A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-ho silver, the Lone Ranger. Indian companion Tonto, the deering and resourceful masked 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 hoof beats of the great horse silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, silver. Let's go, big fellow. I'm silver. Holy! The darkness of a moonless night shrouded the town of Box Creek. The houses and stores were dark. The bank appeared to be as dark and deserted as the rest of the business places. But this was not the case. Four people, wide awake and alert, were inside the bank. Three of them were hard-faced men. The fourth was just a boy. They worked by the shaded light of a bullseye lantern on a big iron safe. Who's got the can of blessing powder? I have, Bart. It's right here. You hold this funnel in place. I'll pour the powder. I want her to sift into the crack around the door. I've got the funnel. Hold her steady now. Who's got that mud we softened up? The kid. Hey, you. Larry. Right here. I got the mud. You never should have brought the kid on this job, Bart. He's nervous. No, I'm not, Wendy. I'm all right. Shut up and plaster that mud over the crack. Right. Just the way I showed you. You got enough powder in there, Bart. You just want to blow the door off the hinges. You don't want to blow the safe through the wall. Yeah, I guess that'll do. Now give me the fuse and throw everything else into the sack. Give me the stuff. I'll store it away. Put the lid on that powder can. Yeah. Here you are, Wendy. Don't forget the funnel. I got it. Is this enough mud? It'll do. Give me what's left over, kid. We don't want to leave stuff laying around. Here you are. You stay here with me, Wendy. Soon as the safe's open, we'll fill the sack with cash. Yeah. Steve, you and the kid go outside and stand watch. Right. Blaster may bring some people on the run. You two got to stop them. I'll save you. Come on, Larry. Don't mind if you're a little nervous. We was all that way in our first job. As soon as I touch off the fuse, Wendy, get over in that third corner and face the wall. Yeah, I know. Skedaddle, that fuse is plenty short. I hope there's cash enough to make this worthwhile. Yeah, it'll be plenty. That done it all right. Never mind the talk. Now, come on. Guys, that smoke. Shut up. Never mind the smoke. Get that sack open. I'll toss the cash to you. Here. I got it. Here's some more. Got to work fast. That explosion will bring folks on the run. Yeah. Got it all? No, not yet. Hey, they're coming. I got ears. Let's get clear. Now, this box is clean. Here, take this. Confundered this gunplay out there. Yeah, I hope to avoid that. Windy, get clear. Hurry up, all right? We threw a few shots, but it didn't stop. We got it all. Take the bag. Yeah. Now, come on. The bag away. We left the door open. Anyone's hit, he's got to be left. Each man for himself. Hey, wait a minute. They went out the back. That door there. Come on. There they are. They got horses over there. They'll open fire. Let them have it. Hold it. They got away. Anyone see who they were? Not me. I didn't. I couldn't see what they looked like. It was too dark. Well, no use trying to chase one foot. Well, we got to do something, Sheriff. Can't let them get away with all the money in town. Else we're in the pussy. We'll do what we can. The following day, the Lone Ranger and Tonto paused at a spring-fed creek at the bottom of a gully to water their horses silver and scout. High banks rose on each side of the masked man and his Indian companion and hid them from the view of anyone riding along the trail. Someone's coming this way, Tonto. Ah. Coming this way plenty fast. Stay here. Whoever it is will ride right past. Ah. Larry, please, wait. Ho, ho there. Ho, ho, boy. Two people. Is that right? Wait. So have your say and then let me hello. Oh, Larry. Don't go away. Let me tell you what I've heard about those men you call your friends. You needn't tell me anything about them. But, Larry, Bart Walton's a crook. Everyone says so. Everyone says so. Well, that doesn't make him a crook. He's headed for big money and I'm traveling with him. But you can't leave Dad. Who can't? He needs you on the ranch. I'm fed up with ranching. There's no money and no fun in it. Please listen to me, Larry. You don't know what you're... I'm 18. I'm old enough to know my own mind. But you don't understand. Bart Walton... Stop talking Bart Walton and stop treating me like I was a kid. Go on back home and let me go on my own way. Larry, please. And don't worry about me, sis. I'll be back someday and I'll be rich. Get up there. I couldn't help hearing your brother. Man, another outlaw. Are you one of Bart Walton's gang, too? No, I'm not an outlaw. Well, you were... I'd like to help you. Your brother seems to be headed for a lot more trouble than he realizes. Then you know about Walton. I've heard of him. I don't know what to do. Larry's been getting more and more restless all the time. But it's none of your business. Come on now. Just a minute. Let go of my horse. We haven't finished talking. Easy, fella. Easy. You were eavesdropping in that golly. You know all there is to know. How did your brother get acquainted with Walton? I don't know. How long has