with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty, hi-yo, silver! The Lone Ranger! The side of the plains fought crime and criminals throughout the new territory. The local sheriffs gave him very little help, scout Tonto. Tonto was only second to the Lone Ranger in courage and daring. The Indian has become the symbol of true-less now to those thrilling days when the West was young. An adventure lay at the end of every trail. The Lone Ranger rides again! He's familiar to quite a number of people in the early West, and known especially because of his association with the Lone Ranger. Next to the Indian friend of the masked mystery rider, Cactus Pete knew him better than anyone else. As we find the wandering musician, we learn that he has joined a group of cowmen on the open range, and sure is downright entertaining to have a little music on the prairie. It gets sort of tiresome doing the same thing all the time without nothing to break the monotony. I guess so. Give us another tune on the guitar, Cactus Pete. Doggone it, boys. My fingers is plummet all right for strumming that old guitar. Bob there's doing all right on the harmonica. Besides, about time to turn in anyhow, ain't it? Shucks, we can always turn in. Gee, Pete. Yeah? Seems to me I've heard a plenty stories about you and this Lone Ranger. Oh, shucks. I never done nothing except strum the guitar. You met up with the Lone Ranger frequent, ain't you? Yeah, I reckon so. You know, there's something I've always wondered about him, Pete. Well, don't ask me no questions. I don't know no more about him than you fellas do. Well, there's one thing I've always wondered about. Yeah? This engine friend of his. Tonto? Yeah, Tonto. How'd him and the Lone Ranger meet up anyhow? Well, it's sort of a longy story. Well, come on, tell it to us, Pete. Oh, I ain't no hand of telling stories. Do the best you can, then. You see, gents, there's been a lot of stories about how the Lone Ranger and Tonto come to be friends. I don't know when it really happened. Some say it was even before the Lone Ranger found his horse, Silver. And others don't. I hear that Tonto saved his life one time when him and all his partners was shot up outlaws. Yep, Tonto saved his life plenty of times. And this one time, the Lone Ranger was the only one that survived the attack of the outlaws. Yep. I was down Texas way. Yeah. Two of them met up before that, though. Well, tell us. Oh. The way I heard it, it was in the mining region. Mining region, huh? Yep. Up around Warshow County. There was a fellow there by the name of Dan Slade. He had half interest in the claim with a young fellow named Bob Reed. Seems that Bob was sort of hoping the claim would pan out good for a lot of reasons. Fact is, he was so busy hoping and working that he didn't take the time to notice what an ornery coyote Dan Slade was. The two of them was digging, getting ready to fire a blast one hot afternoon when the sun was blistering down from a sky that hadn't showed a rain cloud for more than a month. It's sure a hot day for working, Dan. I'll be glad when we get this blasting powder ready to fire. Maybe this will be the time we strike the mother load, huh? Won't be long. I've seen enough to satisfy me that she's there all right. I reckon the $50 cash you give me for half interest will prove to be a pretty good investment, huh? Don't get the idea I was fool enough to give you 50 bucks cash money for nothing. I knew what I was buying. Sure you did. You ain't a fool. Well, there. I guess we're ready to light the fuse now, ain't we? Yep, I'll do it. Get out of the way. All right, Dan. There. Now run. We've got a powerful big charge in there. It ought to fit something. Keep running. We can't be too far away from that blast. Let's go. I'm running. Oh, gosh, Dan. Wouldn't it be swell if this would be the blast that brought home the bacon? Yep, there. I guess we can watch from behind this rock. There she goes. Come on, Dan. Let's hurry back and see what happened. I just got a hunch maybe that done the trick. You and your hunches make me sick. There ain't no harm in hoping, Dan. That's what kept me going all this time. Hoping. I'd dry up. Dan, what's the matter with you anyway? Ain't you satisfied with the partnership? I've got to be satisfied, ain't I? Gosh, look at the hole that blast ripped up, will you? Ain't nothing strange about it. It'd be twice