With the speed of light, a cloud of dots, and a hearty, high of silver. The Lone Ranger, 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 from the direction of the stable behind Ma Hank's hotel in Modoc City. Cindy Powers, who was in the hotel kitchen with the huge landlady, looked at her in alarm. Ma, what's happening out there? But that's your Uncle Homer. What's he doing now? He's using my stable for a shooting gallery. Ever since he helped an ass man catch those two outlaws, Big Nose and Horse Face, and got their guns, he's been burning powder. I'm afraid he's headed for more trouble. Well, Marshal Jim made him an honorary deputy and gave him a badge. Now he thinks he's a two-gun lawman. Marshal Jim should have known better than to do a thing like that. I reckon he wanted to make up for jailing your uncle. Here he comes now. Howdy, Cindy! Howdy, madam! Uh, me more Hank! Oh, Uncle Homer, you're a sight. Your clothes are all bitter. I've been lying on the ground and shooting at a nut hole in the barn. Maybe you think you're a curly wolf, but I'll take the curling to protect myself. Well, my life is in danger. As Jim says, that unless the masked man catches Billy Be Hung, that Al Hoop may come back and plug me. Oh, maybe you should go back and eat. Never, never. I aim to do my part in taming the Wild West, even if I have to die with my boots on. All right, two-gun Homer, you go clean up for supper. Right! Oh, the West sure has changed Uncle Homer a lot. Yeah, but sure has, Cindy. But he hit down. He was a highfalutin' New York lawyer who used big words and hated everything out here. He wanted to go right back east. So you stopped him by having him jailed as a counter-setter. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. But Billy Be Hung and the other jailbreak and Al Hoop carried him along with them, thinking he was a real crook. Then he almost got lynched. And now he thinks he's a lightning and a leather gunman who can outgrow and out-shoot the toughest hombres around. Ah, such a man. Well, Uncle Homer really did help the masked man capture Billy Be Hung's partner's horse-facing big nose. If he's a peppery little critter. Well, I'm beginning to like him. Several hours later, Uncle Homer swaggered up to the door of the Moodock City Jail and knocked. A peephole opened. Then the door was unlocked and opened. Marshal Jim Fraser greeted him with a grin. Come in, Uncle Homer. Howdy, Marshal! I see you've got your badge and guns on. Yep. How are you making out with your gun practice? Well, I'm either mighty good or mighty poor with a six-shooter. The day after I got through shooting at a knob hole in Mar Hanks' stable, I couldn't find the bullet mark anywhere. Ah, do you think your bullets all went through the hole? Either that, or I didn't even hit the side of the barn. How are your prisoners acting? Ah, they're too quiet. They don't even grouch about me keeping ball and chain on their legs. I don't like it. It'll be a month before they can be tried and sent to prison. They may break out again. I'm doing everything I can to hold them. Well, I've been staying here every night with Jeff, the turnkey. Marshal, you're not getting enough rest. You ought to let me take a turn in guarding the varmints. I hear taking that badge too seriously. You're not a real officer, you know. I wasn't a real prisoner when you had me locked up, but I didn't know that either. You made me a deputy, and that's what I'm going to be. At that moment, the Lone Ranger and Toto rode out of the mountains and turned their horses into a trail that led to Modoc City. The masked man was saying, Toto, we've lost the trail of Billy B. We find force. Apparently he left it and boarded a freight train on the Denver line. Maybe him go to Denver. The same line run through Modoc City. He could have gone back there. Try to free the outlaws who were recaptured. He also had the store to settle with Uncle Homer. So we returned to town and warned the Markinger and Toto continued on their way to Modoc City. The back door in Red Jack Mason's gambling casino near Maughank's hotel was opened cautiously. The proprietor, a tall, thin man with a sallow complexion and beady eyes, looked up from a ledger in which he had been noting the profits of his establishment. His pen fell from his hands. Billy, be gone. That's so loud, Red Jack. How'd you get back here? Just got off a freight train. I aimed to break my partners out of the pokey and kill the founder, fit and clear, who double-crossed. He wasn't the kind of fitter. Maughank had him jailed for a joke. But the joke was on you, fellas. Who in thunder is he? An Eastern lawyer named Homer Potts. But he's gone plenty west of it. The marshal's given him a badge and he packs two guns. Oh, so there's a little varmint of lawmen now. And he talks mighty big about getting you a hide if he ever runs into you again. I'll show him. You can't stay here, Billy. Why not? I don't want to get sent back to the pen for hiding you. You won't go back if you follow my orders. But you go somewhere else if you don't. And that somewhere is Booth Hill. How do you say, Billy? Don't shoot me, Billy. I'll do what I can for you. But I want something out of it. I furnished you with guns and horses before and didn't get a stand. That wasn't my fault. You even lost the gold you had stashed in that old mine. Some hombre in a mask got the gold away from it. Even an engine tried to track me down after I got out of the mine. But I fooled him by hopping the freight. I hear that the government got the gold. So he must be some kind of lawman, huh? I'm dead sure that he worked with a marshal. What happened to Big Nose and Horsese? I say the marshal's got him in irons to keep him from breaking out again. He's staying at the jail nights and keeping the doors barred. Yeah. I figured to hold up the place and get the keys. He'll get plugged if he try that. Maybe. And maybe not. I'm about the size of that mask man. By wearing the same kind of mask and white hat that he does, I could get the marshal to open up. Yeah. Maybe you could fool him long enough to get in. Once I'm inside, I'll use a gun. What do you want me to do? I want you to get me a white hat and a black cloth for a mask. Also three good horses and some guns for Big Nose and horse face. I'm going to stay in your cellar. Now, you're asking for a lot. We'll cut you in for a quarter of the money. Just as soon as we can hold up another train. I'll take the chance to fix you up. It was shortly after dark when the Lone Ranger and Tonto entered the outskirts of Modoc City. Riding through vacant plots and alleys, they soon reached the rear of the jail. He dismounted and knocked on a back door. Marshal Jim took a look through the peephole and admitted them. He joined him in greeting the mask man and Indian. As the four men shook hands, the marshal asked, Where's Billy behind? He gave us a slip. There's a chance that he's in Modoc City now. Then I'll go looking for the bomber. Uncle Homer, you take it easy. Now, mister, why do you think that Al Hoot is in town? Who'd hide him? Well, he has at least one accomplice who isn't under arrest. That's so. Somebody furnished him and his partners with guns and horses when they broke jail. That fellow could be helping him again. Did Billy B. Hung, Horseface, and Big Nose have any friends here that you know about? Not a one. As far as I know, those crooks were never in town until I jailed them. The guns and horses could have been supplied by an outsider. My friend and I will scout around town for a while. We may learn something. I sure hope so. Now, I'll open the door. Let me know how you come out. Pardon me. And then Uncle Homer heard another knock on the back door of the jail. The masked man in town must be back. It can't be that they found out much. I'll take a peek outside. Yes, it's the masked man, all right. But, mister, what? Marshal, here he's drawing a gun. Freeze, you fellas. That's not our friend. That boy, it's Billy B. Hung. Yeah, and I got a present for you, you double-crosser. The deadly voice of Billy B. Hung left no doubt in Uncle Homer's mind about the fate he faced. As the outlaw's colt swung toward him, he tried to draw his gun. It was a hopeless move. The bandit's gun blazed. The little New Yorker pitched to the floor. Marshal Jim's hand had gone to his gun butt, but Billy B. Hung was too fast for him. Before the lawman's peacemaker cleared leather, the outlaw had a still-smoking gun barrel jammed against his breath. I'm taking that gun and your key. You'll swing for this. Maybe. There. I got what I want. You keep ahead of me. We're going back to the cells and let my partners out. Oh, Jesus, the key to the cell block. Find it yourself. I can do that, too. Ah, this one's stiff. Horse face, big nose, get ready to go. Hey, man, he'll plug me in the shoulder and call it. You stand there, lawman. Now I'll let you out, big nose. Now we're going to get these giants off. Still got the hacksaw blades I used to saw the bars out of the window when we broke out before. Here's one for each of you, and I'll get this. Right. Into that cell, Marshal. What for? I'm locking you up in your own pocket. Well, I don't get the relevant. Because lawmen never quit looking for you after you've plugged one of their kind. Inside, I said. I won't be in here long. And it won't take us long to get away, either. Hurry up, big nose. My shoulder's still sore from that masked man's bullet. I'm having trouble cutting the anchor line. The home ranger and the bottle rode up to the back door of the jail after an unsuccessful... It looked like Billy Behun give a slip again. He's far too dangerous to be allowed to remain at large. We'll keep after him. No matter where he leads us. King's a rat on the back door. The outlaws in the cell block froze for a moment. Then Billy Behun pass the marshal's gun to horse face. Take this and cover me. I'll see who it is. Lawmen, if you want to live, keep still. Maybe it's a nice turnkey. We can grab him and lock him in with a marshal. Masked man and engine are outside. What do we do? Let them in and get their guns before they know what's coming off. I want to know who they are. If they're not real lawmen, we'll make cold meat of them. Don't open up before this is... 