he known him? Mister, it's none of your business. I want to go home. Now let go of that bribe. Let go. Has Walton been to your ranch today, fella? Easy. And how did Larry meet him? I've told you I don't know. Larry went away from home a few days ago. He came back this morning and said he was going away for good. He fell in with Walton while he was away? He must have. What is there about men like you that makes nice kids like Larry want to start a life of crime? Is that what your brother plans to do? Of course he does. I'm no fool. I've heard Larry talk about creatures like Billy the Kid and Missouri Mike and Ace Comedy. I've seen the way he practiced with his pistol. I know what Larry's planning. Why can't you and the rest of your kind leave kids like Larry alone? Sue, you're mistaken about me. I'm not mistaken. You crooks have won my brother. But it won't always be so easy. Some day there'll be law enough around here to grind all of you into the dirt you sprang from. Some day boys like my brother will see thieves and killers hang for what they do. Then crime won't be so attractive to them. Now stand back from my horse or I'll cut you with this whip. Very well. Get up boy. And he's slunk. I don't blame her for feeling bitter, Toto. Her think you crook like Walton. Yes. Toto, I wonder if it's too late to help her brother. What you mean? Come on. What we do? Give me a hand, Toto. I'm going to disguise myself as a half-breed and go to Bart Walton's camp. Oh. You know where camp is? I'll find it by following Larry's trail. And what you do there? That girl said she was looking forward to the day when it'd be long enough to show fellows like Larry what was waiting on the criminal trail. Oh. Maybe we can show him. Working rapidly with the aid of Toto, the Lone Ranger removed his mask and darkened his face with stains made from roots and berries. And as he changed into the clothes of a nondescript half-breed, his manner of speech changed to match the disguise. Now I must talk like the breed, eh, senor? You do all right. Amigo, you will wait here until I return. I'll be used to it. Ah. But what you do? Ah, senor, I'm going to do as Larry does. I'm going to join the Walton gang. Sonny Silver. Mon Silver. Larry had left the camp in Cottonwood Canyon and walked off by himself. He sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree and spent nearly a quarter of an hour writing a note. When he finished, he rose and moved a few yards to a giant fir tree that was a landmark in the community. He was about to put his carefully written note into a hollow section of the trunk when a sharp voice froze his action. Hold it. What? Oh. Oh, it's you, huh, Steve? Yeah, kid. It's me all right. You needn't hold a gun on me. Put it down. I don't know about that. The boss is always curious when one of the gang slips away by himself. Especially when he gets to writing notes. Oh, well... I'll take it later. Now, wait, Steve. I said I'd take it. Likewise, your gun. Oh, but this... Give me that. Now, the gun. All right. You win. Draw slow and let her drop to the ground. I'll back off a few steps. That's it. I'll have a look at what you've been writing. Well, it's a good try. Hmm. Now you know. Yeah, now I know. And kid, Bart won't like this at all. We better go see him. Here's the note he was writing, Bart. Sort of opened your eyes. Read it to me. Yeah, I'll read it. You better keep him covered while I'm doing this. I'll keep him covered. Where's Wendy? Maybe he should be in on this. He's out guarding the entrance to the canyon. Let us know if anyone comes this way. Oh. Go on, read the note. It's addressed to Sheriff Parkinson. Yeah? Listen. Plans have worked out first rate. I've been accepted as a member of the gang. They've learned with the loot of the Wells Fargo robbery, the Sagebrush stage holdup, and the Parker City Bank robbery is hidden. Why? There's more. Go ahead. The gang has a guard on the South Pass. When you come to close in, you can reach the camp without being seen by coming down the Pond Tree Trail. It'll bring plenty of men. These men are tough. So you've been working with the law, hmm? Yeah, what are you going to do about it? Why, you dirty double-crossing little snake. I'll teach you. Make out like you want to join us, huh? Help us with one bank job to win our confidence. And all the time he was working for the law. Tie him in that tree over there. Tie him good and tight. Why not drill him and be done with it? Not just yet. Maybe I'll find a way to use him. Maybe we can get him to write a different kind of a note. I want to think it over. Tie him up. If I don't think we'll need him, we'll gun him. 