as strange if a charge that size went off without making a big hole. Dan, Dan, look. Give me that shovel, quick. I'll handle it. My gosh, that looks like gold, Bob. Oh, hustle up. Shovel some out. Let's have a look. I am. Don't get so excited, though. Oh, gosh, Dan, I can't help it. What does it look like? It's a real thing, all right. Seems to me we found the big vein. Look there. Dan, Dan, we sure did. That's it. That's it. Shut up. You're acting like a fool kid. Dan, I am a fool kid. I ain't acting. Oh, gosh, Dan, if you only know what this means to Sally and the kids. New clothes, school and a new house. Sure, spend it all on them. What are you going to get out of it? Me? Well, I don't want nothing for myself. But gosh, Dan, just look at that gold. Look at it. Shut up a minute. I heard something. So did I. It seemed like someone groaning. White man, help. Dan, look. Look there. That fellow was caught in a blast. Serves him right. What's he doing around here? Here, help me dig him out. The poor devil's half buried. You help. He's nothing but a redskin. I'll fix him. No, Dan, no. Put your gun down. The dead engine is the good engine. I'll fix him so he won't need help. Dan, put that gun down. Don't shoot the poor devil. You dig here. Then count to be free. I'll dig you out. He's hurt bad, Dan. Get out of the way, Bob. We ain't saving no engine to have him scalp us someday. Just a minute. I wouldn't shoot him, I were you. Say, who are you? He's got a mask on, Dan. I wasn't going to shoot the engine. I was just going to... Help Tonto. Tonto? Is that your name? Take him out. All right. That's how you feel? Here, Bob. Give me a hand. Maybe he's hurt pretty bad. We'll get him out and take him over to my shack. Well, gents, there was something about the way that masked man talked that made Dan Slade doggone willing to do what he said, especially when he seen two big guns leveled at him. That was a lone ranger, huh, Pete? That was him, all right. He'd heard the blast and left his horse a little distant and come to see what it meant. After he'd seen that Dan and Bob were taking care of the redskin, he went to where his horse was waiting and swung into the saddle. I don't feel my way! He didn't know the masked man didn't that right then there was a scheme forming in Dan Slade's brain. Dan nursed the engine all right, took him to his shack, fixed him so the busted bone in his ankle was healing, took first-rate care of him. In the meantime, the mind become the talk of the whole county. Money rolled in fast to both Bob and Dan and Dan done his best to spend it as fast as it come in. Dan was in the cafe one night talking to a critter called Sam. Say, Dan, you sure ought to swell spending now, you rich. Sure thing, fellas. Easy come, easy go, that's my motto. Step right up, boys, the next is on me. Come up and give me the bill. Doggone, Dan, you sure are spending it. Reckon I can afford it, eh? Hey there, stranger, here's your drink. Dan Slade's treating. Thanks, but I don't drink. Shucks, stranger, that's the way to get acquainted. I ain't squeamish about spending for a fellow just because he's new in town. Say, Dan, how's that engine you got up to your shack? Oh, him? I'm fixing him up to work for me. At the mine? Nope, at the shack. It's easier to patch up an engine to do the work around there and get meals and sweep floors and such than it would be to get tied down with a wife, ain't it? He's getting better, is he? Yep. Who is he? I don't know. He was sticking his nose around when the mine was being blasted and got broke up a bit. Says his name is Tonto. Indian? Yeah. Well, drink her up, boys. Here's to Dan Slade. I gotta be going now. If anybody needs some advice on buying in on a mine, just call our Dan Slade. He's taking care of an Indian. Lame funny. He ain't like him. I'd give half a buck to know what's on his mind. He's a deep one, Dan Slade is. Yes, I can see that. He ain't taking care of a redskin for nothing. He's got a scheme working and I'd like to know what it is. Dan seems to be popular. Sure he is. Who wouldn't be spending money like he does? There's a lot to what you say. Stranger, men is funny critters. They walk all over a fella trying to keep him down and then when he gets to the top, they'll yelp their fool heads off telling how they helped put him there. Who's Dan Slade's partner? Name's Bob Reed. Now there's a fella that's