horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high-o silver, the Lone Ranger. Where in the written history of the United States will you find the name of the Lone Ranger, most picturesque and colorful character ever to ride the plains and prairies of the Old West? No one ever knew where he came from, nor where he went. The Lone Ranger was a phantom figure, a masked rider of justice who rode the trails of long ago to right the wrongs of the oppressed. People of seven states had thrilled to his daring actions. Though the history books have forgotten him, the early pioneers will always remember his courageous spirit, which so typified the nation-builders of yesteryear. Listen to those silver-shod hoofs. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, silver old boy! That's it, old fellow! Stretch out those great legs of yours! Donald's waiting for us! The cattlemen of the West banded together to keep the sheep raisers off the rangelands, but found they'd have to fight stiff opposition. Tonight's Lone Ranger adventure concerns as its central figure, Amos Franklin, who owned thousands of sheep which grazed on the open range surrounding the town of Mariposa. As our first scene opens, we see Vince Bennett and his friend Scar Gordon, the outlaw, riding through the night toward the direction of Franklin's home. Think we went far enough with our job, Gordon? Sure thing. That sheep heard Amos Franklin. Don't start something narrow. He never will. It'll be pretty late when we get to his house. Hope he'll be there. Where else could he go? You know, Vince, how much he'd be welcome around the town, don't you? Yeah. Being a man in town wouldn't enjoy starting an argument with Franklin. Well, said argument, it'd lead to bullets. One less sheep herder to spoil the land for cattle. Yeah. Gordon. Huh? I've been doing some thinking. Well? Who was it that'd give you that scar on your face? What's it tell you? I'm just asking. Bull McPherson. Why? Big cattle man, ain't he? Yeah. The scar ain't all they done to me. Made it so hot for me, I don't dare show myself around any man's ranch. Sizable price on your head. Well, I'll get along with that prod and cattle. I wonder if your scheme and fiction, the Franklin sheep, ain't just partly for cash profit and part for revenge on Bull McPherson. What do you care, Vince? As long as you get paid. I don't. A man can be curious, though, can't he? If he ain't too much so. It's just as wild if a man minds his own affairs. Sure. Get up there. Get along, boy. Hope the cash return from this scheme of yours is as big as you say it's to be. Listen, Vince, don't you worry about that. If we don't get rich from this job I got planned, my name ain't Scar Gorton. Maybe your name ain't that. Huh? Plenty men left their real names east of the Mississippi. Oh, there's Franklin's place. Oh, boy there. Oh, boy there. The scheme is for me to go on ahead, ain't it? Yes, sir. Oh, see that you're posed as a cattleman and carried off in good shape. I am to make old Franklin shell out some of his hidden cash money. Now, you wait here. Come on, boy. Come on. Get up there. Come on. Whoa. Whoa, boy. Like with the old galoots of bed. Well, I'll wake him pronto. Hey there, Franklin. Amos, you there? Who's there? Open up. I'm from the South Range with word for you. Just a minute. I've rid all the way here to pass a warning to you. Warning? I've had them before. Yeah? Well, get this. Your doggone sheep spoiled the North Range for cattle. What's more, they've been at all the good watering places around here, so a cow can't get a drink no more. Ain't my fault if cows are so pernickety. They won't drink where the sheep's been. No? What's more, I got as much right here as any cowman has, and I aim to stay here. Amos, this is the last warning. You'll find your herder hogtied, his dog shop, and no end of sheep on their backs and gullies. I reckon they won't last very long. Why, you, you ornery? That's the last time you get warnings. Next time, it'll be you the boys will come for. That's all I got to say. Think it over in full stakes. Just think it over mighty good. You dog killer, you ornery coyote. Dad-ratted snake, you. Indian? Do you hear what that polecat's done? Uh, I don't hear. Uh, killed my dog. Rote my herder. Put the wind of sheep on the back so they can't get up on the feet again. You got plenty good sheep. Most valuable breeze there is. Amigo. Fine herder. Cut rope. No, no, Injun. You already didn't hear tuckered out from a two-day's travel. I told you you could bed down my place and get a needed rest. Now you