A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-yo silver, the Lone Ranger. Before this exciting adventure, a word from our sponsor. General Mills, makers of Cheerios, the ready-to-eat oat cereal that gives you go power, and Wheaties, the breakfast of champions. Present by special recording, the Lone Ranger. All over the country, in every direction, how you're, how you're doing is a question. And here's what the happy people have to say. How are we defending? Doing okay, okay. Hi there. This is the Lone Ranger speaking. Out here in the West, we have a couple of champions who are really doing okay. Champion Bob Maynard. He can grab a thousand-pound steer by the horns and toss it to the ground like it was a three-day-old calf. And bronc-busting champ Bob Burroughs. The way he can stick on a mean, side-winding bronc, you'd think he was glued to the saddle. They're both great rodeo champions, and both eat Wheaties. Have been ever since they were youngsters. That's a good example to follow. Keep on eating your Wheaties. And you'll be looking to do an okay, okay. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, 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. Come on, Silver. Let's go, big foe. Are you, Silver? Go away! Young Jeff Austin stood at the door of his cell in the Fortune County Jail. So hard was his grip on the bars that his fingers had turned white. His teeth were set, and sweat streaked his forehead. The barred pattern of sunlight which fell on the cell floor had moved its center. His last 24 hours had started. He was living his last afternoon. How's it going, Jeff? Howdy, Sheriff. That pounded me. I'm savvy, boy. Wish you didn't have to hear it. Have you heard anything? Just got a telegram from the governor himself. He'll give you a stay of execution if you'll talk. If I talk? Between you and me, he'll do more than that for you. Though he can't come right out and say it. You can save your neck, maybe even go scot-free. Hmm, I've got nothing to say except what I've said a hundred times already. I'm innocent. Well, I've got to go back to the office. But if you change your mind, sing out. The governor's secretary will be standing by for word from me till the last minute. There won't be any word. As Jeff and the sheriff finished their conversation, the Lone Ranger and Tonto turned their horses off the trail to Fortune City and headed north along the steep banks of the Tomahawk River. They were in search of a camping place. Suddenly, Tonto pointed. Look, Kimasabi. Horse up ahead. There's a side saddle on it. Ah, must be woman around here. Oh, there's a road. Grab that horse's range, Tonto. A piece of paper passes the saddle. We got him, yeah. Oh, there. Steady, silver, easy. There, I've got the paper. What? What's on it? It's addressed to the sheriff at Fortune City and says, you will find my body in the Tomahawk River. Don't tell Jeff. Amy Benton. It's a suicide note. Horse, not stand here long. We may still have time to save her. Come on, Silver. Come on, Count. There she is. They're standing high bank. Stop. Amy Benton, stop. Here, come. Take my hat and gun belt. When the horses braced their legs and skidded to a stop, the lone ranger dropped from his saddle to the edge of the bank and dived into the river. A few moments later, the girl had been hoisted to the top of the bank. Presently, she was gasping and coughing. Her eyes opened, but she said nothing. Neither did the masked man speak to her until she had been placed in a blanket beside a fire and Tottle had prepared coffee. As she drank, he said, Miss Benton, you don't seem concerned over my mask. I'm not. I don't care who or what you are. Why did you save me? I always save a life if I can. There's one you can't save. Suppose you tell us your troubles. You'll feel better if you get them off your mind. Yes, maybe I would. It's possible that my friend and I can help you. Oh, if you only could. It's too late. Tomorrow they're going to hang Jeff. Well, what did Jeff do? Nothing. Nothing at all. He's innocent. And I put him where he is. How did that happen? You see, Jeff and I were engaged to be married. I was working in the Wells Fargo Bank in Fortune City. Then... Yes, miss? The bank got a lot of gold ready to ship out. Usually the shipments were made by stage, but because there'd been a lot of robberies, Mr. Quincy, the Wells Fargo agent, decided to send an empty box on the stage and ship out the gold in a freight wagon. I see. Mr. Quincy and I were the only ones who knew about the arrangement until I told Jeff. I never kept anything from him. Was the gold stolen? Yes. A gang of outlaws let the stage go by and held up the freighter. The driver was killed. That makes