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Narrator
A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty HI O.
Tyler
Silver. The Lone Ranger. It's sam.
Narrator
The Wild and Untamed west of yesteryear with all of its stirring action is brought back to us in a vivid word picture as the phantom figure of the plains rides on another exciting adventure. Listen to those silver shot hoops racing down the trails of old. The Lone Ranger rides again.
Tyler
Come on, Silver, old boy. We have a big job to do. God is waiting for us somewhere ahead. Hey, O Silver. How are you?
Narrator
Jim Burton had made himself absolute master of a large district in the Southwest. All who lived in that territory were forced to pay him tribute or suffer the consequences. His men, outlaws and hired gunmen, openly punished those who refused to pay. Homes were stripped, buildings burned, cattle stolen or poisoned. Men who stubbornly defied Burton were murdered. The gang had become so powerful that the law was helpless. In the first scene of tonight's story, we see Burton and his lieutenant, Bat Jordan, riding to the home of a rancher named Tyler.
Jim Burton
How much do a man Tyler owe us, Tyler? Let me look at the book here. Just a second, Burton. Well, don't be all day finding it. Yeah, here it is. He ain't paid for last month yet. Oh, he ain't, huh? Well, I'll have to teach him a lesson. That's his prize bull over yonder, ain't it? Yeah. All right. That got him.
Tyler
Hey. What? Stop it, Burton. Look at what you done. Ain't that a downright shame?
Jim Burton
I ran over here to have a talk with you, Tyler.
Tyler
Why, you.
Jim Burton
Just an accident, that's all. I'm mighty sorry. I was just looking at my gun and went off and got that bull.
Tyler
Accident, my eye.
Jim Burton
Accidents do happen, Tyler. Yep, that's why it's smart to keep signed up with my company. Now, if only you'd paid up your fee last month, I'd have stood the loss of that bull.
Tyler
And because I didn't pay you, you shot the critter.
Jim Burton
I wouldn't be so quick to say things like that, Tyler. Especially when they can't be proved in court.
Tyler
Court? Everyone's afraid of you. You run the court the same as you run the sheriff and everything else in this part of the country.
Jim Burton
You'd be smart to pay up your dues and button up your lip, Tyler. You know, I think that just the fact that a man has signed up with me is enough to keep thieves and troublemakers away. Now look at how all my clients have been let alone. And look at how thieves will trouble Them that ain't been registered with me. I know.
Tyler
When Bob Frisby refused to pay you, he lost 100 head of cattle from poison pool. Then when he still held out, his house, catched fire.
Jim Burton
Bad accident. I was sorry to see Bob wiped out like that.
Tyler
Yes, you was.
Jim Burton
Then there was Hank Fenton. My, but he had a streak of tough luck. Remember, Jordan, how them prowling thieves kept busting in his house and taking things? Yeah. He done well to sign up with us. His house is likely to catch fire easy. Yeah, well, enough of that. Mr. Tyler, you owe just $50. That'll bring your payments right up to date.
Tyler
I ain't got no $50.
Jim Burton
No? Seems to me you sold some cattle last month. Ain't you been paid for it?
Tyler
I sent the cash to my niece at Red Bluff.
Jim Burton
That's bad. That's mighty bad. You should have thought of your own protection.
Tyler
Look here, Barton. I ain't a man to ask favors, but I've got to. My niece Betsy lost her paw and she's coming here to live with me.
Jim Burton
So you sent her all your money, huh?
Tyler
Her paw had some debts that she wanted to clean up before she left there. Now, look here, Burton. Just leave me alone and I'll pay ya. I'll pay up in time if you just let me be.
Jim Burton
Tyler, I wouldn't do anything to you. You seem to think that I'm behind all the trouble around here.
Tyler
You ain't fooling me, Burton. Everyone knows about your gang and how you tell them to go to work on anyone that won't pay you.
Jim Burton
I wonder. You look for this niece of yours
Tyler
to get here as soon as you might be tomorrow or next week or next month.
Jim Burton
Well, we'll be on the way. I sure hope you'll be able to pay up what you owe, Tyler. Been quite a long dry spell. They ain't no telling when a man's house might catch fire. Come on, gentlemen. We'll go call on Mrs. Simmons. She's behind in the payments, too. Yeah. Come on. Get up here. Get up.
