A hairy horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high-oat 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. Fullback Bobby is a boy of nine. He can really hit that line. He's the star 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. Yes, it's a fact. Cheerios does give you real go-power. 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. And Cheerios is so much fun to eat with its distinctive O shape and its wonderful toasted oat flavor. So tomorrow morning and every morning, start the day right with a Cheerios breakfast. Then you'll hear people say, He's feeling his Cheerios. With his faithful Indian companion Toto, 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 go, big fella. I am Silver. Shortly after three o'clock, one afternoon in early spring, four killers drew their weary horses to a halt in the hills in southwestern Texas. A heavyset, scar-faced bank robber and murderer named Buck Banner dismounted and led his white horse to a nearby spring. We'll fill our canteens, boys, and water the horses. All right. These critters need rest, Buck. We've been traveling hard. Yeah, we'll rest them here for a couple of hours. Thanks, Nick. We ought to keep going, Buck. We're ahead of the masked man and Indian who are after us. We can't be sure of that. Shut up for you, Gloomy. Yeah, ever since we found out the Lone Ranger was trailing us, you've been worse company than usual. With a redskin to cut sign for him, he'll stay on a trail. We can't lose him. We've been wasting time trying to cover our tracks. Covering our tracks will slow him down. Maybe. I'd like to draw a bead on that masked law dog. We ought to set up an ambush for him, Buck. He'll have a better idea. Huh? Break out the grub, Jawbone. Yeah. We'll have a meal while I tell you what I've got in mind. I hope it's a good idea. It is. A lot of fellas have tried to gun that masked man, Buck. We're not gunning for him, Gloomy. We won't get him any other way. We'll set the law after him. How? By framing him. How can you frame the Lone Ranger? Easy. There's a lawman near here who's new on the job. You mean Marshal John Riot and Nero? Yeah. Chances are he's never heard of the Lone Ranger. I doubt that. At least twice he doesn't know the masked man. What's that got to do with framing? We need cash, Flux. Yeah. Yeah, I know that as well as you do. We'll get it and frame the Lone Ranger for the robbery. If things work out as I figure, we'll cross the border with cash and gold enough to last a long, long time. Where are you going to get that much money? When the eastbound stage passes painted rocks on the six o'clock run tonight, we'll stop it. The eastbound to Denver, huh? Yeah. The strongbox it carries ought to hold plenty. Hey, I heard businessmen in towns west of here send their paper money and gold to Denver to be back. They do. Stage light insures the shipment. Yeah. You can afford to insure them. With shotgun Dave Morgan riding the stage's guard, he's double barrel poisoned, the hour hoops. A taste of lead will take care of shotgun. With you fellas to cover me, I'll pull the robbery dressed as the Lone Ranger. Lone Ranger? I'll cut a mask out of the old black vest in my saddlebag. I've got a white horse and Jawbone's riding the paint. But nobody's mistake those critters of Scout and Silver. They couldn't be fooled in plain daylight, but it starts to get dark around six o'clock. You figure there won't be light enough for the guard and driver to get a good look at you, huh? That's right, Tex. They'll see a masked gen on a white horse and a dark-skinned, black-haired fellow on a paint. We'll let them live to report what they see to Marshal Wright. Then the Marshal will be looking for the Lone Ranger in Tonto. Well, we'll have cash enough to cross a border in style. If we live to cross it. Shotgun Maldon... While Jawbone and I stop the stage, you and Saks open fire on the guard and driver from cover, Gloomy. If you act fast, shotgun won't have a chance to get it. That's savvy, Buck. All right, as soon as we eat, I'll cut out a mask and help Jawbone disguise himself to look like a red skin. Jawbone's skin was deeply tanned and his hair jet black. When they left for painted rocks later that afternoon, even Gloomy had to admit that the killer resembled an Indian. 