liked by most of the fellas here. But he got a dirty deal from Slade when he needed a little cash bad. He did? Yep. Slade meant him give half interest in his mine before he'd give him the cash. Bob don't complain none, though. Thinks it was right fine of Slade to do it. Yes, sir, stranger. Men sure are funny critters. Slim didn't know when he talked to the stranger in the cafe that it was the lone ranger disguised and not wearing his mask. The plan went along in good shape and there was no doubt Dan was greedy. Half the claim wasn't enough for him. One evening, he decided to call on Bob, went to his house and rapped on the door. I was kind of surprised to see Dan there. Dan! Gosh, come on in. You're sort of a stranger these days. I come on business, Bob. Sally! Come in here a minute. Bill, good evening, Dan. Good evening. What business brought you here, Dan? I've been thinking. Now that the mind's going good, we ought to come to some kind of understanding. Why, sure thing. But there's nothing he'd already understood. You get half and I get half. But what if one of us die? That ain't gonna happen, Dan. You never can tell. Tell when you or me will get hurt some. Oh, Bob, you didn't tell me it was so dangerous. It ain't, Sally. There ain't no danger at all. Now, suppose you go and make up a lunch. Me and Dan will have a talk. Well, all right. Just a minute. Well, that's what you missed, Dan, not having a wife yourself. Maybe so, but I'm satisfied. Now, I brought along a paper for you to sign, Bob. What kind of paper? Just an agreement between the two of us, that's all. Let me see it. Sure. Now, you see, if you die, then of course I get the mine and agree to see that so much is paid to your wife and kids regular. But if I die, you get the mine. But, Dan, it says here you agree to pay my wife only $20 a month. That's more than fair, Bob. If I die, you get the whole thing. You don't have to pay out none of it. But I'm willing to help your wife out, you see. Oh, shucks, Dan. We don't need no agreement like this. Just the same is the best way. Why, I even had a lawyer over to town draw it up so it's all legal and fine. I'll sign if you want me to. Make me feel a heap better. I'll get a couple of witnesses to make it legal. Where can you get them? I brought them. Glad to see you. Oh, howdy, Slim. Right here and I'll sign here. We both sign each copy of this and then we each keep a copy. And there. All right, Dan. Whatever you say. You know lots more about law and such than I do. There you are, Dan. All right. Hold on. Don't be in a hurry. Sally's fixing up a lunch for us. Sorry, I'm pretty busy, Bob. Lots of work to do over at the shack. But I thought you had Tonto working over there. He ain't able to get around much. Still uses crutches to walk. You fellas ready to go? Yeah. Oh, but wait a minute. My wife's fixing up something. Sorry, Bob. We've... The curtain falls on the first act of our thrilling Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Back to Cactus Pete as he relates the story of the beginning of the friendship between the Lone Ranger... Bob Reed signed the paper Dan had fixed up and a couple of witnesses made it all legal. Then Dan left before Sally got back into the room. He's at a supper, Bob. What? Where was Dan going to? He just left, Sally. But didn't he know I was fixing something to eat? He... He wasn't mad or nothing, was he? I don't know. He just said he couldn't wait. There's something wrong with him lately, Bob. I'm beginning to think maybe there is. He's been acting awful funny. Funny? I can't figure it. Sometimes he looks like he almost hates me. But then, silly Bob, no one hates you. Besides, aren't you the one who made him rich? Yeah, but it's just the way he looks at me. Sometimes I feel mighty strange when he does it. I never liked Dan Slade much myself. But he seems to be popular enough in town, so I reckon he must be all right. He spends a lot of money on the boys. That's why he's so popular, Sally. Bob, what's this paper here? Oh, that's what him and me just signed. It gives me the mind if Dan dies and him the mind if I die. Is that the way things is done? I reckon so. Dan even brought along two fellows from town to sign this here paper with him and me. Witnesses there was. I guess Dan's a good businessman, Bob. Yeah, I'll admit I don't know much about such things. Well, anyway, Dan's getting the mind