Forced to the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-yo silver, the Lone Ranger. In the western United States, many outlaws defied the local sheriffs. But the Lone Ranger was more than a match for them. He found their hideouts, brought them to justice, and made everyone realize that open defiance of the law would not be tolerated. Then came a new breed of criminals, men who used brains instead of force. But once again, the masked rider was equal to the emergency. Return with us now those thrilling days when the West was young, and eventually at the end of every trail, the Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, silver! We're heading for the range country! Sound us waiting on the trail ahead! Hi-yo, silver! Hawaii! One day when Sheriff Dan Lansing walked into his office, he found Red Whipple, the newest of his deputies, waiting for him. The younger man was smiling and... Everything going along all right while I was out, Red? I... Say, what in blazes are you grinning about? You was looking all over the county for the fellow that robbed Lams' store. He was a slicken. Never left no trace at all. No? Well, right this here second, he's sitting behind bars. Oh, fast! And so... Well, I'll... Who is he? How'd you get him? Got him back here? I'd like to have a look at the varmint. He's in the second cell there. I don't know how you done it, Red, but it was a good piece of work. Why, this year's Fish-Eye Foster. But, Sheriff... You blasted it yet! If you wasn't new in this town, I'd take your badge away. Give me your keys. Gosh, Dan, what'd I do wrong? Ah! Fish-Eye, I'm just about plumb out of patience with you. Oh, Sheriff, come on, Sheriff. You're the most suspicious and mistrusting fellow I've ever seen. Can't you leave me alone? You're getting... Now, let go of my arm. I'll teach you. Hey, Dan, he said he robbed Lams' store. Wait, hold on. He confessed to it. Just like he's confessed to every other crime around these parts. Said he wrestled Boven's cows. Said he held up the stage. Said he was the one that shot for Winter Stephen's goats. Hey, don't kick me. I'll heist the seat of your britches up to your shoulders. Ow! If you ever pull another stunt like this, I'll... Put me in jail, huh? Beat it! Ain't you making a mistake, Dan? He said he robbed... Sure, he said he robbed Lams. That's all that critter does is try to get in jail. He won't work and he's too blame-lazy to beg, so he lets the county feed him. Oh. It's maddening. Anybody else do anything wrong, you can threaten to throw him in jail. But Fish-Eye, there ain't a blasted thing you can do to him. Jail is what he wants. I'll bet everybody in town will laugh at me for this. Let him laugh. You ain't bad off. First year I was sheriff, I jailed that pesky critter 20 times before I found out he wasn't a natural-born lawbreaker, but just a natural loafer. Here comes Bud. Yeah, sent him over three forks way looking for that robber. Didn't catch him, though, from the looks of it. Of course. Didn't find nothing, huh? I found a plenty. Don't tell me you was took in by Fish-Eye, too. I ain't talking about the robber, eh? Huh? Jake Rabe. He's been killed. Who was he? Just about one of the biggest ranchers in this county. Who done it? Couldn't get no clue to the fellow at all. Wasn't a gunfight then, huh? Nope. Fact is, I reckon I'm still the only fellow to know about it. I stopped in his place, and there he was, laying on the floor with a gun beside him. Maybe he shot himself. No, don't figure it that way. The only shooting iron I ever seen Jake using was that fancy one he got from that dude Pilgrim come through here a couple years back. And that was in Jake's holster. Hadn't even been drawn. I heard what you said, Bud. And you got it figured right. Jake didn't kill himself. Blast you, Fish-Eye. Stay away from here. What do you know about the killing? Everything. What? I done it. You, you, Fish-Eye, you try getting jailed just once more, and, and, and I'll jail you for trying. You're all gone, will you, Sheriff? Yippee! Don't you forget now, that's our promise. The sheriff, accompanied by Red and Bud, rode to Jake's ranch to investigate the killing. In a hollow not far from the ranch, the Lone Ranger and Tonto were seated near a small campfire. Dusk