do just that. I'll get my boots on, go and untie Sam. Other rider come. Maybe the same one coming back again. And this not same horse. This other horse. No one but an Injun could tell horses' hooks like that. Pull a bullet, pull a bullet, pull a bullet. Now who can that be? Hey there, Franklin. Call your name and state your business. Or I close this door and shove a rifle through the window. Take it easy. I'm here as your friend. Yeah? Well, I ain't got no friends around here and I don't look to have none. Maybe you do for a surprise then. I don't suppose you've heard from any of the cattlemen yet, have you? Scar Gordon. The same. Ah, ain't it sort of risky for you to travel like this with a law hunting you? I'd advise again throwing a gun on me to try and capture me for that reward money. What do you want here? I told you that I come as a friend. Well? The cowmen are making trouble for you. Maybe you don't know it yet. What's that to do with you? Ask your herder. He tell you that I found him roped and let him loose. You did? Sure. Where's he now? Attending his job and watching the sheep. Reckon he'll be able to save considerable of them by setting them back on their feet before it's too late. You done that? Sure I did. I ain't as black as them cattlemen that's pictured me. Maybe not. Fact is, Amos, I'd hank it to give you a hand in fighting them critters. The cattlemen? The same. How? I got plenty men lined up with me. For the most part, they're fellows like me that are hunted by the law. Yeah? Catch for a barn and a couple of cows and things like that. None of them really bad, you savvy. From what's been said, you're plenty bad. Well, folks misjudge me, Franklin. Now, if you aim to let them cowmen drive you out of here, all right. That's none of my affair. But if you aim to make a stand, you gotta have some help. They ain't driving me out. Then you better hire some guns. What about it? Now, that means a range war, don't it? Well, it's war. Clear out. You can take your choice. I got as much right here as anyone. Sure you have. No matter where I go, it's always the same story. Then you may as well make a stand here and show the cowmen that you aim to keep to your rights. By, by hiring your men to fight for me, eh? Sure. That takes cash. Don't tell me that a man has built in the quality stock you have for so many years ain't got cash. Maybe I have. But I just ain't sure I want to spend it for gunmen. But let's hear your proposition. Come on in there, Tony. Tonto, the faithful Indian companion of the Lone Ranger, learned the purpose of Gordon's errand and realized that it might cause a range war. He left the sheep raisers home at once, heading toward Franklin's flocks where a herder kept watch through the lonely hours of the night. There, Tonto dismounted and spoke to the man. You, you get tied? Huh? Yeah, yeah. You got tied. You'll find sheep on back? Yeah, try to. They can't get around and look for him. Ain't even got my dog left. Some ornery snake come and tied me. Me, me, no. Oh, wait, Injun. I want to send word. I can't leave the sheep. I want to let my boss know that. Get him up, why far? While Tonto raced on toward the distant camp of the Lone Ranger, Amos Franklin finally agreed to a deal with Scar Gordon the outlaw. We find Scar one hour later as he draws his horse to a halt at a camp in a dry arroyo. His friend, Vince Bennett, and the rest of his gang are awaiting him. Hi, Scar. How'd you make out? Good as could be expected. Hey, you men, wake up. Turn out. I got some word for you. I told the boys you'd be coming here before daybreak. Can't you let a man get some sleep? Plenty of time to sleep when we get our cash. Listen, boys, I got a job lined up. We got Vince Bennett here lined up with us. He proved downright valuable because he can go and come as he darn pleases in the town being as he ain't wanted by the law. Well, what about it? What good'll that do us? Now, listen to me, and you're savvy. Amos Franklin aims to start a range war. That ornery sheepherder? Well, he maybe is, but he deals in quality sheep. Every one of them critters of his is valuable. He's a sheepman nonetheless. Take it easy, boys, and hear the scheme through. He wants to hire the lot of us to fight for him. He's got plenty of money to spend, boys. That ain't all. If we clean out the cattlemen, we no longer have to be a fear to showing ourselves in town. You see what I'm getting at? The chance to wipe all the cowmen out and get paid for it, huh? And top it off by taking over their cattle. Scar, is that what you planned to do? Why not? But