5.45 that evening, they reached the place on the stage trail known as Painted Rocks. Protests boulders large enough to conceal men and horses studded the sloping hills bordering the trail. Saks and Gloomy selected places of shelter halfway up the slope, while Buck Banner and Jawbone waited on the trail below. As he checked his weapons, Gloomy shook his bald head disapprovingly. Oh, what's wrong, Gloomy? Well, this whole dad ratted plans loco, Saks. You don't have to stick with us if you don't want to go along with us. Oh, no, no. Every lawman this side of Illinois wants me for something. As long as I stay with you fellas, there's three guns on my side. Besides, the four of us have been together a long time. Yeah, and the law hasn't caught up with us yet. The law doesn't worry me half as much as a lone ranger. Buck's making a big mistake posing as a masked man. With that mask over his face, he looks like the lone ranger. Hey, listen. It's a few minutes early. All right, get set, the gunshot gun and the driver. From their place of concealment close to the trail, Buck and Jawbone waited tensely with drawn guns. As the stage rounded a turn and came into view, the outlaws spurred their horses. Shotgun Dave Morgan and the driver had a brief glimpse of a masked man on a white horse and a dark-skinned, dark-haired man on a paint. As Morgan grabbed his shotgun, Jackson Gloomy fired. The guard and driver fell from the stage to the ground. Keep him covered. Well, I see if they caught you. That driver's alive. He stopped a bullet in the shoulder and wrapped his head when he fell. Shotgun's head was grazed by a bullet. Yeah, we'll get the strong box and clear out of here before they come through. When shotgun Dave and Whip Dugan, the stage driver, regained consciousness, the killers had left the scene of the holdup. Whip struggled to a sitting position. Take it easy, Whip. You all right, Dave? Yeah. At least we got a look at him, Dave. We'll be able to tell Marshal Ryot what the coyotes look like. The moon was high overhead when Dave Morgan halted the stagecoach in front of Marshal John Ryot's office in the town of Nero. The lawman sent for a doctor at once and listened in grim-faced silence to the account of the robbery. The masked man and engine must have had a couple of pals planted on the hill above the trail. They opened fire on us before we had a chance to shoot. Did you see the men who fired? No, Marshal. The only ones we saw were the masked man and red skin. The masked man had a white horse. The engine was on a paint. Thirty-five thousand dollars in gold and paper money was in the strong box. They got every bit of it. They won't get far with it, Whip. You going after him now, Marshal? Yeah. Well, I'll ride with you. Oh, no, you'll hurt, Dave. Just scratched. All right, then let's go. Meanwhile, the lone ranger and Tonto had found the camp where Buck Banner and his killers rested that afternoon. They followed the trail from there. Tracks easier to read now, Kematavich. Yes, they're heading for the stage trail. You think them robbed the stage? We'll still know whether they did or not. I won't do it. A short time later, the masked man and his Indian friend drew rain on the trail at Painted Rocks. By the light of a brilliant moon, they studied the tracks. They stopped the stage, all right, Tonto? Here's a place where the stage turned round. Head back to town. And here are the tracks of four riders. Someone come this way from something. You better get out of sight. Come on, come on. We'll move to the shoulder of those boulders. A few minutes later, Marshal John Riot and shotgun Dave Morgan drew rain and dismounted. The wounded guard showed the lawman the tracks on the ground, then headed for the boulders, concealing the masked man and Tonto. I'll show you where those coyotes waited in ambush for us, Marshal. These boulders are big enough to hide a man on a horse. Hey, what's the... At the sight of the Lone Ranger and Tonto, the lawman and Dave Morgan reached for guns. Don't finish that draw. I'll kill you. The masked man's hands dropped to his holster. Silver bullet smashed the guns. The guard and lawman drew. You dirty drag, don't you, Rattler? I told you not to draw. You smashed my guns. Keep them covered, Tonto, while I take your other weapons. Me, Fabby. I'll take that hunting knife, Marshal. You won't get away with this, mister. You and your friends started the gunplay. I just want to make sure you don't try another fast move. Where's the rest of your gang? What? You heard me. What brought you back to the scene of the hold-up? What do you mean, back to the scene? Don't try to act innocent, mister. I got a good look at you and your pal when you stopped the stage. You think we robbed the stage? I know you did. You make big mistakes. Buck Bannon and his men committed the robbery. I've heard of Buck Bannon. So why? But you won't get away with blaming him for a robbery you pulled. Far as I know, he's in Dakota territory. We followed him from there. Yeah, a likely story. Mask, friend, not cook. His lone ring. No matter what he calls himself, he's a