Fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-o silver, the Lone Ranger. Indian companion Tato, the daring 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 hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, Silver. Let's go, Victor. Let's go, Silver. Bills have been distributed in almost every town and tacked on trees and fence posts throughout the cattle country to announce the fact the Cimarron Kid was wanted by the law for countless cattle robberies. The kid was said to be the boldest, the most elusive cattle thief in the entire southwest. Straight up the canyon, right! Tom Camp was the latest victim of the Cimarron Kid and his gang. A number of Kent's heavy steers were driven through a cut-wire fence and into a canyon. Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Yeah, that was an easy job, eh, kid? Kent didn't even have a lion rider to interfere with us. It'll teach Kent a lesson. After this, maybe he'll hire more cowhands. You taking the steers up north? Not yet. There's some other rangers in this vicinity with plenty of livestock. We'll build up a sizable herd before we head north. Tom Kent was a neighbor of Clarabelle Hornblow. Clarabelle and her top hand, Thunder Martin, had long been friends of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Thunder! Thunder Martin! Where you at? Thunder Martin! I got bacon to do and I need firewood. And when you get done with that woodpile, I want you to lend Josh Simmons a hand. And hurry, he's in the house waiting. Josh Simmons? You mean I gotta help that sod buster? He needs a strong man to drive some fence posts. Me driving fence posts for a nesting? Why, Dad ratted Clarabelle for a cattleman? That's downright undignified. That'll do, Thunder. Josh wants to fix up his farm. Farm? This country's getting cluttered up with nesters. I like Simmons and his daughter Susan. Oh, but Clarabelle, you're a cowman. You've got to stick with the other self-respecting ranchers and help the nesters out. While I... We've got company, Thunder. Let him raise. What? Who? Well, of all things, a Lone Ranger and Tonto. Well, welcome to the Flying Age. And how in Tarnation are the two of you? Good, thanks, Clarabelle. How? Welcome is right. I'm not glad to see you. Where'd you leave your horses? In the corral on the other side of the house. Good, good. I hope you ain't stay a spell. Well, long enough to wash up and have a meal if you'll let us. If I let you, for sakes alive, go on into the house and make yourselves at home. I'll show you where the water's at. You stay here. You've got work to do. But we've got company. Also, we've got a stack of wood. And there's the axe to turn it into kindling. We'll be inside. Come along, Donner. Now you get to work, Thunder. Well, what are you waiting for? Hey, Clarabelle, look where I'm a-looking. We've got more company. Hmm. I'm Kent and Lynn Barton. And with one guess, I can tell you why they're coming here. So can I. They feel the same as you do about the nester. The same as every cattleman. Oh, oh, boy. Hello there, Kent. How are you, Barton? Able digging around. Well, this isn't a social call, Miss Hornblow. We came to tell you to get rid of that nester that settled next to your range. Told you before, Clarabelle, to get rid of him. This time, we're here to tell you to get rid of a cattle thief. Who are you calling a cattle thief? That nester you let settle. Josh Simmons. Cattle thief, my eye. My line fence was cut and some of my dry stock moved away. Why don't you look around that little Simmons farm before you throw out wild accusations? Why, Simmons couldn't hide a gopher. Now, where do you think he'd hide a lot of rustled cattle? There's lots of hiding places in the hills around here. Look here. Look on that post, Kent. It's a handbill. Tell him to the Simmeron kid. Now, likely he's the one who stole your cattle. Whatever happens around here will be blamed on the Simmeron kid. But Simmons is the one I suspect. Things happen every time a nester is allowed to settle in a place. This is the last warning, Miss Hornblow. You make that nester clear out. What if I don't? All the ranches are on my side. We're holding you responsible for anything that happens now. If one more longhorn disappears, we're driving out both you and Simmons. Come on. Get it out. Come on. If any of them junkheads got notions of driving you up in the flying age, they'll have to deal with me. And I'm a hard man to move. Mighty hard to move, Thunder. I'll vouch for that. Now, get to that wood chopping. Oh, no. And when it's done, there's Simmons' post to be drove. Now, hurry up, because Simmons was waiting. Hey! The Lone Ranger and Tonto went into the house. What of it? Why, Simmons will jump clear out of his boots when he sees a masked man. Oh, they're probably acquainted by this time. I'll go in and make sure. Both Thunder Martin and Clarabelle had talked at length about their friends, the Lone Ranger and Tonto. So Joshua Simmons knew who they were as soon as the masked man and the Indian entered the house. He introduced himself. And by the time Clarabelle came in, Simmons had told about settling on Homestead Land. I'll just leave the back door open so I'll know if Thunder stops his wood cutting. Now, have you gents got acquainted? Yes, Clarabelle. Uh, Miss Hornblow, we heard what went on outside. You mean Kent and Barton? Yes. They sounded as if they meant business. If no doubt of that. Would, uh, would they really drive you off in your own land? I reckon so if there's any more cattle stealing. But the law says... Joshua, there may be a smidge of law in the towns and villages, but it don't spread far. In ranching country like this, men have to make their own law. Well, I'd rather leave than to get you into trouble, Miss Hornblow. Simmons, the range is being broken up into farmland. The government owns the property. And the government gave you permission to settle on it. In time, you will own it. If you've got the courage to stay. Well, the cattlemen are dead set against homesteaders. The cattlemen must change. Hey, no, doggone well you're not a cattle thief. They're just using that as an excuse to drive you out. If we could just find the critter who stole Tom Kent's cattle... I think I know who he is. Who? You've seen handbills on him. He's called the Cimarron Kids. Is he near here? He's not far away. How do I have been following his trail for a long time? There's your answer. Like I said, it's the Cimarron Kids gang that stole Tom's cattle. There's plenty of hiding places near here. The hills to the north are honeycombed with canyons in pockets. A lot of cattle could be hidden there. If you could trail the kids gang, why... It isn't hard to trail him. Plenty Lawmen trails Cimarron Kids. Then why can't they get him? Because he keeps lookouts posted. If a small group gets close, he sets an ambush. Him kill Plenty Lawmen. Dirty, dry gulcher. If he sees a large posse coming, he splits his gang. The crooks fan out in all directions. Well, couldn't the law run down some of the gang? Some have been captured, Joshua. But the kid has always gotten away. Dead reddit. He's got to be trapped. Now more than ever, Clarabelle. We can get a lot of help for you. And I'll help. Thunder can line up the cowhands from the other ranches. No, Clarabelle. I can handle a gun. I am going alone. Alone? Yes. Many people who see my mask think I'm an outlaw. The kid might make the same mistake. I want to borrow as much of your cattle as I can drive into the hills. You aim to pose as a rustler? In a small way. If I can join the Cimarron kid, I'll try to lead him into a trap. But if the kid doesn't mistake you for an outlaw, you'll be killed. Life in the West is filled with danger. It's our job to make the country safe for future generations. You're sure doing your job. That's all I got to say. You take all the cattle you need. Oh, Kimo Sabe. Yes? Maybe better me go, too. Me help follow trail. I can follow the trail alone, Tonto. You'd better stay here. You and lots of other men will be needed to meet the Cimarron kid and his gang when they come. Wait. I don't hear no chopping. I gotta go tell Thunder to stop resting. Please ask him to come in, Clarabelle. I'll outline my plan. The Lone Ranger outlined a plan. Then Thunder Martin and the nester rode away to enlist a few friends to fight the outlaw gang. Tonto helped the Masked Man cut on a number of the Flying H. Longhorns. The Indian returned to the house after the Masked Man was started with the borrowed cattle toward the hill. It was slow work following the trail of the Cimarron kid and his gang, and it took until dusk for the Lone Ranger to reach the foothills. He camped for the night and proceeded after daybreak the following morning. After several hours of driving the cattle higher and higher into the mountains, he was suddenly stopped by two men who stepped from behind a rock. Hold it, mister. Hold it, boy. Hold. Hold rifles, aren't you? Keep your hands in sight. Get off that horse. I'm glad to meet the Cimarron kid in person. How do you know I'm a Cimarron kid? You're well known. You know me, but I don't know you. Take off that mask. You're someone I know, we'll talk. But if you're a stranger, Joe's gun will do the talking. I don't like strangers. Even if I remove the mask, you won't recognize me as anyone you know. A stranger, then, huh? Yeah. You heard what the Cimarron kid said. You don't like strangers. That goes for me and all the rest of the gang. You want the bullets in front or back? If you shoot me, you'll never know why I came looking for you. Why were you looking for me? Because I have some information you can use. Notice the brand on the cattle I brought with me. Flying H. I brought all I could handle without help. I know of a situation that makes it possible for me to move the entire herd without danger to myself. Yeah? Tell me more. I thought you might like to team up with me. Maybe so. 50-50 on the Flying H cattle. All right. Now tell me how that cattle can be moved without risk. First, I want your word that I may keep my mask on. Afraid to show your face? I don't know the men in your gang. I may have tangled with one or more of them. They recognize me. They might shoot me in the back. You think you can take my word for anything? Yes. Even though the lawmen hate you, they all say that you'll keep a promise. You hear that, Joe? The lawmen say I can be trusted. Nice. Yeah. All right, mister. You can keep the mask for all of me. Now, how can we move that Flying H cattle? Well, here's the situation. You and your gang stole cattle from Tom Kent. I'm not admitting that. I didn't expect you to admit it. Kent and the other ranchers think a nester named Joshua Simmons rustled a stock. That's good. The ranchers are mad at Simmons, and they're mad at Clarabelle Hornblow, who is backing Simmons. They threaten to drive Clarabelle, the nester, out of this region. That's interesting. What's it got to do with us taking Hornblow livestock? The livestock isn't guarded. All of Miss Hornblow's men, as well as Joshua Simmons, are at the Flying H ranch house to meet the ranchers who might come to drive them away. Are Kent and the other ranchers going to attack the Flying H? They threaten to. They're sure to if they lost more critters and had reason to suspect the nester. I'm working on an idea. We'll take the masked man to the hideout while I think it over. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. The Lone Ranger went with the Cimarron kid to the canyon hideout, where he saw the rest of the gang and the cattle that were stolen from Tom Kent. He was allowed to keep his mask and guns, but carefully watched so he couldn't leave the camp. He saw the Cimarron kid give whispered instructions to two men who rode away. Hurry back! Where did you send those men? If I wanted you to know, I wouldn't have whispered to them. I was to be in on it when you went after the Flying H cattle. You'll be in on it if I go after that stuff. If? Maybe I don't want it. Maybe I got bigger friends. The Lone Ranger could learn nothing further. He remained in the camp and wondered about the kid's new plans. Meanwhile, a crowd had been assembled in Clarabelle Hornblow's house. The nester and his daughter were there, and all the Flying H ranch hands. Also, Thunder Martin and the sheriff from the nearby town. It was the lawman who spoke. Cimarron kid is mighty smart. He won't ride into any trap. Here, if he's a smart man, who set the prayer? Yep, and a smart engine who's watching. Where's the engine now? Do you know Thunder? Right, he's north of the ranch. If the kid's gang heads were Clarabelle's longhorns, Tonto will let us know what part of the range they're aiming at. Then we can ride out and cut them off. Well, there's nothing to lose by waiting here. It'll be a great thing if we do get the Cimarron kid. We've got to. If that coyote steals any more cattle, the ranchers will blame poor Joshua, and they'll be here with guns a-blazing. Oh, Miss Hornblow, it's not fair that you should suffer from me. Oh, forget that, Joshua. We're both in this to the finish. Say, by the way, did you leave anyone to watch your place? No. Who could I leave there? Well, I reckon it don't matter. There's no reason for anyone to bother your place. Clarabelle was wrong. Two of the Cimarron kids' gang had gone to the home of the nester unobserved and stolen a heavy wire-cutting tool. Get him. Oh, there they went to the fence that enclosed Lombardin's ranch. Get him. Where we cut the fence, G? Yeah, this is as good a place as any. Oh, sit here. I'll make a break right here. A line rider will find it inside and out. Oh, that does it. Good. So it's the cut of tool on the ground, let's clear it. Come on. Get up there. Come on. Get up. Get up. Bone Ranger was with the Cimarron kid when Joe and Jake returned to the mountain lineup. Well, boys, how'd you make out? First treat. Everything's taken care of, kid. Have any trouble at the nester's house? No. No one was near the place. Why did you send these men to Simmons' house? To steal something with the nester's name on it. What'd you find, Joe? Wire-cutting. They were an eastern make. They had the name Simmons painted on the handle. Oh, that couldn't be better. There he cut Lem Barton's line fence and left the wire cutters on the ground. We spotted a line rider not too far away. He's found the break by this time. Why did you do that? You'll have to admit my plan's a good one, mister. You see, Barton will have evidence that Simmons cut his fence. He won't wait to see if any cattle's gone. He'll get the other ranchers and they'll attack. Just as they threaten. Oh, I see. They'll take their men along with them. That'll mean that the big Barton herd and what's left of the Kent herd and all the other longhorns in the vicinity will be left without men to watch. Oh, we'll make the biggest cleanup you ever heard of. By now, those ranchers should be ready for the attack on the hornblower outfit. Tell the boys over yonder the saddle and get ready to ride. Hey, boys, get set to travel. Got a big job on here. See here, kid, this is different than we agreed. This is my plan, mister, but you'll travel with us. I'm not taking Clark in the raid on Barton's herd. Oh, yes, you are. I'm giving the orders around here. Not to me. Oh, no? Well, I'll... No! No! I'll get you for that. All right, here's another. Take it! I can't do that to the kid. Get him! Boys, come here, fast! I'm coming, boys! I got you! With the kid down from a sledgehammer blow and Jake and Joe disabled by fast shots, the Lone Ranger had a scant few seconds to race to Silver and leap to the saddle. One, two, three! Quickly around the bend in the canyon before the rest of the gang could come close enough for accurate shooting. Now we're safe, boys. One, two, three! At sunset, Clarabelle and the others in her house were beginning to wonder if something had gone wrong with the masked man's plan. Finally, Thunder Martin said... I can't sit still no longer. I'll go down front and see if there's any sign of the dog at all. Guess the plan wasn't as good as we've got. If I was dead sure the kid's gang would be heading for my critters by this time... Well, then maybe your masked friend couldn't find the kid. I don't know. Oh, I guess... What is it, Thunder? Thunder's coming! He's riding my file! I'll go out front to me, dear. We'll all go. Hey, look at him, Brad. Did you ever see anyone travel faster than that? Say, look what's coming over the hill. The horsemen! Great day. There must be 20, 30 of them. That's the kid's gang. We got no chance. They're heading right here instead of my range. Oh, come up with it. Say, Thunder, who's it coming? Outlaws not come. Ranchers come this way fast. Why them come here? Hey! That's Tom Kent, the lead. And them, Barton. They said they'd drive us out. The small group in front of the ranch house watched with wonderment as the ranchers and their cow hands rode close to the house and drew rays. Barton! Kent! What are you two doing here? There's a nester. We warned you, Clarabelle. Now, hold on, gents. I'm the law around here. You're the law, Sheriff. That's right. And you better get Clarabelle and that nester out of these parts before you have a lynching on your hands. Now, hold on there, Barton. You're talking about my boss, Clarabelle. My line fence was cut by that nester and I got through. Take a look at this wire cutter. No, no. I didn't do it. Simmons. This cutter has your name on it. It's mine. But it was at my house and I... That's a lie. It was on the ground where my line fence had been cut. Sure. I suppose you figured I'm running off more cattle as soon as it got dark. I've given you just 30 minutes to pack your stuff in the wagon and clear out. And, Clarabelle, that same goes for you. You'll get me away from here for shooting, but no other way. How about that, boys? I'll get it. I'll get it. Sheriff, you keep out of this. You can run the law in town, but we'll handle it here. I'm there, Jim, Jack, all the rest of you. Get inside the house. If these men want a gunfight, they're going to get it. This is your last chance, Clarabelle. You can't fight all of us off and you know it. Send that nester away. And I'm holding a shotgun and it's loaded heavy. When one man draws a gun, I let her rip. Hey, look. Here come mask friends. Hold everything. Wait a minute. Here comes a man who can maybe help us out. The ranchers watched while the masked man raced close and drew rain. Hold it. Oh, easy. Set it, big fella. The lone ranger quickly grasped the situation. You men, all of you, listen to me. The nester was trained by the Cimarron kid. A wire cutter was left near a cut fence so you'd all come here. I don't believe it. What kind of a trick is this? It's a Cimarron kid's trick. While you're here, he and his gang are playing to make off with all your cattle. Follow me. You can corral the whole gang. What about you? What about that mask? How do we know you're no crook? The last man, a crook? Why, don't be a Jughead, Tom Kent. He's the lone ranger. You want to get the Cimarron kid? Follow me. The Cimarron kid and his gang had struck first at Len Barton's ranch. They had met no resistance. They herded the nearest Longhorns and drove the cattle through a new cut in the line fence. They were driving in the direction of Tom Kent's ranch to add to the herd when the kids saw a solitary horseman coming over the hill on his right. It was a familiar figure wearing a mask. There he is, boys. An instant later, a dozen hard-riding men appeared on the ribs following the lone ranger. Rancher, cut to the left. Before the gang returned to flee, another group of horsemen came charging from the left. We're trapped. We've got to shoot it out. Trapped between two factions with the way ahead cut off by stolen cattle, the outlaws had no choice. Though greatly outnumbered, they had to fight. Suddenly, in the midst of the battle, the Cimarron kid broke free and spurred his horse cruelly in a desperate dash to escape. Get it! Get it! The lone ranger saw him and started in pursuit. Get it! The Cimarron kid had a lead of 20 yards, and two shots remained in his gun. He fired at the pursuing masked man who crumped low in the saddle. Both shots missed the mark. The kid jammed his empty gun into the holster and gave all his attention to the effort of urging more sheep from his strong horse. Get it! Get it! Silver cut down the distance quickly. The lone ranger pulled alongside, reached out, and then threw himself at the long hunted outlaws. I want you! You won't get me alive! Both men hit the ground and rolled, but the lone ranger retained his grip on the Cimarron kid. You tricked me! I'll kill you for that! No, you won't! Here's another! Get up if you want some more. What did you hit me with? A fist. What did it feel like? Come on, kid. I'm tying your hands and taking you back to the law. By the time the lone ranger rejoined the others with his prisoner, the rest of the outlaws had been captured and tied by the sheriff and the ranchers. The masked man spoke to Kent and Barton. Are you men satisfied that Joshua Simmons had nothing to do with the theft of your cattle? Yes, he's in the clear as far as I'm concerned. I can be man enough to admit I was wrong. You coyotes owe Josh an apology. The least you can do after all those charges you made is to let the man live here in peace. Well, I reckon it's all right, Clarabelle. Yes, you can stay, Simmons. You can stay and we won't bother you. Kent, if you and your men will follow me, I'll show you where the longhorns are. You know? Yes, I saw the whole herd. Well, come on, boys. Let's follow him and get back our longhorns. Well, kid, it's time for me to move you and your pals to jail. We will go along and help you watch him, Chad. If I hadn't been fooled into thinking that masked man was an outlaw. Kid, you're not as smart as your prat-up to be if you thought that about the masked man. Why, he's the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created by George W. Trundle, produced by Trundle Campbell Enterprises, and directed by Charles D. Livingston. Tonight's drama was written by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Grace Beamer.