Tyler
Get up.
Jim Burton
Get up there.
Tyler
Tad. Rabbit. That poor bull. He ain't dead. I gotta take care of him. I'll go get my gun.
Narrator
Wait, Thomas.
Jim Burton
Here. Two shot.
Narrator
Yes. If there's a third, three shots todo. That's always a danger sign. That's right. No man fires three shots based like that unless he wants help and wants it bad.
Jim Burton
Shot come from that wave. Come on, Silver.
Tyler
Get him up.
Narrator
The Lone Ranger and his faithful Indian companion Tanto were riding along the trail when they heard the three shots. Throughout the west, three spaced shots were known as the signal of distress. The masked rider lost no time answering what he believed to be a call for help. And soon he and Tonto pulled their horses to a stop alongside of old Tyler, who stood beside the dead bull.
Jim Burton
What's the trouble here?
Tyler
Trouble? A plenty trouble. But you're talking to the wrong man, stranger.
Narrator
How's that?
Tyler
I reckon you're looking for the boss of all the outlaws, Jim Burton. Well, he went to see poor old widow Simmons. Reckon he'll be drilling her cattle about now.
Jim Burton
Didn't you fire three shots for help? Huh? I'm no outlaw.
Narrator
Came here because I heard three space shots.
Tyler
Oh, Plan six. I never thought of that guy, Stranger. I didn't mean to signal for help, even though the good Lord knows I need it plenty bad. I fired them shots to put this bull out in his suffering. Jim Burton purposely shot this critter just because I ain't paid him for protection.
Jim Burton
I see.
Narrator
Jim Burton, huh?
Jim Burton
Yeah. We hear a story about him. Yes.
Narrator
I didn't think there could be any truth in those stories, stranger.
Tyler
Ain't none of my affair. And a smart man don't ask too many questions. But why are you wearing that mask around here?
Narrator
I want you to tell me more about Jim Burton.
Tyler
Well, if you ride hard for the first white house you come to heading that way, you'll likely catch him talking to Witter Simmons.
Narrator
Very well.
Tyler
If she don't tell you all you want to know about Jim Burton, just come on back here and I'll tell a plenty.
Jim Burton
Come on, Silver.
Mrs. Simmons
And there ain't nothing that crook won't stoop to, stranger. I had to give him a last penny or the chances are my house would have catched fire tonight.
Narrator
Doesn't the sheriff do anything to stop that sort of thing?
Mrs. Simmons
The sheriff? He can't do anything. No one can ever prove that Burton's the one that does all these things. Not even United States Marshal can do anything about it.
Jim Burton
Why don't all of you band together and refuse to pay him?
Mrs. Simmons
There ain't no one was spunk enough to even speak again him except an old man, Tyler, and me. I tell you, stranger, just to tell everyone I get the chance to tell, Jim Burton's the orneriest skunk that ever breathed. You go ask Tyler to tell you a few things that he's done.
Jim Burton
I'm going to.
Narrator
The Lone Ranger. Gathered all the information he could find concerning Jim Burton and his men. Among other things, he learned that many members of the gang were wanted by the law in other sections of the country. This knowledge suggested a way to break Burton's power in town. The next day, the men were gathered in the cafe. The masked man suddenly appeared in the doorway, his two heavy six guns covering every person in the room.
Jim Burton
Hold it. Every one of you. Stand still.
Tyler
It's a sticker.
Jim Burton
It's no robbery. The man I want is Scar Lewis.
Tyler
Hold on. Here, mister.
Jim Burton
Grab him. Take his mask off.
Tyler
Don't try.
Jim Burton
Leave your guns alone. Come on, Lewis. You don't want it for murdering Pecos Burton.
Tyler
You ain't gonna let him get me.
Jim Burton
Burton has nothing to say. Come on. Let me go.
Tyler
Let me go.
Jim Burton
I'm covering the rest of you with one gun. Stay where you are. I'll be back, Burton, for some more of the crooks that you're shielding in this town.
Tyler
Let me go. Jim. Help.