if that's what you was after, why didn't you just attack the cowmen in the first place? Yeah? Have them call out the army to wipe us out? They can still do it. Sure. But you don't think they will, do you? Well, I... Listen, Vince. The cowmen would likely call troops to help put a pack of outlaws on the run, but it'd hurt their pride too deep if they called out the soldiers to lick a sheep herder. Oh, I'm savvy. Even if they won, they'd never hear the end of it. They'd be the laughing stock to everyone in the West. Calling troops to lick an ornery sheep man. Ain't likely to. Pretty slick, I'd call it. That's the best scheme I ever heard of. You like a scheme, boys? You get Amos Franklin's cash. Everyone's cattle and the houses as well. We just take over the country. That's it. And when we're finished with the cowmen, then we'll drive the sheepman out. How's that? When do we start? Quiet, boys. Go quiet there and let me finish. Go ahead. Let's hear the rest. We stay right here all day tomorrow. That gives Vince Bennett the chance to rile the cowmen up, you see? And tomorrow night the fun begins. In the meantime, Tonto urged his horse to its utmost speed throughout the whole of the night. But it was daybreak before he reached the woodland clearing where the Lone Ranger was camped, miles from Amos Franklin's ranch. Oh, oh, that's all right. Hold on. I didn't look for you to be here so soon. There's plenty trouble. Trouble? Range war. Plenty outlaw near town. What do you mean? Them start fight. You come fast. I'll make him, get him, Silver. All right. I'll get Silver ready to ride while you talk. Here, Silver. Here, boy. I'll help you. Here. Here, Saddle. All right, Tonto. Now tell me what's going on. Those Gargordon and his outlaws are going to be hired by the sheepherder. That's right. And they're going to carry the fight to the cattlemen. Steady, Silver. Isn't that right? Those cattlemen will never tolerate any opposition from Amos Franklin. No. And the outlaws will see to it that the fight is anything but fair. The Gordon gang is in this for what they can get out of it. Sheepmen, pay them cash. They'll get more than cash. Before they finish, they'll have wiped out all the cattlemen. They probably won't attack today. They'll wait till after dark tonight. It'll take us almost all day to get there. Tonto, those men attack tonight, they'll catch the cattlemen unprepared. Oh, that. I see their plan, Tonto. Tonight, almost every cowman will be in town celebrating payday. They'll have all their guns checked with the sheriff. That will be an ideal time for the outlaws to strike. What, what we do, huh? We'll take it over, Kimo Sabe. Well, we ride. Hi-ya! The curtain falls on the first act of tonight's Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. You will recall that in the first act of tonight's Lone Ranger drama, the outlaw scar Gordon convinced Amos Franklin that the cattlemen of the district planned to destroy the sheep raisers' flock. Franklin hired Gordon and his men to defend him, but Gordon's plan included more than that. He hoped to run the cattlemen off the range and seize their herds. That accomplished, he expected to turn on Franklin and steal his sheep. Tonto, however, had overheard the conversation between Franklin and Gordon, and he repeated the facts to the Lone Ranger. Our next scene opens in the office of Sheriff Conway of Mariposa. The sheriff is speaking with the rancher, Bull McPherson. You may be the biggest cattleman this side of Pecos, McPherson, but you're not going to bulldoze me into driving Franklin away from here. But Sheriff, he's ruined the range for cattle. Can't you see this? Well, what of it? What of it? That's what I said. If the north range of town is ruined, then it ain't no good to you, is it? No. All right, then. Why don't you let him stay there? You know, your critters wouldn't go near none of the water on the north range now. Thanks to them ornery-no-good sheep. Just so. Now, if we drive Amos away, what's he going to do? He'll just move somewhere else and spoil that land, won't he? There ought to be a law against sheep. Well, there ain't no law against them, so we got to tolerate them. You got a plenty land south of town, and so is every other cowman. Stay there and be content, and leave Amos do the same. As long as he don't move south. Bull, if he makes any play to spread out south with them long-haired sheep isn't, then I'll see that he's put back where he belongs. Is that a promise? It's a sure-enough promise. Now, then, as to the shindig tonight. Be a big party, I reckon. Mind