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. Dark City Jail. The Lone Ranger and Toto had knocked on the back door. Thinking to trap them, the outlaw had unlocked the door after trying several keys. The Lone Ranger sensed that something was wrong and warned Toto. The marshal knows which key fit this door. As the door swung halfway in without revealing the marshal, the Lone Ranger bounded to the threshold, guns gone. Toto was at his heels. Billy Behun and Horseface, who had flattened themselves against opposite walls, leveled their weapons. Billy was calling... Stop your guns, you fellas. We've got you coming. Recognizing Horseface, the Lone Ranger dropped to one knee and took cover behind a half-open door. He fired three shots around the edge. It was a difficult position from which to fire, but one of his bullets nicked Horseface's arm. The outlaw roared. I'll kill you for that. He triggered shots at the door, ricocheted from the iron which plated it. Then Horseface turned and fled. Holding his position, Billy Behun fired six times. Lone Ranger's gun arm appeared around the door, but his bullets whistled harmlessly into the alley. Billy, bring the keys up the other door. As Horseface dodged back into the cell block, the Lone Ranger called to Toto. Guard the front door and fire an alarm signal. He do it, Toto. His six-shooter empty, Billy Behun retreated into the jail office and attempted to snatch up the guns which had been in Uncle Homer's holster when he fell. Don't touch those guns. Seeing that the Lone Ranger was close behind him and still had at least one gun that contained live shells, Billy Behun halted and straightened. Don't shoot. At the same moment, Horseface regained a little courage and fired from inside the cell block. A bullet ripped through the Lone Ranger's hat. He whirled to meet the menace from behind, giving Billy Behun a chance to flee. The outlaw ran down the corridor and out of the back door to the alley. He was yelling, Come on, fellas! Come on! Neither Horseface nor Big Nose tried to follow him. Big Nose had not yet freed himself from his irons. Horseface, who had emptied the marshal's gun and had no extra ammunition, grabbed up the fallen chain he had cut from his leg. Swinging it like the chained hammer used by athletes, he let it fly at the masked man. The deadly missile missed him by inches and thudded into a wall. Then the Lone Ranger rushed into the cell block and closed with Horseface. A slight bullet wound suffered by the bandit had not impaired his strength. He fought desperately until the masked man unleashed a smashing blow to his head. Hey, sir! And that, staggering back into an open cell, Horseface collapsed on a bunk. I've been in the back, quick. Maskman, can you let me out? No, Marshal. The masked outlaw carried off the keys. Would he Billy be hung? He sure was. I mistook him for you. That's how he got inside. Father, come around to the back door and guard some prisoners. Leave down plenty of people coming. Marshal, will you soon be able to get somebody to bring tools and release you? I sure hope so. Is Uncle Homer dead? I haven't had time to examine him, but I'll do it now. Poor little fellow was game. What's the word, mister? He's still breathing, but he's badly wounded. I'll take him to the Henry house. Do that. If it's nursing he needs, he'll get it from my Hank and his meet Cindy. There, I have him. As soon as I do what I can for Uncle Homer, I'll go after Billy be hung. May not know him. Get away. He ran out the back door, Tonto. He may have had a horse waiting. You need help with Homer, Tonto? No, I'll manage to mount. You guard horse face and big nose until the marshal can be freed. Then not get away. Dismounting there, the lone ranger carried Uncle Homer into the kitchen. Ma Hank and Cindy jumped up from the table where they came sitting. What's happened, mister? Billy be hung, shot him. And I didn't think he was in any danger. He'll need good care. You can bet he'll get it. Just give him to me and I'll carry him to a bedroom. We got him into this. We shouldn't have let him go back to New York. Ah, you just quit your sniveling, Cindy. After Billy be hung. ...pulled the town and examined each trail for fresh hoop prints. It was a moonlight night, but the ground was so dry and hard that the reading of trail sign would have been difficult in daylight. He had almost reached his starting point when he came upon a little used trail where tracks showed. He