crook in my book, and so are you, Injun. You're wearing a United States Marshal's badge. I'm John Riot, United States Marshal of Nero. And this is Shotgun Dave Morgan, the guard you've gunned in the robbery this evening. You're mistaken, Marshal. Tonto and I aren't outlaws. Save your breath. Yes, that's good advice. Tie their hands, Tonto, while I keep them covered. Ah, meet Bevy. We'll leave them here and go after Bannon, these men. A few minutes later, Shotgun Dave and Marshal Riot watched helplessly, while the Lone Ranger and Tonto mounted Scout and Silver. Easy, fella. I hope we meet again, Marshal. You hope we meet again. Mister, I'm living for the day when I can put you behind bars for keeps. You're a hard man to convince. Adios. Come on, Tonto. Come on, Tonto. Get up! Oh, Dan Reddit, I'd give 20 years of my life for a gun and a chance to use it. Take it easy, Marshal. Easy. With two crooks getting away, leaving me hogtied like this. The engine didn't tie these ropes tight. I think I could work them loose. Even if we get free, we've got no guns. I have a couple of spare six-shooters in my saddlebag. Well, in that case, things aren't as bad as I thought. But, we'll continue our Lone Ranger adventure in just a moment. All over the country, in every direction, All you, how you're doing is a question. And here's what happens that these people have to say. Do, do, do, and okay, okay. Sure, take champion Bob Cousy, who can really make a basketball do tricks. Bob was born in New York, plays with the famous Boston Celtics, leads them all in fast break play, and Cousy knows the champion way. Starts his day the Wheaties way. Take Neil Johnston, another great champ from the East. Say Neil has been eating Wheaties since he was three feet tall instead of six foot eight. Grew up a long ways on them, didn't he? Mighty appetizing eating. And there's a whole kernel of wheat in every Wheaties flake. Keep on eating your Wheaties. Let's do, do, do, do, and okay. Now, to continue. It took some time for Shotgun Dave to loosen the ropes around his wrist, but finally he freed his hand. As he rubbed his wrist, he said, The masked man took my knife, but I'll be able to undo the knots and the rope around my ankles, and I'll work on yours, Marshal. Yeah, a knife would be mighty handy right now. Don't worry. You'll be out of those ropes in no time, Marshal. Then we'll get my guns from the saddlebag and start after those two. Next time we meet, I'm going to take them by surprise. A short time later, the Marshal and Shotgun Dave were in the saddle. Unaware of the Lone Ranger's purpose in leaving a clear, easy-to-read trail, the guard grinned. These tracks would be a cinch to follow, Marshal. I'm surprised the masked man and engine didn't try to cover the trail. If we hurry, we might be able to overtake him before morning. Yeah, I hope so. Get up, man. Come on, get up. Late that night, Buck Banner and his men were riding through the Flathead Hills. Gloomy shifted his weight in the saddle and whined. Oh, great sakes alive, Buck. How far are you going before making camp for the night? I know what I'm looking for, Gloomy. Well, I'm tired enough to sleep in the saddle. Yeah, so am I. How much farther do you plan to travel tonight, Burk? There's a place ahead where we'll find a first-rate campsite job. We've passed half a dozen good ones in the last 20 minutes. The place I'm thinking of gives a clear view of the trails. We'll camp there and post the lookout. We'll camp here. Oh, that's the best news I've heard in a long time. See what I told you about this place? Yeah, you're right, Buck. Lookout will be able to make sure no one takes us by surprise. That's the idea. We'll break out our gear and bed down for the night. Right. After taking the saddles from their horses and spreading blankets on the ground, the four men relaxed for the first time in many weeks. Now, this is the first time I've drawn an easy breath since we found out the Lone Ranger was after. One of us has got to stand watch. Yeah. I'm too doggone tired to keep my eyes open, Buck. I'll stand watch if no one else will. And you're half asleep already. Gloomy. Yeah. Yeah? How about watching for the first two hours and wake someone else? I'll be able to take over then. And you can turn in for the rest of the night, Gloomy. Oh, all right. I reckon I might as well get my turnover with. Hook. Keep your eyes on the trail below. Hey, well, don't worry. I know I'll have a stand watch. All right. Let's bed down there. Buck, Jawbone, and Sacks were soon asleep in their blankets. To keep himself awake, Gloomy paced back and forth for some time. Then he sat down at the base of a huge tree. Resting his back against the