwhile, Minnie herself took to the saddle and helped her go get along too, we're going to sell everything. Make it as fast as you can, there ain't any more time is needed. If we don't get to the railway at on time, the train ain't going to wait for us. I'll ride behind, each of you men ride a wing. She's more good than you men be. Get over on the wing and get ahead of me. I'll fetch up the rear to ride up the laggards. If I get my cash out in these critters, I'm going to make it up to them two-faced old galoots for sticking with me like the hare. Me help you? Huh? Why, it's the engine. You want me help drive cattle? Sex alive, I could use a dozen men, but I can't pay nothing. Oh, me not want pay. I've got to ride now. You feel like riding along? Come on. Go go. Tonto rode at many sides as the cattle left the MW ranch and headed toward the valley. The old woman knew that Judd King would try in some way to keep her stock from reaching the railroad. He's ornery enough to have men in the mountains to spray my cows with lead. No, him not do that. You talk as if you know. Me know. You do? Me know what King do. What? Him fetch his cattle to valley. Put them there to graze. Well, that stopped your cows. Well, of all the dog gone it, Injun, I didn't think of that. It will, though. We can't get our critters past this if he plugs the valley. Valley's too narrow. That right. But cattle in the valley. Valley's part of the open range. I could graze my own steers there if I wanted to. Are you not worried? Oh, dracky doll. Now I won't get to the station. Ain't a chance. I'm licked. I ain't got one chance in a million. While Tano helped Minnie and the two old men run the cattle down the trail toward the railroad, the lone ranger What if it is? Who are you and what do you want? Pretty big fella. Brady, every rancher in this section is in danger. What? Judd King's going to cut off the water supply. King? Well, he can't do that. He can and he will. And you'll have to abandon your property. Without water, this land will be worthless. King can get it for practically nothing. Walls streams of Fred from the Many Waters ranch. Judd King's going to own it. Well, not while Many Watterson's alive, he ain't. Yes, but he is. Listen to me. As the Lone Ranger explained the situation, his convincing matter removed the suspicions that had been brought to Brady's mind with the mask. Brady nodded frequently and a dark scowl appeared on his face. You're sure what you told me? You can prove it for yourself. I'll do it. How many men do you hire? Seven. Not enough. I'll get Sam Hawkins. He has five men. Who else? Six on the rafter J. I'll go there. We'll need more. Now listen, come inside for a minute and I'll make a list of the ranches that have to be told about Judd King's plan. Right. A few moments later, the masked man came from Brady's house, leaped with you. He's just stuck out our way. We got a grace here. Howdy, Paulie. How's that talk over to your place? You should know you drank enough out of it. Get these long horns out of the valley and let us get past. Now ain't that just too bad? You can't get past can you? You know blame well we can't. There ain't nothing to do but turn back is it? Well this is all a scheme to keep us from getting to the station. Oh sakes ain't you the smart how do you ever guess that red will you tell me? How long do you aim to stay there? Oh we gotta take considerable time Miss Watterson gotta stay hit till the critters fatten up a might you won't get fat equation here may take a powerful long time let us get past won't you I'm sorry ma'am we gotta fatten up the herd take it to one side it's a shame we ain't more men here maybe we could do it we ain't got only us two to sort of stand watch on the herd we wouldn't be able to move it you see you say there's just the two of you well there's a couple by remembering things maybe you could drive your cows through the mountain you know play him well we can't look there come friend the mass man find time for him to come this is Watterson your cattle seems to be blocked in the valley now that's a smart observation drive it ahead and force the other cattle out yeah who's to do that driving this woman would be within her rights you know enough of range law to know that but how can we do it but us two you and the engine and Miss Watterson not enough to drive both herds ahead can't you see the rain I thought there might not be what you getting at a lot of men to the south many who don't want you to sell out to Judd King yeah what do you to do about it me I'm not going to do anything there's a man below called Brady Jim Brady you heard of him heard of him I see him that's him riding down from the side of the hill where you come from good perhaps he can help you Brady's a good man what's he doing here oh she's alive keep so we'll have a dozen of us maybe have a chance of driving cattle everything ready good whenever you give the word what word Brady what are you doing here aiming to help you sell cattle many that's all how many men are needed to drive both herds ahead and out of the valley oh twenty or more how many men have you Brady forty two what forty two is this a joke it's no joke what are you talking about forty two men see here you can't move lazy K cattle look here Brady do you mean to tell me there's two score of men here down and herd them cattle through the valley why you can't move the cattle it'll get straight on the side of the valley we can't keep it hurted on the plain beyond the valley that's too doggone bad here goes the signal can't do this stop them men don't move our cattle they're coming they're hurting king's cattle from both sides of the valley hard riding herders closed in on the cattle and began the drive out of the valley many could hardly believe her eyes she saw the lazy cave men screaming complaints and trying to prevent the running of the longhorns and cows into the open plain beyond but they were helpless against the thundering herd they're in the plane they're spreading out it'll take a week to round them up again keep the mw cows close together drive them to the land look ain't this a weapon big day and look at Brady and his parts head now stuff for the station get along there pretty get along it was late afternoon of the following day Minnie Watterson came from the house as Judd King accompanied by Red Bernard rode up and dismounted what are you doing here King you scattered my herd I'm going to have the law on you you can't get away with it Mr. King's cattle scattered all over the plain well what in thunder did you expect I have legal rights what's that about legal rights that's the mask man he was with Brady and the others and so was that Indian King don't talk about legal rights Mrs. Watterson has a legal right to drive your stock out of the valley ahead of her own who are you he's my friend I came here to warn you King to warn me to warn right Brady has organized all the men south of here organized them King ain't so proddy when he's talking to the mask man intend to make sure that Mrs. Watterson holds this land and retains control of many waters it's a conspiracy to protect the ranches you'd like to destroy and by the chump and tune bugs if you try any more schemes me and Luke will go tell Brady every one of the men south of here will come on the dead run to put you in your place you get off this land pronto you're trespassing where you ain't want you listen to me Luke I reckon Red must have told King about that water and trough a belt maybe King will like a drink that's a smart idea they'll do it they ain't fooling come on Luke no no no come on get out I reckon King ain't as far into the water and this place is made out boy this is the greatest day I've seen in many a year well there's a man to thank that mash man Benny I waited to give you a message from Brady was it true about the man getting organized yes they didn't realize that you needed help I ain't never been one to ask for help but Brady wants you to know that one word from you will bring all the help you need at any time gosh that's downright fine I guess I never knew what friends was well we're all set now got a cattle the market and cash money in a pocket chip we're all set thanks to you last man I'll see you again wait I don't even know your name if one of you two rennie's could be more like that man I just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated
