with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hyo silver, the Lone Ranger. In Tottle, 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 the end. Until there, let's go big car. Until there. In Bentonville. As the genial proprietor figured up the cost of the provisions which he had stacked on the counter for the Indians, the door opened. The man who entered wore no badge, but he could be identified as a manhunter as easily as a bloodhound. Lean and grizzled, he had dimmed eyes and a mouth that looked like a knife slit in a piece of leather. Tom Blackwood put his pencil behind his ear and greeted him. Howdy, Sheriff. Still looking for the Slater gang? Is every lawman in the West been looking for those killers since they broke here in Colorado? Friend, Injun. Your bill is $16.10. Oh, I don't hear. Your money. $20 gold piece, huh? It rings true. Maybe it does. But he don't. Redskins, how come we'll have a double eagle? Oh. Why, you ask? I'm Jim Niles, law in Carver County. Oh, let him alone, Sheriff. Lots of Injuns have money these days. Yeah, maybe so. But what about those provisions there? That's the kind of stuff white men eat. What's more, he didn't buy any tobacco like an honest Injun would. Well, me not, Smoke. Where are you taking those bitters? Well, I talk up a little through you and Jay. You'll see here, Sheriff. You can't really rag a customer of mine just because he's a redskill. You keep out of this, Tom. He's got his rights. Injuns are wards of the government. If you'll arrest him for not answering questions, I'll report you to the United States Marshal. Oh, you will, eh? Black Hood, you're the first fellow who ever butted into my business since I took office 20 years ago. I know my job. I get mine in whether they're train robbers or tramps, road agents or redskins. You didn't get Lord Jack. I'm still after that, Robert. He's still laughing at you. Tin star. Black Hood, you. Well, remember that. Thought he was going to plug me. Oh, me sorry may cause trouble. Oh, you're not to blame, Injun. We both have to be on guard. Jim Niles never forgets nor forgives. He's got ice water in his veins and a jail door padlock for a heart. Oh, me savvy. They say he was so strict at home that his mother and his daughter ran away when she was only 12. Still, I have to admit that as far as catching and killing our hoods goes, he's a top-notch sheriff. The score would be perfect if he had gets Lord Jack. Oh, Lord Jack, fella. The stage robber who worked this county seven, eight years back, he always wore a mask and got his name from the lordly way he acted. After each job, he'd send the sheriff a note. Defying him and calling him Tin Star. Oh, now me see why you make a mask. I shouldn't have called him Tin Star knowing that it was like sticking a knife in an old wound, but he had me right. Uh, what do you think happened to Lord Jack? Likely he's dead, but he could be living peaceably right here in town. I would know him and I was a witness to the last hold-up. Uh-huh. When that happened? I'm on the exact date because it was then I first saw Bentonville. June 20th, 1870 it was. That day I was on a stagecoach bound to River City by way of Bentonville. The only other passengers were two women, a dance hall keeper called Madam Stain and a girl who said her name was May. About 25 miles west of here, the old Concord began to bounce over the lot of rocks. Ladies, we hit a rough stretch trail. Better hold on to something. That fellow on the top is going to have a drive. Oh, he's been on board this pretty good and right in the bunk. Oh, the cranky of things. And now we hit another rock. Oh, that confounded driver. Yes. Stuck her head on the door handle. Oh, let me get her back under the seat. Now hand me your candy. Here. She badly hurt? Well, I've seen a lot of busted scowls in my time. I'm afraid she's got one. You can head out the window and tell that driver to hurry. Right. Driver, speed it up. Girls first need the doctor. I can't drive no pair of stairs. Don't be rude. You got more going ahead? Yes. No. There's a big condemnation going on. There's a road agent riding along the side. Where's the man? Oh, driver. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I have the inconvenience. Look here, you. We've got a girl in here that may be dying. Take my diamonds and let the driver stop this thing rolling again. Madam, I never take anything from a passenger. I'd rather expect to carry off the Wells Fargo box that's under the back seat. But if the young lady is injured, well... See that she's hurt, Ben. We've got to rush into River City where there's a good drawbone. The driver's running away. He's gone into the brush. Mister, do you think you can drive this outfit? I'm not even a good hand with two horses, let alone the suit. In that case, I'll hitch my horse behind and take the line for myself. Lord Jack climbed on a box and we really rolled. Right through Bentonville we went with him still wearing his mask. Of course, he was seen. Sheriff Niles and the posse took after us so we beat them to River City by a few minutes. What happened then? Earl May wasn't hurting here as much as we figured. By the time we got a doctor, the posse was in town. Lord Jack had to shoot his way out and in the fracas he put a slug into the sheriff's arm. If he has ever been seen since, nobody knows it or told about it. Soon as they got well, she's there most like him. Oh, that's a strange story. Well, here's your change. Call again if you keep out of jail. A short time later, Tonto rejoined the lone ring and repeated the story of Lord Jack and told of his encounter with the sheriff. After a moment's reflection, the masked man said, Tonto, I planned to tell the sheriff that we had traced Sam the Sledger and his gang into Kiowa County. It now appears that such a step would only get us into trouble with him. Well, better if we work alone. Strange that the outlaws left a clear trail this far and suddenly began using every dodge known to hunted men. They've sent us off the track. Maybe they'll find out we follow trail. That's possible. But why did they come here? They bypassed the Badlands, the natural hideout. That make it look like them got friends here. I think that's the answer. Right now, they may be staying on some ranch instead of conceiving themselves in a cave or shack. Ah. And what do we do? We ride every trail around here showing ourselves and letting it be known that we're after the gang. That may frighten them into running again or bring them out for a fight. Them fellas already killed ten men. Yes, I know. It may cost us our lives. But they must be stopped before they spread their reign of terror all over the west. All right, get mounted. Isla. Come on, please. A friend put his dangerous plan into operation. A rancher who lived several miles beyond the line fighting Kiowa County from another county and state put down a newspaper he'd been reading in the kitchen of his home. He was Joel Denton. Turning to his attractive young wife, he said, May, is Billy Boy asleep? Yes, Bill. Why? I don't want him to hear what I'm going to say. I've been reading about the Slater game. I knew Sam Slater in the old days when I was Lord Jack. He once visited this ranch. I don't see why that should worry you, Joel. The trail of murder these killers are leaving leads this way. He wouldn't dare come here. Maybe not. But I ought to send you and Billy away until I caught him. Away? Where? To my father? The great sheriff, Niles? You were on your way back to him that day we met. Because I was hungry and desperate. That bump on the head saved me the shame of having him slammed the door in my face. Gave me mad and stained friendship. Your love. Your father is still hunting for me. He doesn't stare. He's reformed. He paid back every cent you took. Why, you slayed night and day for years to do it. Even if Wells' father refuses to prosecute me, I'm liable to 20 years in prison on a charge of shooting your father. He'd call it wounding with intent to murder, though it wasn't. Sometimes I almost wish that you had killed him. He never had any feeling from me. He's just a machine, a law machine. He never forgets an outlaw's fate after seeing it once. But I doubt that he'd known me if we ever met again. Howdy, Lord. What? Say him, Slater. And this boy. He's four fingers, a man she's built, out of river kit, and split list. All right. What do you fellas want? You've been reading the paper, pardon me. Change a guess. Don't call me, partner. I never belong to your gang of killers or any other gang. Maybe not. Once you had to have my help in getting rid of some Wells Fargo gold. Wells Fargo has been paid back. I'm going straight. That's all the better for us. Nobody will think of looking for us on an honest gun, Spritz. You can't stay here. Ten six shooters and five rifles say we do. We're cow hands you hired, you're savvy. To cross the unmarked boundary without knowing it, we were within a few miles of Joel Denton's spread. On the following morning, they rode on again. But as they reached a crumpled bushes a short distance from the campsite, the masked man threw rain. What do you see, Kimo Sully? Someone left a horse standing here last night. Watch us. Long time. Their marks were in rest rifles. The good thing one of us was awake all the time. Otherwise, he might have sneaked in close enough to shoot us. Maybe him won about long. We'll kill him and find out. Come on, fill the way. Let's go. A split lip burst into Joel Denton's bunkhouse where the other members of the gang had slept while he watched the trail to the ranch. Rousing them, he reported. Hey, fellas, the masked man and engine are headed this way. How do you know? I found a camp and watched it all night. After a pull out this morning, I saw him again. They were tracking me, but I didn't get a chance to plug him. That's all the better. We'll trap that masked fella alive. Alive? What for? I aim to find out who he is before we kill him. Here's what we'll do. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scene, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Very fast. He's on top of a haystack close to the corral fence. He's just outside the corral fence and crawled up the creek bank. Split-lip clutched the gang leader's arms. There he is. Give him time to get a few yards from the trick. Then we'll fire behind him so he can't turn back. Yeah, sadly, Sam. The haystack's the only place he can take cover, huh? Right. We'll drive him to and the other boys can jump in. Now let's open fire. Thanked by the gunman in the blacksmith shop, the lone ranger could only break for the protection of the hay pile. Bullets kicked up the dust at his heels as he ran. Dodging around the sack, he dropped to one knee and sent two bullets through the shop window. With a wall of his guns drowning out all lesser sounds, the masked man failed to hear the stir above him as the outlaws on top of the sack cast off the thin layer of hay which had covered them. Then Comanche Bill hurt him down upon him, striking him poorly on the shoulder to his wounded feet. The lone ranger went down, arms outstretched, but he still clutched his twin coats. An instant later, the Powder River Kid and Four Fingers dropped from their hiding place and pinioned his arms to the ground. Slater and Slip-Lip ran out of the shop. I'll break his knuckles with my gun, Bill. Let's go, fella. I have. I'll pull him up on his feet. Bill can't help it. There he is, Sam. Stand still, fellow. I'll drill you. What do you want with me? I'll answer questions after I take your mask off. What's going on here? We got the mask man. After I find out who he is, you'll have a burying job to do for us. Lord Jack? That's what you think? He wasn't. As he spoke, the former highwayman who had appeared to be unarmed sidestepped, jerked a .45 from inside his shirt and jammed the muscle against Slater's back. Slater, drop your gun. Tell your killers to do the same. You double-crossing pole, catch me, pay for this. Drop those guns. All right, there goes mine. Drop yours, boys. Flip-lips, Mancheville, and Four Fingers obeyed, but the Powder River Kid, heedless of his leader's safety, fired twice from the hip. Both Joel Devin and Slater fell. Kids, you shot them both. Taking advantage of the Powder River Kid's momentary dismay, the Lone Ranger pivoted and drove a fist against his jaw. As the kid toppled, the masked man scooped up his guns which had remained on the ground. Stand where you are. Keep your hands frozen. The men who were shot, I'll watch the others. Keep looking. My darling, why didn't you stay in the house? And this fellow, only got me content. Him coming too. That's Sam Slater. And those men there belong to his dance. But my husband... Oh, me sorry, but him hurt and he bad. Need God. Tonto, carry him into the house and do what you can to save his life. Then we'll tie these outlaws on their horses. While I take them to the sheriff in Bentonville, you go after a doctor. Yes, get Dr. Hastings in River City. That's the nearest town. And tell Madam Spain at the dance hall that I need her help. Be savvy. It was after dark when the Lone Ranger herded his fallen prisoners into the main street of Bentonville. At the sight of the strange cavalcade, the ever-alert Sheriff Niles, who had been standing in front of a cafe, stepped into the street gun in hand. Be you, fellas. I'm the sheriff. Pull up in the light for this heat rack. Steady, Sheriff. You're the man I want to see. Hold over. Hello, hello, hello. What kind of an air-fitted heat? Hey, you've got a mask on. What's that for? It helps me serve justice. These prisoners are Sam Slater and his killers. What the? The Slater gang. You've certainly read their descriptions? A hundred times. Yes, they're looking nice to promise. How many should you get them? A friend and I had trailed them for several weeks. We found them about ten miles east of River City. Sheriff, I'll tell you where we got captured. It was on Jolgetton's Ranch. That double-crosser used to be the road agent they called Lord Jack. Lord Jack? I knew I'd get that high fleet and I'll reach some time as soon as I jail you crudders. I'll pick up a deputy across the line and go after him. Sheriff, those prisoners are some of the most dangerous men alive. Do you need any help in jailing them? Yes, I don't carton tell the fellas doing the lawman's work. I don't need help or advice either. I see. Come on, go away. Two hours later, the lone ranger stood in the living room of the Danton Ranch House. Within were Toto, Mrs. Danton, Madame Spain, and the doctor. You people had better know right now that officers may arrive at any moment to arrest Danton. Slater identified him to Sheriff Niles as a former stage robber called Lord Jackson. It isn't right. Joel has squared himself. Oh, hush, dear. Your boy will hear you. Where is he? A Mexican crook is sleeping in the kitchen. Yes, sir, that sheriff is Mrs. Danton's father. I brought May and Joel together and put them on the right road. But just let that old curmudgeon come. I've got a big surprise for him. He's coming now. Doctor, we'd better meet him on the porch. Yes, let's do it. Who's there? The guy of the county. There's a big break near this county of state. Boy, it's you last man. Deputy, he's the fellow who captured the slater gang here in Joel Denton's place. Joel Denton was chiefly responsible for the capture. He saved my life and in so doing was so good. I want him for crimes he committed years ago. Now let us hear him. All right. Come in. Where is he? Here. Right in there. But he's unconscious. Now how can you serve a warrant on a man in his condition? Will he come to or die? Sheriff Niles, I don't like this business. Deputy, you do your duty or I'll report you. Listen, you old sidewinder, you haven't got a thing on Joel. Oh, he's wanted on ten counts of stage, Robert. Not anymore. Read this letter I just got today. Eh? Where's Fargo, Ed? I've been dealing with him on Joel's account. He's paid off every cent he took and they promised not the prosecutor. I want Joel Denton for something else and it's something you can't fix. Here's your more, Watson. How does it read? Well, it says that on June 20th, 1870, John Doe ailies, Lord Jack, did feloniously meet Sheriff Jim Niles at Kiowa County while said Sheriff was performing his duty. It seems to be in order. After this deputy arrest Denton, I'll have him extradited and prosecuted to the limit of the law. Sheriff, did you ever hear it said that the quality of mercy is not strange? Nope, but the law is no said the way I enforce it. You're not human. I'm a lawman, lady. Don't you know me? Why should I? I don't pay attention to women. I'm your daughter, May. I'm married to Joel. Really? Yes, I can see it now. You ain't the father of an outlaw's wife, huh? I know it won't do any good to plead with you. You're right, it won't. Let me see, Billy. Come on, John. The Giddy's come through. Now's our chance. Tomorrow make the arrest. One moment, dad. I'd like to say something. Say it, mashman, but talk fast. Sheriff, you're a good lawman. You take a lot of pride in your record. You have a strong sense of duty. But can you find it in your heart to wreck the lies of your daughter and son-in-law? Perhaps even killing you? The law has its limits. It's now the 20th of June, 1877. On my watch, it's a minute to 12 midnight. It's the same time with a grandfather clock in the corner. What are we? In your state, there's a statute of limitations on all crimes except murder. It runs out in seven years. After midnight tonight, you can't arrest Denton for a crime committed over seven years ago. Well, Gene, you're right. You have to crash. I could have delayed the serving of that warrant until it was too late. But I want you to make this decision yourself. I'll get Billy right away, John. Come out of the kitchen, Billy. Your daddy wants to. Mama, who's that man in the mask, sonny? He's a friend, isn't he? Who's that man in there? He's your grandpa, Billy. He's a great sheriff. He always gets his man. I didn't know I had a grandpa. Grandpa, you must be like my daddy. He's caught five real bad men to me and they shot him. My daddy's brave. He's good, too. Sheriff, five seconds to twelve. Grandpa, why don't you say something? What's that paper in your hand? Nothing of any account. I'm tearing it up right now. Then she went in. Once she was an outlaw who called me pinstar and it made me a right man. So I threw my star away. I bet you've got it. Your daughter's getting a natural sleep now. Thank heaven. Nothing happened. Nothing will do. Come on, to him. It's Nashman. Wouldn't a red scheme the first time I saw him. The Nashman isn't any ordinary fellow either. Do you know who he is? The engine told me. He's the lone ranger. by George W. Trundle, produced by Trundle Campbell Enterprises, directed by Charles D. Livingston, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the lone ranger is played by Brace Beamer.