Narrator
During the next three days, the townspeople talked of nothing but the daring action of the masked man. We hear Burton and Jordan with two of their men discussing the matter on the porch of the general store.
Jim Burton
He must have taken Scar all the way to Pecos. Reckon he must have. Just who's he think he is, Burton? He ain't no right to drag a man across the county line that way. Wearing a mask, too, if he comes back here. But you better duck for cover. You're wanting Red Bluff. That's where he's going.
Tyler
What? Why, you.
Jim Burton
Hey. Come from the side of the building. You won't get me. Burton's be back. You too, Jordan. See you here, stranger. Hey, Silver. They say you're pretty slippery, Butch. I'll put a rope on you. Stop him, Burton.
Tyler
Jordan.
Jim Burton
Stop him and more of your gang. That I want, but let me down. You can't let me on your horse like this. You're going to Red Bluff, Butch.
Tyler
I O shield.
Narrator
Within the next two weeks, the Lone Ranger struck at Burton's gang four more times. He appeared when least expected, forced an outlaw to go with him and made his escape before his surprised victims could defend themselves. In all, he had taken six of Burton's men. And the gang leader was furious. We see Burton with Jordan, considering a method to get rid of the Lone Ranger.
Jim Burton
If that man is the Lone Ranger, he wouldn't touch you unless he had proof of something agin you. I don't know about that. Maybe we've seen the last of them. I hope not, Jordan. I ain't gonna rest till I see that man shot unmasked and planted six foot deep. As for me, I'm Willing to let well enough alone.
Tyler
Well, I ain't.
Jim Burton
I'll get him, Jordan, if it's the last thing I do.
Tyler
Mr. Burton.
Jim Burton
Huh? Oh, it's you, huh? Tyler, you're about due to pay me some money.
Tyler
I know.
Jim Burton
Did you bring it with you?
Tyler
I. I hate no money.
Jim Burton
Well, I ain't waiting no longer.
Tyler
Now, Mr. Burton.
Jim Burton
You pay up or there might be some accidents happen on the trail to Red Bluff. An accident that might affect this niche you're expecting.
Tyler
Wait. Won't you listen to me?
Jim Burton
Money talk's the only language I care to listen to.
Tyler
There's something. We'll talk louder.
Jim Burton
What?
Tyler
Look, you'd like to get this Lone Ranger, wouldn't you?
Jim Burton
I'd give up plenty to get him.
Tyler
Cliff, if I showed you where you could trap him, would you call what I owe you square and give me your protection for a few more months?
Jim Burton
For the rest of your life? That's what it means to me to get that mask, man. He's made things too darn tough around here. Do you know where he says? Well, do you?
Tyler
Yeah, I think I can find him.
Jim Burton
Sit down there, Tyler.
Tyler
Thanks. I don't mind if I do.
Jim Burton
Where's the Lone Ranger?
Tyler
I ain't saying I know where he is.
Jim Burton
You don't know? Why, you old four plus of you.
Tyler
Wait. I know where he will be. You got something?
Jim Burton
Where? Come on, speak up. Where?
Tyler
Now, let me tell it my own way. I got a scheme all worked out so as you can get him.
Jim Burton
Let's hear.
Tyler
You promised me that you won't make me no trouble.
Jim Burton
I told you I wouldn't.
Tyler
And you won't make no trouble for my niece, Betsy?
Jim Burton
No, of course not.
Tyler
All right, then it's a deal. Listen close, gents, and I'll tell you how to get the Lone Range.
Narrator
The curtain falls on the first act of tonight's thrilling 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 drama, the Lone Ranger learned of Burton's crooked activities. And in a series of daring raids, the masked man carried off those of Burton's men, known to be outlaws. In the meantime, Burton tried desperately to defend himself against the Lone Rangers attacks. Let us pick up the threads of our narrative as Tyler completes the outline of his plan.
Jim Burton
Now, let me get this straight, Tyler. You're to show me where to get this Lone Ranger. In exchange for that, I'll see that you're protected from trouble. All sorts.
Tyler
It's a deal then.
Jim Burton
You don't know when this niece of yours is coming, do you?
Tyler
No. She ought to be getting here soon though. She was only going to stay in Red Bluff till she paid up her Paul's debts. Then take her horse and ride down here.