it certain that they had inside information. Oh, uh, what makes you so sure Jeff is innocent? What makes me trust a masked man? Call it a woman's intuition, but I know. I know. I'd like to know more about Jeff. Jeff. He's big-hearted and gentle. He and the younger brother, Jim, were orphaned years ago. But he was father and mother both to Jim. Why, there's nothing he wouldn't do for the kid brother, as he calls him. Where did Jeff work? He was top hand at the X7 Ranch. Jim works on the Consolidated Cattle Company spread. Who was Jeff's lawyer? Monty Baldwin. Boy, he fought hard to save Jeff. I've heard of Baldwin. He's a good criminal lawyer. But his fees are very high. I gave him what money I had. Two hundred dollars. Well, where do you live? I've been rooming at the Empire Hotel. My home is in the east. All right, we'll see you to the edge of town. And I want you to go to the hotel and wait. We may need your help, in which case my friend will call for you. Yes, I understand. What are you going to do? While Tano gathered information around town, I'll slip into Baldwin's office for a talk. Monty Baldwin was alone in his law office. He sat in an easy chair with his eyes closed, feeling sorry for himself. For the first time in his career, he had lost a murder case. He sighed gustily, opened his eyes, then sat bolt upright as the back door opened silently, and the lone ranger stepped into the room. A masked man. Steady, Mr. Baldwin. Just keep your hand away from that derringer in your vest pocket. Don't shoot me. I did the best I could for Jeff. I'm not interested in what you did. I want to know who paid you and how much you received for defending him. You want to know? Don't you belong to the gang Jeff was in? I'm not an outlaw. Well, it's my purpose to see that justice is done. It was done in his case. He was guilty and deserved the death sentence. Of course, it puts a blot on my record, but... You haven't answered my question. I don't intend to. Now you... Stop that derringer! Don't hit me again. I dropped it. And I'm kicking it into a corner. There. You'll pay for this. Are you going to tell me what I want to know? Yes. Yes, I'll tell. I received a small retainer from Miss Benton. The rest, I... Go on. The rest was paid by Jeff's brother, Jim. It was a matter of $3,000. Didn't it strike you as strange that a ranch hand could raise that much money? I thought Jeff had told him where to get up. In other words, you thought it was part of the loot of the Wells Fargo box. I don't question the source of my client's money. They're all criminals. Never mind that. Where is Jim Austin now? He was still with the Consolidated Cattle People a few days ago. That's all I wanted to know. Jim Austin was sprawled on a bunk in the sleeping quarters of the cattle company's riders. His weakly, handsome, almost effeminate face was haggard. His long-lashed eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. As he stared at a battered clock on the wall, the door opened. The foreman's voice boomed through the bunkhouse. Jim? Huh? There's a young lady here to see you. All right. I'm coming. Be right out, miss. Jim. Huh? Oh, it's you, Amy. I thought some senorita was calling on me. I want to talk to you or we won't be heard. About Jeff? Yes. Then come on, we'll take a walk down toward the water tank. Jim, you were in that Wells Fargo holdup. Huh? You're letting Jeff hang for something you did. Jamie, you're low call. Jeff passed you the information about the gold shipment, just like I passed it to him. He trusted you and you betrayed him. Did Jeff tell you that? I'm not saying who told me, but I'll tell you this. You've got to keep Jeff from hanging. What can I do? Get your gang together and work out something. I haven't got any gang. Do you know that Jeff can save himself by talking? He wouldn't... Wouldn't tell on you? Is that what you intended to say? Well, I'm not saying anything more. Well, I am. But it's my last word. The sheriff will know about you in the morning if you don't do something. Now wait, Amy. I'll wait in town. Crossing a wide yard between the ranch buildings, Amy joined the lone ranger in the shadows of a shed. She reported. I did just what you told me to do. How did he act? He's not only guilty, he's conscience-stricken and scared. Kimo Sabe. Yes? Let me watch that fellow go into Corral. Him get ready to ride. All right. You take Miss Benton back to town. I'll follow him. Maybe you need me. Miss Benton needs you more. Her life is in danger. Unaware that the lone ranger was on his trail, Jim Austin rode directly to one of the most remote line camps on the vast spread. Used only in winter by consolidated riders, the dugout had been taken over by