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. The Lone Ranger, posing as a half-breed, met Windy on the trail to Cottonwood Canyon. Windy brought him to the camp where Larry was tightly bound to the base of a large tree. What's this, Windy? Shut up. He's come along the trail, bud. Looks like he's handy with guns. He wears them low. Yeah? What's your name? You call me Rico, eh, senor? He's dodging the law. So he says. That is right, senor. Oh, I'm always troubled with lawmen. You know what I mean, yes. Maybe you're the same sort as that kid we got tied to the tree over yonder. Why, it's Larry. What's he done, bud? Dirty little double-crosser. You tell him, Steve. He was working for the sheriff when he joined up with us. What? Yeah. Here, see for yourself. I caught him planting this note for the sheriff to find. Yeah. Well, of all that... He helped us with that bank job last night just to win our confidence. Then he succeeded. He told him where all the loot was hid. Why, the only credit. Let me gun him. I'll fix him. Senor, you mean a little hombre was working for the law? You heard what we said. Si, si, I hear. How about you? Maybe the sheriff sent you to try and join us. How about that? No, no, senor. I swear I was not sent by the sheriff. You swear. Give me them six guns. Por supuesto. Yes, senor. Take them. That should prove that I have faith in you, huh? Take those guns, Steve. We'll stick them in your belt. Right. I'll blame soon. Find out if this breed's working for the sheriff. How? Just a second. Got to unload my gun. Yeah, what are you doing, boss? I'll show you. Putting one cartridge back into the gun. There. You, Rico. Yeah? Take this gun of mine with one cartridge in her. I know. But what am I to do with it, huh? See that kid over there tied to the tree? Most certain. How could I help but see him? Do you know him? Well, you think I've seen him somewhere? The face is familiar. Yeah? Let me ask him. You, senor. What do you want, Breed? Was there not a time when you worked for the Western Union? What if I did? Ah, I remember. You were in the office of the telegraph, yes? Yeah, I was there. Yeah, that is it. That is where I saw you. Forget that. If you're on the level about wanting to join the gang, you take that gun I gave you. Put that one bullet right into that kid's heart. Why, you... How do you like that, boys? You think we have to kill him? Yeah, we'll get rid of him. And clear out of here before the sheriff comes snooping around. Now, go on, Breed. Let's see how you can handle that six-gun of mine. I thought I was about to become a member of a gang that was without fear. Who says we're afraid? Huh? You must call upon a stranger to do your keeling for you. What sort of timid rabbits are you? Well, one moment, senor. There's one thing I'm going to do first. I must take off this boot. Hey, if you're up to some trick... Amigo, have you never had a nail in the boot? One that has come through so it hurts the foot with every step? Well, of all the dogs... Sit down and fix the nail before I do anything else. Can't that wait? Oh, no, senor. I think this piece of wood will serve. I'll put it inside the boot resting on the nail and hammer it with his rock. They should fix it so the nail no longer hurt my foot. If I thought he was stolen for time. Senor, why should I do that? It's only that I must fix my boot. Wendy, hold your gun on him. Sure thing. Now what? The first sign of anyone coming this way... Drill that breed right through the head. Aye, Sammy. Now, breed, you better get done fussing around with a nail in your boot... and convince me that you meant it... when you said you wanted to team up with this. Only a moment, senor. Then I will be able to wear the boot without enduring the pain of a sharp nail. And then, senor... we shall see what can be done with a single bullet... and a man who is tied to a tree. In the meantime, Sue's eyes were filled with tears... that came from utter futility as she told her father about Larry. But it's not Larry's fault, Dad. I tell you, it's not his fault. Larry's not bad. I know. He wasn't bad. He didn't have a single bad streak in him. It's just that... he wanted more excitement than ranch life could give him. It's more than that, Dad. I'll tell you what it is. Huh? It's the law. The law? Oh, can't you see, Dad? There are too few lawmen in this country. Look at all the robberies and murders there have been... and nothing is done about them. Ace comedy is wanted, but the law can't get them. The same is true of Missouri Mike. Yes, and of Bart Walton. Those creatures laugh at the law. They say they're bigger than the law. And, Dad, they prove it. Oh, it's no wonder boys like Larry see them as heroic figures... instead of the rotten beasts they really are. Huh? Well, maybe that's the answer, honey. Oh, of course it is. Take last night's bank robbery. Four men got away with over $20,000. Well, the sheriff's power, she's out looking for them. Looking for them. The same as they're looking for the gang that robbed Wells Fargo... and any number of other places. The point is, how long would it take to earn that much money as a rancher? I know what you mean, Susie. If Larry and a lot of others that want excitement... could see a few crooks dangling from the end of a rope... do you think they'd want to join men like Bart Walton? No. You bet they wouldn't. Well, I asked the sheriff to talk to Larry. I sort of hoped the boy would be alarmed. I'll see who he is. Hi, Susie. Oh, hello, Jim. Mind if I step in? I want to see your pa. Come in, deputy. Hey, you been looking for the bank robbers? Yep. The sheriff is still out looking with some special deputies. I thought I'd better speak to you. About what? Larry, your son. I hate to tell you this. What is it? The men that robbed the bank used soft mud to pack the blasting