Jim Burton
Maybe if she's good looking, I might take her to a couple parties.
Tyler
Now hold on. One other thing I want in that agreement, Burton. Well, Jordan, or none of the rest of your bunch are to come annoying Betsy.
Jim Burton
Oh, now tell them. All right, I'll see they don't. You hear that, Jordan? Yeah, I hear it. Now suppose you tell us. I aim to get this Lone Ranger while we can get at him.
Tyler
Well, there's an Injun friend of his.
Jim Burton
I heard about him. His name's Tardo.
Tyler
That's right.
Jim Burton
What's Tardo got to do with it?
Tyler
I know where to capture the injunction.
Jim Burton
Yeah?
Tyler
You see, him and the Lone Ranger have been friendly with me. The engine has been to my place several times already and he'll be back again. Now, if you was to capture Tonto, the Lone Ranger would blame seem no about it.
Jim Burton
Yeah, I suppose he would.
Tyler
All right then, what'll he do?
Jim Burton
Come riding like lightning with a couple guns blazing?
Tyler
You needn't fear about being shot. The Lone Ranger never shoots to kill. He'll come in fighting fair.
Jim Burton
What about it?
Tyler
When he comes along the trail where you men are holding Tonto, making out to torture him so's he'll tell where the masked man is, he'll hit a pitfall.
Jim Burton
Pitfall?
Tyler
Sure. You boys dig a deep hole in the ground, then cover it with branches and things so he won't see it. He drops to the bottom of it and that finishes it.
Jim Burton
My thunder Tyler, you got an idea there. Why don't we just blaze head him with our guns?
Tyler
I'll tell you why, Jordan. You ought to know already. You tried to shoot him once before and one of them silver bullets blasted your six gun out in your hand.
Jim Burton
And blame near broke my hand. Of course, if he sees any of us drawing a gun, he'll let you have it. That's right, Jordan. Tyler's right.
Tyler
You wouldn't have a Chinaman's chance of getting him.
Jim Burton
Just don't pay no attention to him and let him come at us and drop into the pit. How do we know he'd get killed?
Tyler
What if he was to capture a few rattlers and put them in the pit? Rattlers?
Jim Burton
Sure. When he falls in the pit, they'd finish him.
Tyler
Sure, they Would. What's more, I'll provide him. Can you get him? Sure I can get him.
Jim Burton
Tyler, it seems to me that you're doing a lot to get the man that sort of worked on your behalf. How come?
Tyler
I'd do anything to make my home safe for my niece, Betsy when she gets here.
Jim Burton
I see. We'll follow out that scheme. Jordan, get the boys together. We'll dig the pit. And then we'll leave it up to Tyler to lead us to capturing that in Gintano.
Narrator
The Lone Ranger had captured all of Burton's men who had criminal records. But Burton himself was still free. Our next scene opens in the masked man's hidden camp. He and Tonto are speaking of the gang leader. We can't put another one of them in jail, Tanto. The rest have no crimes chalked against them that bad. And even if they had, the one man we must get is Jim Burton, Isn't that right? None of the others count. We can replace them as fast as we can capture them. Burton is the man who must be jailed.
Jim Burton
What jail him for?
Narrator
That's the problem. There's not a thing that can be proved against him.
Jim Burton
You know Sheriff here.
Narrator
I've talked to the sheriff. He's honest and he'd like to see Jim Burton's power broken just as much as we would. His hands are tied.
Jim Burton
Oh, here, Whitefeller, you're leaving now. Time to go see old man.
Narrator
Very well.
Jim Burton
Maybe someday we get Burtonpeller.
Narrator
Here's hoping, Kemo Sabe.
Jim Burton
See you by and by. Yes. Get him a point for.
Narrator
Tonto. Riding to Tyler's home, entered the trap set by Burton. The faithful Indian drew his horse to a stop before the ranch house, prepared to dismount, and was immediately surrounded by the outlaws who advanced upon him with drawn guns.
Jim Burton
Make a move and we shoot.
Tyler
Watch him.
Jim Burton
We're watching him.
Tyler
Move him tight. Are you double crouched?
Jim Burton
Strange.