gave way to night, and Tonto was cooking the evening meal when he said, We eat heep soon now. Good. We've had a long ride today. Ah. Might as well stay here for the night and push on early in the morning. That's right. And then, What's that? Tell her, come this way. Let the bacon go. Ah. Stand ready. Who's there? Don't shoot, Jens. It's, it's just me. Just Fish-Eye Foster. Get here in the light. Keep your hands from your holster. I ain't nothing, nothing. I just come to warn you is all. Now, don't shoot. Over here. Gotcha. It's doggone winded. I, I can't hardly get my breath. What are you doing here? Now, just a second. I'll be able to talk in a second. You say your name's Fish-Eye Foster? Yeah. You look as though you've had a hard run. All the way from Jake Rabe's place by a ginger. Got your breath back? I'm all right now, I reckon. Now, what's this about a warning? What's the trouble? The law knows you're here. Yes? Sheriff Lansing and his two deputies. They'll be coming this way pretty quick. That's why I run for it so as I could get here first. Tonto. Yeah? Get ready to leave. We may have to pull out in a hurry. Tonto will do that. How did you know where to find our camp? Yeah. You're down on the holla here. Jake's place is up above on the hill. You can see the glow from there. Then why should the law bother Tonto and me? Does the sheriff question every stranger that enters his county? Aye, you don't have to pretend with me, stranger. Pretend? Oh, shucks, I know it was you that killed Jake. These days, I suppose it was you. So that's it. I'm suspected of a killing, eh? Gosh, didn't you kill him? I didn't. Tonto and I... Wait. Haven't I seen you before? I don't know. Have you? Been through this section before? I don't mean here. I mean in another district. I ain't been here but a couple of years. I... I used to live over... Well, that's something I don't talk about much. Just let it go. Why should the law think I killed this fellow? Well, you're masked and one of Jake's men told the sheriff he seen a mask on me and a redskin near Jake's place this afternoon riding his way. So putting two and two together... Rather thin evidence. Come to think of it, I reckon it ain't none too good. Why did you trouble to warn us? Because I don't want no suspects butting in. No? I've confessed to that killing and I'll be blasted if I let anybody else be jailed for it. Did you kill him? Well, I... Oh, what's that got to do with it? I'm trying to understand why you would confess to a murder you didn't commit. Shucks, I don't hanker to work for a living. It'd suit me just fine if the county'd feed me for a spell. And you think if you confess, the county will support you, huh? Well, a sheriff got to jail somebody. He suspects what I'm up to all right. But in the case of murder, it'd be better to jail even me than nobody. I'm afraid you're forgetting something. Huh? You'd be more likely to hang than to get a jail sentence. Did you say hang? I did. Oh, gosh, I'm the biggest digit ever was born. I've been trying so long to get jailed just for anything at all that I clean forgot that killing calls for hanging. Say, stranger, you better clear out. Them fellows will be along most any time. Ready, Tonto? All ready. Bring the horses. Fair enough, huh? No. Well, you'd better. If the law is coming here, I believe I'll circle around and have a look for myself at the place where that fellow was shot. Here, Silver, come to him, saddle him. Thanks, Kimo Sabe. Help with you, Fish Eye. We'll take you along. Well, I sure wouldn't want the sheriff behind me here. Let's go, Tonto. Get him up, Scout. Come on, Silver, come on. Fish Eye rode with the masked man as far as the ranch, then made his way back to town on foot. Later that evening, he was in the cafe, leaning against the bar, and... Oh, just one more shot, Barkeith. I'll pay you some time. You can take my word, can't you? Fish Eye. Don't look at me so hard. I'll do more than look at you. If you don't quit pestering me, you ain't catching no more drinks from me. And if I hear you even ask for another, I'll ambace you good. Gosh, ain't I a good customer? Ain't I in here most every day? Sure. Well, then, what's the matter with you? You ain't never spent a nickel in here. If it wasn't that sometimes you