along in great shape. Running like a real business. With him there part of the time and me there part of the time. Well, I suppose Dan was all right. Look how he's taking care of that poor engine that has hurt. I can't forget, though, Sally, that at first Dan was aiming to shoot the engine. Dan wouldn't have done that. He sure would have if that Lone Ranger hadn't come along when he did and made Dan save Tonto. Gosh, I'd like to see the Lone Ranger sometime, Bob. You never seen him after that day, did you? Nope, never did. Fact is, I didn't know it was the Lone Ranger then. Wasn't till after he rode away and I heard him call his horse Silver that I realized who it was. It's mighty curious how Dan Slade's nature changed after being talked to by that mass man. It sure is, Sally. I've been puzzling it over ever since. Slim and Wendy went with Dan after he left Bob Reads and Slim was mighty curious about the paper he'd signed. The two of them was in the saddle moving slow when Slim brought the man Listen, Dan, what was that paper we put our names to back at Bob Reads? It wasn't nothing, Slim. Just a law form, that's all. But you said that Wendy here and me was witnesses. Sure, that's in case sometime if I should die and some relation of mine would try to claim the mine and who could say it was his and you fellas could swear you seen me sign the paper, see? Shucks, Dan. I could swear without that. Gosh, if he buys me all I want to drink for signing that paper it'll be the cheapest jag I ever got. Eh, wouldn't he? Ain't that so? Hold up there a minute. What's this? A man on a white horse. I want to talk to you men. I know that voice. Where'd you come from? What is this anyhow? Hold up there. Let me see that paper. You had Bob read, son. See here. That ain't no business of yours. Let me see it. Show it to him, Dan. He's got a mask on and them guns look tolerable big. Quickly. Here it is. Ain't nothing but an agreement, that's all. I can't read in the dark. You know me. Quick, the light. Here you are, stranger. Thanks. Now let me see. Mister, there ain't nothing there that ain't regular and according to law on that paper. But be careful, Dan. He wore a mask. I'm gonna plug him. Dan, don't I... I'll show him. You missed him. Ranger rode off into the night. Look at that paper that was signed by Bob, huh? Yeah, Pete. What was there to it? We'll get back to that later. But after Dan saw the mask man right away, he left Slim and Windy and got back to his own shack as quick as he could. He noted that for the next few days, Tonto kept looking at him, watching every move he made. And it began to get on Dan Slade's nerves. Finally, he got plum-fed up with the way Tonto watched him. What are you looking at me that way for? Tonto didn't make any reply for a minute. Just kept staring out of them deep, dark eyes of his. Blast you? Can't you answer me? What do you mean you know what I think? Fixed you up, huh? Busted ankle of yours? That ain't none of your business. No talk like that. Especially not from a normal redskin. Staring to me, do you hear? I tell you to stop staring at me. That'll learn you. Next time I catch you staring at me like you've been doing, I'll sling lead. He was getting on Dan Slade's nerves the way Tonto kept close watch of him. Tonto was still hobbling around in some crutches he'd made. Couldn't travel fast or far. Just managed to hobble about the shack a little bit, but it was enough for what Dan Slade had in mind. And then again, Dan Slade slipped on the moccasins that belonged to Tonto who seemed to be sound asleep in the corner. Then he left the house, taking with him the crutches that Tonto had been using. He made sure to walk through plenty of mud to Bob Reed's house. There he fixed a few things, then crept back to his own shack with his murder plans all fixed. The next afternoon, Dan came into the cafe. There was quite a bunch of fellas gathered there. Well, there he is. Old Dan himself. How are you, Slim? Howdy. Howdy, Wendy. Hello there, stranger. I need a drink. Good stiff one. Kind of worried. Worried? Why, what's wrong, Dan? It's about Bob. He had a bad break this morning. No. Yep, raftering him. Not so bad, Sally will fix him up. But it ain't that that bothers me. It's that ungrateful engine. Tonto? Uh-huh. What's hailing him? Well, Slim, I ain't giving much thought. The redskin got hurt. Bob was for shooting him. Same