Tyler
Sorry, engine, but I had to do it.
Jim Burton
Pull those ropes tight. You won't get loose. You double crossed.
Tyler
It was you and me injured.
Jim Burton
No, redskin. It's you or the Lone Ranger. Yeah. You got just one chance to save your neck. What you mean? Tell us where to find the Lone Ranger and we let you go free. That Tyler feller, him double cross.
Tyler
It was you or me.
Jim Burton
You better do the same thing and lead us to the Lone Ranger. If you know what's good for you. Me not double cross. Oh, so you figure you won't tell us, huh? That's right. We got ways of making any man talk. Tonto Nut talk. We'll see about that. Take him to the post, boys. Yeah. Here's where we see just how much pain an engine can stand. Keep a close watch on him.
Tyler
Don't give him a chance to get free.
Jim Burton
Jordan, you ride ahead with Tonto and my mothers. Me and Tyler, I'll follow you. Come on.
Tyler
Come on. Come on. Get a boy. Get back. Come on.
Jim Burton
Get a boy. It was easier than I figured.
Tyler
Yeah.
Jim Burton
He didn't put up no fight at all. No.
Tyler
He seen there wasn't no use agin such odds.
Jim Burton
I wonder if the Lone Ranger will come after him.
Tyler
I'm betting on it. Just look at the ground around here, how it's trampled. The Lone Ranger will see the Tonto don't get back to the camp. Then he'll come see the signs and follow the trail.
Jim Burton
I hope so.
Tyler
All you have to do is keep the engine at that post just beyond the pit until the Lone Ranger comes.
Jim Burton
Good. Unless he spots our trail, sees where we went around the pit.
Tyler
Chucks, he won't do that. When he gets that post, he'll see his Injun friend being tortured and come riding hard with eyes on us instead of on the trail.
Jim Burton
That's reasonable to suppose. How about the rattlers?
Tyler
Well, Burton, I had to change that part some. What? Yeah, you see, I managed to trap a mountain lion alive. I take it on trying to get bounty for it. When I seen how vicious the critter was, I thought it'd be better to put that in the bottom of the pitch than in the rattlers.
Jim Burton
It's all the same. Don't matter none.
Tyler
That's the way I.
Narrator
Tonto. Boundless strong rope was carried by Burton's men to a point along the trail that led from Red Bluff to town. There, within sight of the trail, he was tied to the stump of a dead tree. Not far beyond them could be heard the cries of the mountain lion supplied by Tyler, marking the location of the pitfall prepared for the Lone Ranger. We hear the outlaws as they wait for the masked man to appear in search of his companion.
Tyler
How much longer do you think you'd better wait, Burton?
Jim Burton
Yes, we waited about long enough. That blamed mountain lion down the pit smells horses.
Tyler
Yeah, he's downright hungry.
Jim Burton
Reckon I'll move back to cover and have a look at him.
Tyler
Don't you do it.
Jim Burton
Why not?
Tyler
Them critters can leap higher than a man's head. He might get out.
Jim Burton
Tyler's right. He's sure making a plenty of noise.
Tyler
Yeah, he's pretty hungry. Oh, by the way. Well, I hope you made that pit deep enough.
Jim Burton
Sure took the Lord of us all
Tyler
night to dig it big enough for a man and a horse to drop in. Sure enough. Well, Burton, why don't you start on the redskin?
Jim Burton
We maybe should wait till we see the Lone Ranger coming along the trail.
Tyler
What's the sense in that?
Jim Burton
You seem mighty anxious for things to get hot for the redskin, Tyler.
Tyler
Well, taking part in murder don't appeal to me. I want to get it over with.
Jim Burton
Murder?
Tyler
This is your first murder, too, ain't it, Burton?
Jim Burton
Mine?
Tyler
Sure. I figure you never take the risk of killing a man.
Jim Burton
Listen to him, Jordan. That's a good one. Well, have you tell him about the Parker affair, Burton? You found out about who done for
Tyler
Jack Parker, did you?
Jim Burton
Well, I wouldn't admit it to the law, but of course, you covered your tracks pretty slick on that job, boss.
Tyler
And you must have been the one that knifed Hank Green.
Jim Burton
Listen to him.