bring me cash, cause this idiot's fool enough to buy you liquor, I'd have thrown you out long ago. You're getting as hard-hearted as a sheriff. What's that about me, Fish Eye? Howdy, Sheriff. I was just saying the bar keeps getting as bad as you. He won't give me no liquor, and you won't let me stay in your jail. A fine way to treat a fellow like me that ain't never done no harm to nobody. Hey, Fish Eye, you're the limit. Oh, I ain't so bad. That reminds me. Out to Jake's place. Where'd you disappear to in such a hurry? I left for town. That's funny. Hey, somebody said they seen you heading in the direction of the holler. Well, I didn't. And when I got there with my deputies, that mask hombre in the engine I heard about was gone. You don't say. You wouldn't give them warning, would you? What for? I don't know. Didn't occur to me that anybody as loco as you would be needing a sensible reason. Seems to me you're the fellow ain't acting sensible, Sheriff. When I confess to something, you won't believe me. When I claim I didn't do something, then you get as downright suspicious as a hound dog sent in game. Well, with you, I never know. Well, Hopkins, by all that's holy. What in blazes are you doing in this country? Well, goodbye, Sheriff. I gotta go down... Cal, what's ailing you? Don't you recognize me? I'm Luke Mullins. I've never seen you before. Fish Eye! What, Sheriff? Come back here. But, Sheriff, I got business to tend to. And that same is right here. Mister, you know Fish Eye? I know Cal Hopkins. Uh-huh. And you called Fish Eye by that handle. Now, what's this all about? Yes, let me go, Sheriff. I wanna... You stay here. Now, stranger, is this fellow Cal Hopkins, or is he Fish Eye Foster like he's been done on us? I'm doggone sorry, Cal, if I got you into any trouble. I never meant... You've done it, Luke. Ain't no use crying about what can't be helped. Where'd you know, Fish Eye? Why, we was friends over to Plaster City up in Montana way. Shucks, I've known Cal ever since him and Jake Rabe was partners in that gold miner there. Oh. What was that you said? Huh? What was that about him and Jake being partners? Well, I didn't mean to say they were still partners, Sheriff. Reckon they busted up when Jake tricked Cal out of his share. Luke, now you've done it for sure. Done what? Jake Rabe was just killed. Golly, I didn't know Cal. Never even knew Jake came to this part of the country when he sold a mine. He come here and went to ranching. Hey, Shai? Yeah? Is it a fact your real handles Cal Hopkins? Ain't no use denying it now, I reckon. Wouldn't take you long to find out the truth. And you and Jake was once partners in a gold mine? Yeah. And Jake was supposed to have cheated you? No, now, look. Shut up. Just why did you come here and give folks a different name to call you by? Well, I was... And just why wasn't it ever known that you and Jake was acquainted of four? I never knew he was here when I first hit town, Sheriff. Honest to never. No? Well, there's some things beginning to clear up now. I never did figure a fella could be as loco as you made out. Oh, Sheriff, now... You was mad at Jake. You followed him here. Ain't so. Keep still. My thunder, the more I think about it, the more I'm beginning to savvy just how slick you was. Yeah, if you're getting things all wrong... You kept confessing to everything crooked that happened around here. Got to be a standing joke. Got so finely you could own up to anything at all and you wouldn't be believed. Listen, now... You got it all planned out. You waited your time. Then you killed Jake to get even. Rushed to my office to confess. And no blame well I'd threw you out, figuring it was just another dodge of yours to get free lodging. Things look bad, Sheriff, but you just don't savvy us all. Well, you've been begging me to jail, yeah? I've changed my mind. You're too late. This time I'm jailing you whether you like it or not. And on a charge of murder. No, Sheriff. Honest now, I don't want to go to jail. Just let me stay loose, that's all. I'll be content. I won't pester you to jail me no more. You were slick, Fish Eye. It ain't fair. But this fellow showing up queered your game. Now turn yourself around and march. You're under arrest. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. When the Sheriff learned that Fish Eye was really Cal Hopton from Montana with a long-standing grudge against a murdered rancher, he was taken to jail and locked up. Never figured to see the day that I'd be willing to deal, you fish eye. But there you are, and there you stay. Look here, Sheriff. Well? You ought to know the honest guy's truth about things. Ready to make a confession, is that it? Now you listen to me. You got to. Go ahead, talk. You don't savvy. Sure, Jake swindled me. I couldn't never prove it, but it's so. And when he got through, I didn't have a cent left to my name. So you swore to get him? Maybe I would have done it at first, Sheriff, but later on, it just didn't seem worthwhile. Then I began wandering around the country, trying to make a living here and there, and all the time luck going worse again, man. So finally, I just made up my mind I wasn't going to even try to pay my own way no more. I didn't know Jake was in this district when I come here, and he never did find out I was here. I used a different name, and all is kept out of his way. Except once. Huh? Once. The time you shot him. Ain't it no use at all trying to make you see the straight facts, Sheriff? I see them all right. Who you got there, Sheriff? Well, I'll be. Dan, you was calling me every kind of name because I was fooling up to jail, Fish Eye. And here you've done just what you told me not to. I got my reason. Yeah? What's he done, boss? He's been using the name don't belong to him. He once was Jake Rabe's partner, and Jake was known to cheat him. No. Is them the facts? Found him out when a pilgrim by the name of Luke Mullins from Fish Eye's hometown spilled the works. Well, then you must be arresting him for Jake's killing. Ain't that what I've been saying, Red? I never done it, fellas. Honest to me. Ah, you. But, Sheriff, he's right. He didn't. I don't care how good a case you think you got again. He just couldn't have done the shooting. I'd like to know why not. Bud, you found Jake, didn't you? Sure did, Red. How long had he been dead when you run across him? About more than an hour. And you came right here and reported? Of course. There. You see, Dan? No, by ginger, I don't see. But I jailed Fish Eye for robbing Lem's store when he fooled me with that fake confession of his. At the time Jake was killed, Fish Eye was sitting here behind bars with me watching him. There. Con, son, and dog blaster. Well, it's so. And I thought I had Jake's killing all cleaned up. Well, Fish Eye, looks like you get out all right. That's just fine. But, Sheriff, if you could just see your way clear to get me jailed for the robbing of Lem's store, then... Are you an ordinary long-eared maverick? Bud, unlock that cell and kick that fella out of here. Right. And if he ever... Leave that cell locked. The masterful I was looking for, mister, I... Don't do as I tell you. Careful, men. Don't slap leather. You... I warned you. Leave, punk. Catfish. Had them guns out of far, Bud even dropped his hand to his host. Stranger, you can't. Come on. We're taking a trip. Just who do you think you are to give orders to the law? We'll discuss that later. Right now, you and I are riding, Sheriff. You men. Well? Don't let Fish Eye out. You and Bud keep an eye on him, Red, until the sheriff gets back. What's your game? Sheriff, I'm going to show you how a man could be miles away when his victim was killed and still be a murderer. Now, come along. Forcing the sheriff to accompany him, the Lone Ranger headed for Jake's ranch house. On the way, the sheriff learned several things that convinced him he had misjudged his man. And when they arrived at the ranch... Whoa, Silver. Whoa, boy. Whoa, boy. I never took you to be the Lone Ranger. You're convinced that I am? The sight of that horse would be enough. Good. Then perhaps you'll believe the things I have to show you. Come. Where's your part? He's here on the porch. In the shadows. Tato! Uh? Where are the cowhands? Them in bunkhouse. Them not come here. Then we won't be disturbed. Inside, Sheriff. Uh-huh. What's up? There are several things I want to show you. Jake was found dead in this room. Yeah, he was laying right over there. Miss the place here? That's right. Notice where he was found. Right in front of this