trunk, he studied the moonlit trail below. Like a slow poison, the outlaw's deep exhaustion crept through his body, drugging his senses. He thought of the days and nights spent on the trail without sleep to keep ahead of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Oh, I hope those two are rotten behind bars. A thin smile twisted his lips as his heavy eyelids closed. His bald head dropped to his chest. Gloomy was fast asleep a few minutes later when the Lone Ranger and Tonto approached the well-chosen campsite. As he studied the tracks on the ground, the last man murmured. They can't be far ahead of us, Tonto. Isn't that right? Look, look. In the moonlit clearing ahead, they saw the sleeping killers. The Lone Ranger drew rain. Move over, move over. But as Silver and Scout halted in the shadow of giant trees, Gloomy suddenly wakened. Well, what's that noise? Easy, silly, big fella. Something waken me. You're covered. Who are you? Where are you? Show yourself. Take another sound and you'll stop a bullet. The Lone Ranger stepped from the shadows with a colt in each hand. Gloomy screamed in fear. It's the Mast Man, the Lone Ranger. As a fighting killer backed away from the Mast Man, Buck, Jawbone, and Sacks wakened. Covered by two guns, Gloomy didn't dare fire his own weapon. Don't shoot. Don't shoot me, mister. No! In his panic-stricken retreat, Gloomy stumbled and fell. His gun fired, but the shot went wild. Get the Mast Man. The Lone Ranger. Get your hands up. You're covered. I'll kill you. No! A silver bullet struck Buck's arm before his gun cleared leather. Tonto fired from the shadows. Oh, you. Jawbone screamed and reeled back with a bullet in the shoulder. As Sacks swung his gun to shoot Tonto, the Mast Man fired again. A silver bullet burned the outlaw's gun hand. Can I give up? Don't shoot me. I dropped my gun. Keep your hands up and get over there with the others. Who are you, chug-headed? You would have stand watch. I must have fallen asleep for a minute. At that moment, Marshal John Wyatt and shotgun Dave Morgan drew rain in the moonlit clearing. Buck Banner saw the glittering badge on the lawman's vest. A U.S. Marshal. Yeah, we did. I don't want anything. Keep your hands where they are. What in carnation's going on here? I told you Buck Banner and his men committed the stage robbery, Marshal. That's Buck Banner. And these fellas are the owl hoots who travel with him. I've seen handbills on all of them. Chances are you'll find the stolen money in their saddlebags, as well as the black mask. And there's the white horse. Yeah, and there's the paint belonging to one of them. Those are their saddlebags, Dave. All right, Marshal. Believe me, I'd like to kill you. Don't blame me. This is your fault, Buck. My fault? Well, it was your idea to frame the Mast Man engine for that robbery. You figured the Marshal would be looking for them instead of us. I was looking for them when I came here. I hoped you'd follow our trail, Marshal. I found the cash in gold that scum stole from the strongbox, Marshal. What's more, I found the black mask one of them wore when they stopped the stagecoach. I, yes, I was wrong about the masked man and engine. I'll keep the crooks covered while you tie their hands, Dave. Right. I'll take it easy, will you? I've heard. I've been wounded. We'll take care of your wounds after your hands are tied. Oh, give me a chance to talk, Marshal. I'll turn safe evidence if it'll save my name. You yellow-backed squealer. I don't want to die. Well, Marshal, you've recovered the loot and captured Bannon, these men. I, I didn't do a thing, mister, but follow your trail. But you have them now. If it's all right with you, Todd and I will be on our way. Mister, I owe you a heap of things. Oh, forget it. By the way, here are the knives I took from you and the guard. Oh, thanks. I'm sorry we made a mistake. Well, that's all right. Easy. Anything, fellas? All set, fellow? Ready. Keep it, Bobby. Why, uh, I'm downright sorry I doubted you when you told me who you are. Next time we meet, I won't have to identify myself. You're doggone right, you won't. I'll never forget you. Adios. So long, and thanks. One, two, and... Oh, that'll hold you critters with a trip to town. All four of these coyotes are wanted for hanging crimes, Dave. Oh, I knew this would happen. I felt it in my bones. I'd like to break every bone in your body. I tried to warn you, Buck, but you wouldn't listen to me. Oh, no. You figured you were smarter than the Lone Ranger. A copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated is produced by Trendle 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. Good. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you.