Tyler
Oh, but I don't reckon you was. Green was a pretty tough hombler. It'd take a sight of nerve for a man to fight him.
Jim Burton
Well, I done it.
Tyler
You did?
Jim Burton
Sure. Someone coming. Take a look. Stand ready with them lasses to handle Tanner with.
Tyler
That ain't the Lone Ranger. That's my niece. Your niece? Yeah. She's heading down the trail. She'll fall into that hole. Stop her. Right ahead and stop her. We can't. There ain't none of us near to our horses.
Jim Burton
If she drops into that, we'll miss getting the Lone Ranger.
Tyler
Get for the horses. Hurry. They're behind them trees. We can't get to them in time. There's the Lone Ranger. He was behind them trees with the horses.
Jim Burton
How'd you get there?
Tyler
Ride. Ride, mister. Save Betsy. He's getting to her. Thanks a good Lord. Do you get her? Look at him travel. He's got her to save Betsy.
Jim Burton
All right, Tyler. Now suppose you tell how he happened
Tyler
to be where he was. All right, Burton, I will tell. I can tell you now because you talked all you needed, Tyler.
Jim Burton
What?
Tyler
The whole thing was staged just to get you to show your hands.
Jim Burton
What's that? Keep your gun on, Tyler. There's something funny here.
Tyler
You won't think it's a funny. We wanted you to show yourself in all your men as murders. You done that by setting this death trap. Well, then I got you to talking about other murders you done. You see, Burton, now there's enough on you to hang you.
Jim Burton
Yeah? Well, ain't that interesting?
Tyler
Thought I double Crossed the Lone Ranger, huh? Well it was him and Todo and me that staged the whole thing for your benefit.
Jim Burton
I had the Lone Ranger behind them trees to hear what we said. Ain't no one else back there boss. No. And when Toddo and Tyler are done for, there ain't no one but the mask man to know what was said there. And we're shooting him as soon as he gets in gun range. Get ready boys.
Tyler
Oh no you won't.
Jim Burton
Why?
Tyler
Because after you gents finished with that pitfall, the sheriff took it over. And now he's got plenty of evidence again. Ya with deputy to back my hand. What? They've been hid down there to hear the whole thing with ladders to climb out on. Throw the rest of that brush aside boys.
Narrator
We got all we need.
Tyler
It's a frame up. We've got to shoot our way out. Find them. Don't stand steady.
Jim Burton
Cover them from behind.
Tyler
And I've got guns on you from here.
Jim Burton
Nice French cut ropes. Give tunnel guns.
Tyler
You want them, don't anyone else try
Jim Burton
to use a gun.
Tyler
You see Burton, it's downright foolish to try and beat the little ranger's gun. As for that lion you pull cat. That's an old toothless mountain cat that's just as tame as a kitten. But he kept you boys from trying to look in the pit. We got your button and your men with you.
Jim Burton
Thanks Honor for helping to trap these men takes alive.
Tyler
Mister, you repaid me in full. You saved Betsy's life.
Narrator
She's waiting for you beyond the pitfall.
Tyler
Come on silver heads out there old boy. That looks like a house.
Jim Burton
The player BEYOND the valley.
Tyler
Sa. Sam.
Narrator
The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Release Date: May 30, 2026
This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio revives the classic Western radio drama "The Lone Ranger" with the thrilling adventure "Pitfall Trap." The story takes listeners back to the lawless days of the Old West, where the masked hero, The Lone Ranger, and his loyal companion Tonto battle against the ruthless gangster Jim Burton, who holds an entire territory in his grip through intimidation, violence, and extortion. The episode weaves together suspense, moral lines, and acts of clever justice while spotlighting classic Western themes of good versus evil.
“Pitfall Trap” exemplifies the classic Lone Ranger formula: bravery, wit, and a moral heart triumphing over evil, even when the odds seem insurmountable. With vivid performances, sharp dialogue, and a twisty plot, the episode offers a satisfying dose of Golden Age radio adventure—where the heroes are clever and the villains, brought to justice in grand, theatrical style. If you enjoy timeless tales of cunning, justice, and Western valor, this episode captures all the hallmarks of the Lone Ranger legend.