cupboard against the wall. Yeah. Now then, when you were here before, did you notice a short length of cord on the floor just beneath the cupboard? I can't say that I... Yeah, come to think of it, I do. It was a piece of twine. Now look inside this cupboard. Oh, what about it? See these nails? Um, yeah. There's three of them. One driven into the inside of the door itself. Another at the rear of the cupboard. And a third at the side of the cupboard. Doggone if I can savvy what you were driving at. This nail in the door still has a ragged piece of twine sticking to it. Uh-huh. Here. Now take one of my guns and show you something. I'll put it on the end of the shelf. So this nail driven into the side is under the barrel. Now the barrel is held in position, pointing outwards. In other words, pointing directly at anyone opening the cupboard. Uh-huh. You see what was done? A piece of cord was fastened to the nail inside the door, drawn across his second nail at the rear, and from that attached to the hammer of a six-gun. In that position, anyone opening the cupboard door would release the hammer. The cartridge would be exploded. With any luck at all, he'd be killed. My golly, stranger, that's true. It wasn't difficult to see what had happened when once you noticed all these things. I missed him entirely. A piece of twine, the nails, the position of the body told the story. Wait. The gun was found on the floor. A .45, Sheriff, has a strong recoil. The recoil tumbled the gun from the shelf to the floor. And a fellow could have fixed all this up, cleared out, and been miles away with an alibi when the killing actually happened. Right. Which same means that Fish Eye ain't got no alibi at all. He hasn't. And that's why you told my deputies not to let him out. Stranger, I'm going back to town and tell Fish Eye just how worthless that blamed alibi of his is. You still have no proof. But motive aplenty. Fish Eye was ruined by Jake. It would be better to get clear proof. Sure, but I don't know how it could be done. Release Fish Eye. Tell him you no longer believe him guilty because you have clear proof against another man. Why, you loco. Do as I say, and you'll catch a murderer. But, wait. Wait, I got it. Now I savvy. Yes? Let him go free to give him rope enough to hang himself. Is that it? Do as I've told you, and the killer will be caught. Then, mister, he's just as good as caught right now. Sheriff Lansing obeyed the Lone Ranger's orders. It was late at night when he returned from Jake's ranch. But first thing in the morning, Fish Eye was released with the assurance that all the evidence pointed to another man. Nothing happened during the day. But that evening, Bud entered the cafe and... Howdy, fellas. Howdy, Jeff. Howdy. Oh, there, Matt. Howdy, bud. Fish Eye. Howdy, there, Fish Eye. Hey, Bud. Hi, Bud. Howdy, Red. The sheriff sent me after you fellas. He weren't fooling. He said he warned you fellas to come down to the house. He said you was to come if I had to drag you personal. I don't know. Maybe I ought to stand on my rights. Figure he'd jail me if I did, Bud. Most likely he'd just give you the toe of his boot. Come along, Red. Grab ahold of Fish Eye's other arm. There, if he's got a notion to put up any argument. He'll come. Now, let me lose. Well, then, come peaceable. I'm a-coming. I'm a-coming. Blast it all, I never did see law to compare with such as this town's got. Can't get jailed when you want to. Can't be left alone, neither. It's enough to make a man get plum disgusted with law and order. The three men, Bud, Red, and Fish Eye, made their way to the sheriff's home. As they walked up the steps and crossed the porch, two figures detached themselves from the shadows, and... Here we are, fellas. We'll find out... Walked right in. Keep going. Watson, Tyler. Hunter, do that. Inside. Look here. What's the idea? Come in, boys. Come right in. Put this mask feather here, sir. He's someone just like him and me agreed on. Now, just help yourself to chairs, boys, and make yourself to home. But, Cher, what's this for? What do you want us for? Well, Fish Eye, I thought maybe if we got together and talked things over, we'd get to the bottom of Jake's killing and find the fellow that done it. I never. Your own deputy give me an