that all your waddies check their shooting irons. Ain't they always done so when they come to town? Mm-hmm. Maybe so. But the fact remains that the last payday there was some shooting in the cafe. Not by my boys. Well, there ain't to be none tonight, Savvy. I'll tell the boys, Sheriff. Howdy, Sheriff. Hello, boy. Hello, Vince. What are you coming to my office for? Ain't seeking law, are you, Vince? No, I ain't. I come here with some news for you. Yeah? That sheep herder, Amos Franklin... Now, don't you say you want him drove out. You ain't no cattle to worry about, have you? No. Ain't been so easy to borrow a hunk of rope with a cow tied to one end since I took over the law around here, has it? Can't you never forget a man's mistake? I sort of keep it in the back of my mind, Vince, just to make sure that mistake ain't made again. Now, what do you got to tell me? Franklin is getting too doggone ambitious for his own good. Yeah. He tried to hire me. You? What would any man want to hire you for, Vince? To help him handle sheep. He aims to be moving southward. All he's got to do is to let them sheep of his drink from springs on the cattle range and said range is done for, as far as cattle is concerned. Why is that on Reno? Hold on now, Bull. Give me back my shooting iron. Not so fast. I changed my plans. I ain't going to the shindig at the cafe. I ain't got business to take care of. Shut down, you overgrown galoot. That ain't all, Sheriff. Amos is boasting that he'll show the cattlemen where to head in. It's hurry time he got dealt with. Oh, there ain't no hurry, Bull. He said he didn't figure he'd be ready to have me start to work for another week or so. He said... Who's that? Never heard his voice before. Sheriff. Misk. Great guns. What? Who are you? Come, Sheriff. You'll need it to arrest the killer. Where? Franklin's place. Who? Amos Franklin. Fleetman Catfish. You mean to say he's killed a man? Come and see for yourself. Who's he done for? Bring a posse and come along. It'll soon be docked. I'm riding with you. Doggone, if we can throw that critter into the calaboose, it's going to save no end of trouble. I'll go too. I've left him tied for you. I'm all set. Hey, Pete! Pete, come here. We got to head for Franklin's place. What's up? Keep that masked man covered. Who's he? Don't know, but aim to find out. Stranger, you better take your mask off. No, you're dirty first. And if you want to investigate me, you can do so. But you... I'll wait for you at Franklin's house. Hold on! I know he's stuck! He's running to my feet. Get him. Maybe he's an outlaw. Should I take a shot? No, you blame fool! You can't shoot a man for being masked. Get your horse and chase him. Come on now, let's travel. Who the Sam Hill was? Find out by and by. Get up there! You made that trip in record time. Is that white horse the masked man, Reed? I'm inside the house waiting for you. And we're right after you. Gosh, I never figured Amos would shoot anybody. Well, this is a find. How do you do? There's your prisoner. What do you got to say for yourself, Amos? Why, I... Speak up! I reckon there ain't no use of my saying anything. I ain't no chance to get a jury of cattlemen. Under rations, Sheriff. He's played right into our hands. That engine, the man you shot? I didn't shoot him. And who did? I don't know. Tonto came here last night, didn't he? Yes, said he was traveling. And I gave him a place to sleep and some food. Then he ran away. Then you prove he rode away? Well, I... That is... Was anyone here with you at the time? Yeah. Scar Gordon. He was... Who? Scar Gordon? Well, I... Who's that outlaw doing here? Why didn't you capture him and get the reward? Oh, gents, there ain't no use. Nothing I can say will help me. Hey, what did Vince Bennett leave for? Huh? He just went outside. There he is boarding his horse. Don't leave him go. We gotta take the prisoner to jail. Come on, Amos. Now, gents, I swear I didn't have no hand in murder. I don't know a thing about it. Tell that to the judge. And jury. And the hangman. Here's where one sheep herder gets done away with good and legal. It's too bad the rest of them ain't spunk enough to do a little shooting. Vince Bennett left the group at Franklin's home and rode swiftly to a point near town where Gordon and his men were gathered. Scott! Scott! What's the matter? Didn't you do what you were supposed to do in town? Yeah. Only we gotta change things. What do you mean? That blame fool Franklin. Listen here, Bennett. You was to stop around the sheriff's office and get the idea planted that Amos Franklin