powder. I found where the mud was scooped up. Well, what about it, Jim? Here's something I found there. A cat's eye gem that fell out of a ring. A cat's eye? Didn't Larry have a ring like that? Yes. Yes, he did. Do you know where Larry was last night? Well, he wasn't home. He'd been away for two or three days. You think Larry was one of the bank robbers? I'm downright sorry. Oh, Dad. My boy. A bank robber. If you know where he might be, it'd be smart to tell us. No one was killed last night. Maybe we can get the kid while he could square things with the jail term. And his next job, he might invite a hang-in. That'll do, Breed. You put on that boot whether it's fixed or not. I'm tired of waiting. Yes, you say, senor. Why don't you shoot me and get it over with? Muy bien. As soon as I pull on the boot, I wish I'd get on with the business, huh? See that you put the bullet where it'll do a complete job. You savvy? Si, senor. I savvy. You know what is coming, eh, amigo? Save the talk. Go ahead and shoot. Get it over with. I think I will put it right through the heart. Go ahead. Yeah, go ahead. I ain't got to get away from here before someone comes this way. Well, that is it, eh, senor? It's about time. I will cut the ropes that hold what is left to the machacho to the trees so we can pull him away. Shall a grave, huh? He sure went out quiet. Senor, one who has a bullet in the heart did not have much to say. I'll place him here on the ground. He's all right, senor. Yeah, I guess you proved yourself, Breed. I begun to think you wasn't going to do it. Now you let me have my guns, I will finish the work. Finish it? Yeah, in Mexico when one of they cut it, senor. He's the custom to put the bullet through the head. There's no doubt it's to the death. Here, take your guns. Gracias, senor. Gracias. I'll take yours, too. Hey, what the... Watch it. Want some more? Hold it. Don't shoot again. What's the matter with you, call a loco? Not by a long shot. Oh, my arm. It won't hurt when there's a rope around your neck. He's no breed. Who are you? Call me, Rico. Stand up and keep your hands in sight. What do you think you're going to do, mister? You'll find out. You won't go far. Don't forget the law can hang you for murder. Not without a corpse. There's a corpse. Don't count Larry as a dead man. Bart, he's getting up. Pick up that rope, Larry. Better tie these three before we take them in. Right. All right, give me those dirty paws, Bart. Now look here. Shut up. There'll be some new kind of law around here and some new ways to nail coyotes like you. You three have got the honor of being the first to find it out. You were shot. I saw it. Bart, was there a blank cartridge in your gun? No. You saw me shoot and you saw Larry slump to the ground. But I stood so you couldn't notice that no bullet hole appeared in that dark shirt. You crooks weren't as smart as you thought. You should have worked on a telegraph like I did. What's that got to do with it? Plenty. Knowing a telegraph quote, I knew that this man was saying when he tapped on his shoe. I hoped you'd got that, Larry. I'll give it back to you word for word. Don't worry. When I fire, act as if you're hit. I'll carry on from there. The tapping on the boot told you that? You bet it did. Now give me your hand, Steve. I want to make a good job of tying up the present I am to take to the shed. You've got to forgive me. For what, Sue? For what I'm going to do. I know it's the right thing. Jim. Yes, Miss Susie? Did you mean what you said a few minutes ago? What was that? If Larry was involved in the bank robbery, he'll go to prison. If we can find him. But he won't hang. Not for the job of last night. Sue, what are you getting at? I saw Larry start out this morning. I knew where he was heading. Yeah? I'll show you his tracks. Then perhaps you can follow them. Sue, you turning Larry over to the law? Dad, believe me, it's the thing to do for Larry's sake. Just a minute. Seems like a lot of horses are being reined up. Sue, look out here. It's Larry. The sheriff has got him and three others. I'd better get out there. Yeah, sheriff. We're back here. Look what we got. What was it here? Oh, Larry. Larry. Oh, Sue. Forget the way I talked this morning. I couldn't do anything else because of a promise on me. Larry, I'm glad you're gone. At least you'll be safe from the hangman. Well, say, hold on. Look at us. I'm not wearing ropes. What? You and your pop better be downright proud of Larry. He's my new assistant. What? A lawman? You're darn right. I swam to privacy. Then he joined up with the Walton gang. He's learned where the root of all their crimes is hid. Oh, Larry. Sue. Now, wait. Hold on. Don't give me the credit. I'd have been a dead pigeon if it hadn't been for the man that came and saved my neck. Oh, Larry. Well, was he tall? Did he wear a mask like an outlaw, but talk like a Will Knife? He was dressed like a breed, but it's the same man. Who was he? Well, here. Instead of putting one of Walton's bullets in my heart, he put this one in my hand. It's solid silver. Silver? Son, you say it's a silver bullet? That's right, Dad. He was the Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger? The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