as you do a horse with a busted leg. If I hadn't had my way, he'd have shot him right then. Gosh, that was bad. Engines don't forget things like that. I know it. His crutches, he may try and get revenge on Bob. Is that so, Dan? Yep, and I don't like the look in that critter's eyes. What would he do to Bob? I don't know. He might try to scalp him and his family. He might set the house on fire, blow it up. Blow it? I'd have to infuse my own supply to home and then set it under Bob's house. Suffering sagebrush! That's the engine? He stole my horse. Shoot him down, somebody. Get him! Wait, I'll go after him. I'll take your horse, Slim. Go right ahead, stranger. I ain't aiming to chase a drunken engine with a six-car. I'll try to catch him. I know that engine was bad. How'd he get my horse? There ain't no more horses here. Well, just let that fellow go after him. We ain't got nothing to worry about. Ain't no skin off our nose. I reckon I'd better get over and see if Bob's all right, eh? Sure. I'll go with you, Dan. You see, boys, the Lone Ranger had already talked to Tonto and made plans to trap Dan Slade. Tonto carried out his part of the plans in first-rate style, acting like he was licking up and riding away while the Lone Ranger disguised as a stranger was around the town. When the Lone Ranger rode away on Slim's horse, he overtook Tonto. Where's Silver? You call him. Here, Silver. Here, boy. A clock, huh? Your crutches, didn't he? I'll be there, Silver. You wait here, Tonto. I'll be back. Ranger riding his own horse and with his face mask headed back toward Bob's home, Dan and Slim headed for the same place. Dan figured on walking slow enough so they'd see the explosion from a short distance. Well, I reckon Bob's all right, Slim. Don't see no signs of trouble around the house from here. That engine was just plumb loco, that's all, Dan. Say, hold on. This here looks like crutch tracks from your shack to Bob's. Eh? Look on the ground. My gosh, it does, don't it? I wonder if that load I can... Why? I was just wondering, that's all. I wish that fellow would come back with my horse. I'll bet he stole it, that's what. I wouldn't be surprised. Hey, Slim, look. What's that in the ground next to Bob's place? Smoke. And it's moving along the ground. Look. It's a fuse, that's what. I bet it's a fuse. That engine must have swiped some of my blasting powder just like I was afraid he would. Get back! Back! But Bob will be killed, stole his whole family. Get back, I say. You can't do nothing anyways. It's too late. Who's that? Look at that white horse come. Gosh, how he can travel. Slim is that fellow that held us up the other night. The mask fellow. The lone ranger. He's shooting at us. No, he ain't. Look, he shot that fuse. Cut it with a bullet and him riding full speed. Why, he can... Oh, Silver, over, over. The next job should be for you, Dan Slade. You don't want to stand right where you are. Don't you don't. You set that fuse to blow your partner into eternity. Dan, you done that? No, no, it's... You thought no one saw you last night when you took the crutches and made tracks that would pin this murder on the engine. Slim, if you want proof that Slade's the man who planned to murder Bob Reed, I... I've turned you down, Slade. You look, you leaves, they make them right now. No, no, don't listen to the mask fellow. I tell you, I didn't... But I think you did. I know it all the time there was some reason why you kept that engine. You were just planning to make him the goat, to make him take the blame for what you did. No, no, Slim, listen to me. I can explain everything. You can't explain nothing to me, Slade. Now, I see it all as plain as day. And that's why I had Bob sign that paper, too. Slim, if you need further proof... I don't. You can't prove it with me. Dan, Slade, you were seen last night. What? Put your guns away, Mr. Masked Man. There's something that's got to be done for this community, but I aims to be the one to do it. No, no, Slim. Don't draw your gun. Don't shoot me, Slade. Why, you yellow-livered polecat. I wouldn't waste good bullets on you. I figured it was a lie In fact, I knowed it was a lie. And I thought it would blame funny you'd keep powder in your shack so you can start hiking for the sheriff's office. But, Slim, I... Keep going. I reckon I know who it was that seen you last night. I know, Silver... ...feature of the...