pulled up. Oh, easy to do now. Swinging from the saddle, the masked man knelt for a closer look. As he did so, he heard hoofs approaching from behind. Soon a dozen riders swept down upon him from a hill. A man in the lead was yelling, There he is! Time to take his gun. Right. There's the other. Stage, he says. I'm hunting that outlaw myself. If you look here on this trail, you'll find the tracks of a hard-ridden horse which headed out of town a short time ago. You can't come that on us, fella. You'll Billy be hung yourself. Sure. Marshal Jim, give us your description. He said you had on a mask and a white hat when you bust it into the jail and try to get your partners out. Where is the marshal now? He'll be along in a little while. But it won't do you any good. It sure won't. You'll Billy be hung and you'll be hung by a thunder. I'll get malaria. Tie his hand and take off his mask, Joe. Let somebody else do that. I'll do it. I'll handle the rules. Bo's face? Never saw it. Then it won't do any good to take off my mask. If you'll wait until the marshal arrives, he'll tell you that I helped recapture Horseface and Big Nose on the escape several weeks ago. Here goes the rope around his neck. You'll answer the marshal, Jim. Uh, say, Joe, wait a minute. The marshal will be mighty put out if we linch this all, dude. Let him be put out. The only way to keep the barman from breaking into jail and out is to stretch his neck. We might end up in jail ourselves. I don't know how to get rid of him. Yeah, what's that? Down in old Mexico, they've got a way of lynching fellas so it can't be proved. Never heard of it. It's called the law of flight. I don't savvy that. It's mighty simple, Joe. All you do is make a prisoner run and shoot him and say he tried to get away. Just don't shoot so close you'll leave powder burns on him. That's an idea, Bill. All right, Billy behind you. You're going to be Billy B's shot. I'll take the rope off your neck. Then we'll have a look at your feet. And then you'll run. A few feet. Must be the marshal, Bill. I mean, there's an Indian horse face and big nose from escaping twice now. But he's rigged out like he said that outlaw was. I didn't think of the trouble it might cause this man. Billy B. Hung knew the masked man here had helped the law and could get into the jail without being questioned. So he put on a white hat and mask himself. That's how he fooled me. Well, I'll be doing it. You mistook the owl hoot for him and we mistook him for the owl hoot. Mr. We're mighty sorry about this. You needn't apologize. But I hope you take this experience to heart and let the law take its course in the future. We sure will. By this time, Billy B. Hung has such a head start that it will take days, perhaps weeks, to run him down. Sun, clouds, cover, moon. It looks like a storm is brewing. What do we do, Kim Sully? We haven't provisions enough for a long hunt, Otto. Shall we go back to town? After you buy what we need, meet me at Moorhanks. Me sorry. I'm going back with you. Two outlaws in jail are worth one in the mountains. If I can just keep them there. We'll ride on a ways, my girl. A short time later, the Lone Ranger stood in Moorhanks' kitchen. With him were Moorhanks, Cindy, and Marshal Jim. The masked man was asking... Oh, how is Uncle Homer? Mr. Sawbones, who's with the little critter now, says he'll leave. But he'll be in bed for a month or so. Has he said anything? Nope, nothing. Except that he'd rather have a good woman than two guns. Mrs. Henry, he needs protection. Billy B. Hung may return to Modoc City again. Just let that varmint show himself around here. Why, I'll steal him so full of buckshot that he'll make an answer for... What will I do if I get word that one of that owl who's old prison mates is living here? Do anything unless you know that Billy B. Hung is with him. Simply watch him as much as possible. Ah, Sally. It's Billy B. Hung we want. He's become one of the most dangerous criminals that will raise international difficulties. He may go even further the next time he strikes. A masked man? Never mind his mask, Doc. He's a friend of mine. But I don't understand. You don't need to, Doc. You just keep your mind on Uncle Homer Potts. You look puckered out yourself. As the feller says, I'm going to pot. Or maybe it's... All right, then we'll ride on Billy B. Hung's trail at daybreak. I'll have to go, too. Oh, Marshal Jimby, you have to go back to that old jail tonight. Yes, Cindy. I left some deputized citizens in charge of Horseface and Big Nose, and they'll want to go home. But it... Don't always be like this. Adios. Ah, Hank. I know you make some strange friends. But, uh... Who is that masked man? Why, Doc, he's something like you. Yes? He fights to save lives, too. He's the Lone Ranger. Oh, too. ...by Trendle Campbell Enterprises, directed by Charles D. Livingston, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.