four men who had been fired by the cattle company on suspicion of rustling. Their leader was an ex-foreman known as Top. The quartet was playing cards on a candlelit table when Jim burst through the door. What the places, Jim? Topper in for us. What do you mean? Jeff's girl come to see me. She's just as good as said he's going to talk unless we save him. All he can say is that he told you about the gold. That'll be plenty. They'll nab me and go looking for the fellas I run with. That means you boys. Yeah, I guess you're right. We've got to break Jeff out of jail tonight. Just one way to make sure nobody talks. Don't Jeff's girl live in the hotel? Yeah, but... And the hotel windows look right down into the jail. There's a day and night guard on Jeff, so there'll be enough light in his cell to make him a good target. What are you getting at? Instead of raiding the jail, we'll raid the hotel. We'll shoot the girl in her room and Jeff in his cell. We'll continue our Lone Ranger adventure in just a moment. Boxer Ben fights hard and fair. So in the ring, you kids beware. He's dynamite because he knows he's got go power from Cheerios. Yes, he's got go power. There he goes. He's feeling his Cheerios. Cheerios. Cheerios. Cheerios, the cereal everybody loves. No other cereal looks like Cheerios. It's shaped like little letter O's. No other cereal tastes like Cheerios. It's the only ready-to-eat cereal with this fresh toasted oat flavor. No other cereal is like Cheerios. You see, Cheerios is made from oats. And every delicious spoonful of Cheerios and milk is real muscle-building food. Each spoonful contains vitamins, minerals, and proteins your body needs. Yes, the good things in a Cheerios breakfast do good things for your body. Help you have healthy nerves, good red blood, strong bones, and muscles. Have Cheerios every morning. Then you'll hear people say, He's feeling his Cheerios. Now to continue. Hearing that Jeff Austin would talk before he went to the gallows, the outlaw gang, of which his younger brother Jim was a member, planned to shoot him in his cell and murder his sweetheart, Amy Benton. Meanwhile, the Lone Ranger had been standing on the roof of the dugout, his head bent over the chimney. Funneled upward through an empty fireplace, every word spoken by the bandits had reached his ears. As he continued to listen, he heard Jim protest. Top, you can't do that to them. Jeff is my brother. It'll be more possible to plug it than let it hang. Let's get going. At that moment, the Lone Ranger shifted his weight. The sod gave way. Then he was falling, falling straight down into the lair of the murderous gang. Bandits jumped back with startled cries. Top was the first to recover. He jammed the gun against the Lone Ranger's back before he could free himself from the debris. All right, freeze, fella. I'm getting his guns. Hey, Mike, look outside. Louie, you and Hank, pull his farman out and stand him up. I got him. Now stand up if you can. I can stand. Hey, look. He's got a mask on. What were you doing on the roof, fella? What do you think? You were spying on us. You're either an owl hoot who was after our boodle or some kind of Wells Fargo detective. I'm neither. Well, whatever you are now, you'll only be one thing in a minute. Meat for the coyotes. Jim, take his mask off. All right. Hold on, Jim Austin. You know me. I want to help Jeff. He's innocent. Jim, I told you to take off his mask. All right. Quick, grab back your guns. As the masked man snatched back the guns which Jim had thrust under his belt, the young bandit pretended to struggle with him. Help, he's got his guns again. The roost kept Hop from firing for a moment, but only a moment. Then the gang leader's cold blazed. Oh, I'm hit. You shot Jim. Drop your guns, all of you. I'll drop you. Oh, my shoulder. I'm hit. Really, boy. Dodging behind a broken table and debris from the roof, the lone ranger turned his right gun on a candle which had been stuck into a bottle on a shelf. Shut out the candle. Hold your fire. We'll hit each other. Let's get outside. Up where you are. Retreating to a line of rocks a few yards from the dugout door, the bandits laid siege to the place. You watch that hole in the roof. Let's keep pumping lead through the doorway. You got us cornered, mass man. There may still be a way out. How badly are you hurt? No, not bad. Not bad at all. You've saved my life. I hope you can save Jeff's. Throughout the remainder of the night, the siege continued with intermittent bursts of gunfire awaiting echoes in the nearby valley. Then as the late dawn stretched a gray ribbon above the eastern mountain peaks, Jim broke a long silence. It's getting mighty close in here. It's hard to