aimed to transfer his sheep to the South Range. That's what I done. And you was to tell the men that you didn't figure on doing that same right away. I told them that. Well, all the men were at the shindig tonight. We figured to attack. Mocha, let me tell you. Amos Franklin is in jail. What? What's he in jail for? Quiet down, you fellas. Well then, Bennett. Let me give the true facts. You say Franklin is in jail? That's right. When was he took there? Just a few minutes ago. I went to his place with the sheriff and Bull McPherson and a deputy. What did he do? He killed an engine. Killed an engine? I didn't think that cheap order had gumption enough to kill him. In jail for murder? That's right. That's your fine state of affairs. Don't you see we can't attack now? We can't make the cowman think that Amos is figuring on expanding his sheep land with him in jail for murder. No, sure not. Besides that, he won't be able to pay us. It ain't so much the money he was to pay as the cows we figured on getting. But now it's the same as if we attacked the cowman as a band of outlaws. Don't you see? Let me think. Shut your trap a minute, won't you? Yeah, sure. The person and the rest of the cattlemen will know that we ain't working for Amos Franklin now. That means they'll likely call the troopers out to fight against us. That's just it. All right, gents. The plan is changed. What are we going to do now, Star? We're going into town just as we aim to do. Yeah? Then what? We're going to the jail and get Amos Franklin out. My thunder, that's an idea. We get him out. That proves to the cowman that we're working for him. Then with him along with us, we go ahead as planned, you see? Now get together, boys. We're heading for town pronto. Steady, boy. Don't call me. Get up there. The outlaws moved into town according to their changed plans. They made their way in groups of two and three to be avoided being noticed and took advantage of the covering shadows of the night. We see Scar Gordon and Vince Bennett as they approach their destination, the jail. There's the calaboose. Oh, dark and quiet. Sure, Lord. Do you think our man is there? Sure he is. Where else would he be? Well, the cattlemen might have lynched him. No. In the first place, there'd be more excitement if anything like that was going on. It seems so. In the second place, the sheriff wouldn't tolerate that. Maybe you're right at that. He's in there, all right, Nuff. It'll be a cinch to get him out. Then we can go ahead with the plans and the cowman will call it a range war instead of an outlaw attack. You savvy? Sure. Wait till I make sure the other boys are in place. Butch. All set, boss. Now for the other side. Hank. Waiting for the word from you. Close in and pass the word to them beyond you. Right, boss. I'm right with you. We'll close in from all sides. You and me take care of the guard. There's the guard. I don't know what I gag him. Heist him, you. What matter? A redskin. You may be making a mistake, huh? Why, this is the one... Me, fella, you think dead. What's the matter? This is the redskin Amos was supposed to be shot. What's he doing here? Me, help set trap. Outlaw, come get prisoner. A trap! I'll show you. Not so fast. Oh! You're a trick. Shoot your white player. Take the men. Come on, boys. Get ready. Hurry up. We got every man in your cupboard. You better surrender. Don't shoot. Don't shoot. I give up. Throw down your guns. Your honor is scheming polecats. Try and pick me, will you? Look here, what's this? Listen, sheriff. You listen, star. We knowed your plans. Savvy? Vince Bennett double-crossed me. Nope. He used to be jailed with the rest of you. You see, that masked man on the engine learned your plan and told Amos the whole truth. So the engine played dead like it'd been shot to get me in jail. After Vince was here, the engine and the masked man came up and told me the whole story. So we just waited here for you rats to show yourselves. Tooked by a doggone sheep herder. And for that job, the sheep herder can use the North Range as long as he blame Breaser. Yeah, if it hadn't been for him, we cattlemen would have had plenty of trouble on our hands. Amos, for the first time, you'd be welcome at the Shindigan's house. Come on with us. You boys, throw them outlaws in the jail. I don't want no shindig. I reckon if you don't mind, I'll go keep old Sam Conley while he watches my sheep. What's more, don't give me no credit. Thank the Lone Ranger. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger, Incorporated. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