alibi. Uh-huh. I recollect you. Say, hand me my tobacco, will you? It's there in that cupboard, I reckon. Sure. This cupboard here? Uh-huh. No, doggone it. Excuse me, Fish Eye. Must be getting absent-minded. Sit down. Here it is right here. I never did think you had your wits about you, Sheriff. You ain't got nothing new on the killing, have you, boss? No, but I expect to have soon. Thought you told Fish Eye you had evidence again the fellow killed Jake. Some. I'm just waiting for the rest. What's this mask fellow and the redskin got to do with it? You'll learn that soon enough, bud. Sure, don't get restless. Red. Huh? I don't want to trouble Fish Eye again, but I just noticed this is the pipe I've been smoking all day. Yeah? I got a fresh one in the cupboard there. Get it for me, will you? Feeling sort of lazy myself. Well, I... It's just over there. I'll get it, boss. You stay where you are. Red, did you hear what the sheriff said? But the... The pipe, Red. Well, I ain't no servant. Shucks, Red. He just asked you, Cor. He's tired. Ain't nothing to get offended about. But I'll be glad to get... You won't. Red. Get out of that chair. Look here. Or do I have to drag you out? I'll get up. But I don't see why I should have to... Now walk to that cupboard. What? Walk. Sheriff, this fella ain't got no right to order me around. Strikes me you're acting mighty touchy, Red. Wouldn't be nothing behind it, would there? Well, I just ain't feeling good, that's all. When you open that cupboard door, you may feel worse. Open it, you say? No. Hurry. No. No, you can't make me. I don't have to take no orders from nobody. You'll take my orders. Open that door or I draw. Say, there's something mighty queer about this. All right. I'll open it. Duck, fellas. Hey, what's the red move? That gun was in there. You ain't gonna get me. Grab him. Stop him. He's heading for the window. Stay where you are. The next shots will be closer. Why, you... Come here. Keep your hands up. Don't make a false move. That will be enough of that. Bud, put the cuffs on him. Right. There. I don't say that. What's this all about? There was one of you an opportunity to open that cupboard door. Only Red was unwilling because he knew a gun was set to fire when the door opened. You all saw him stoop to one side when he turned the handle. He knew what to expect. And that was just the way Jake was killed. Well, I'll be switched. Then Red killed Jake. When you were released, Fisheye, you were told the sheriff had clear evidence against another man. Red didn't know the sheriff really had evidence that would convict him or not. He couldn't take a chance, however. So he rigged up the identical murder trap to catch the sheriff that he'd used successfully on Jake. And I was thinking Red was such a swell fella because he was so willing to give me an alibi. He wasn't thinking of your alibi, Fisheye. When he gave you one, he was also providing one for himself. Oh, that's right. I never thought of looking at it from that way. But why did Red have it in for Jake for? Red, you willing to tell? You might as well. If you don't, there's a fella in town that'll do it for you. Because the dirty snake had me sent to jail on a deal where he was to blame. I told him I'd get even and I did. Hi, mask man, wait! We'll meet again, Sheriff. Was it that mask fella figured this out or you, Sheriff? Wasn't me, Fisheye. If it was, you might have hung. Who's this hombre you said to tell about me? You were sentenced to jail, Red, but broke loose. Followed Jake here where you wasn't known. And I gave you a job because you seemed to be a handy fella with your shooting irons. But the law was on your trail all the time. The law? The government. A U.S. Marshal showed up in town this afternoon. When he described you, I knowed who it was right away. That marshal a stranger here, Sheriff? Uh-huh. Why? I gotta see him. Look here, you bastard. Now, don't you go and spoil it for me, Sheriff. Can't get you fellas to jail me no more. But a stranger in town, Sheriff. Shucks. I'll bet I can get him to give me a year in the calaboose at least. Fire! Fire! Come on, sir! Where you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated. The Lone Ranger Incorporated is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