breathe. My lungs feel filled up. Jim, you were shot in the chest. Why didn't you tell me? It's better this way. I was a fool. I never would listen to Jeff. Tell Jeff. Tell Jeff. I'm sorry. Dead. For a moment, the lone ranger knelt beside the young outlaw's body, motionless and silent. Then he removed his neckerchief and tore a piece from it, taping it into a semblance of his own mask. He blackened the cloth at the sooty fireplace and gently covered the upper part of a face which seemed to have grown strangely strong in death. Beside Jim's head, he dropped his own white hat. Then he flattened himself against the wall close to the doorway. Long minutes passed. And then... I'll tell you that masked man's dead. Look how he sprawled out. He might be playing possum. No. Look at his shirt. He got one to the chest. Yeah, he's dead, all right. Now let's get inside and find our medical kit. My shoulder's killing me. I don't see Jim. And likely the double-crosser ran out with us and then sneaked away. Todd, this isn't a masked man. It's Jim. Get your hands up. Masked man's behind you. That's only a warning. Huffle your hands. We're reaching. Now lie down on the floor. Keep your arms stretched out in front of you. I can't. My shoulder. Oh, nice head. All right, all right. Don't shoot. What are you going to do to us? Taking your guns first. Disarming the outlaws, the masked man called to Silver. Hey, Silver. Hey, boy. The big white horse who had been left standing some distance from the dugout trotted up. Cutting pieces from his lariat which hung from the saddle, the lone ranger bound each of the bandits securely. He glanced at his watch. It was eight o'clock. Only four hours of life remained for Jeff Austin, and Fortune's city lay far away, so far that even the gallant Silver might fail to carry him through in time. He leaped to the saddle. Get easy. Come on, Silver. As the brave horse responded to the masked man's voice, the sheriff approached Jeff's cell. Jeff, your girl is out in the office. Don't torture me. You know I can't face Amy. Your time's running out fast, but they're still holding the wire open to the governor. If you want to talk... Sure, I'll talk. I planned to hold up. I led the gang. Tell the governor that. Here comes Sheriff back. I hate to say this, but he confessed. Confessed? No, it... It's not good for you to stay here, miss. You come with me. We watched trail for my friends. Yes. Yes, let's go. It was five minutes to twelve when the lone ranger urged Silver to a hilltop from which the town could be seen. Faster, big fellow, faster! Run the last mile! Jeff Austin, too, was on his last mile. The sheriff, a parson, the sentencing judge, and the elegant Mr. Smith had escorted him from his cell to the jail yard. Well, here we are, Jeff. Got anything to say? Nothing. I didn't let anybody that anybody would understand. Hurry and get it over. It's now noon. Are you ready, Mr. Smith? What's going on out there? Somebody's riding into the yard. It's a mask, man. Oh, oh, oh, oh. He's standing for a... They're in the execution, Sheriff. What's the meaning of this interruption? Who are you? What does that mask mean? I haven't time for explanations now. Release Jeff Austin. He's innocent. He just confessed. He tried to sacrifice himself for his brother Jim, but Jim is dead. Dead? The rest of the Wells Fargo killers have been captured. Consolidated riders are bringing them in. That may be true, but this execution can't be stopped legally without an order from the governor. Proceed, Sheriff. That's the law. I'm proceeding to break the law. Mr. Smith, take the rope off that man. There isn't going to be any hanging. A few hours later, Jeff stood in the jail office with an arm around Amy's shoulders. He was a free man. The consolidated riders had delivered the captured outlaws to the sheriff, and full confessions were on record. The sheriff was saying, Jeff, you must have thought a powerful lot of that no good brother of yours. Jim always came first with me. He wasn't bad. Not all bad, anyhow. He died better than he lived, Jeff. He was a man at the end. A mask man. You got a right, smart reward coming from the Wells Fargo Company. Give it to Jeff and Miss Benton for a wedding. Well, he's gone, and we didn't even get a chance to thank him for all he did. He sure did plenty. Who do you reckon he is? Oh, the Indian told me. He's the Lone Ranger. A copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated is produced by Trandall Campbell Muir Incorporated. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer, your announcer, Fred Foy. Listen to the Lone Ranger brought to you by special recording Mondays through Fridays at this same time. Thank you.
