Andrew Rines (0:00)

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No one could match his courage, his strength and resourcefulness. And his name has come down to us through the generations as the greatest champion of justice the west ever knew. Return with us now those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoof beats of the great horse. Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Hello, Silver. We're heading for Kirkwood. Hail Silver. Away, Tonto. The Lone Ranger's faithful Indian companion was waiting to purchase supplies in the general store at Kirkwood when the sheriff called to him. Hey you. Turn around. What matter? That's our business. Ever seen this engine before, Ben? I kind of think I have hanging around your place. Well, as to that, sheriff, I couldn't say. Maybe I've seen him before and maybe I haven't. But if I have, I couldn't tell you where. Well, it don't matter. You've seen him before though, huh? I'm sure he's the one. What'd you say your name was? Bud Lennox. Where'd you come from? Most everywhere I just kind of wander around. Work when I can and ride the grub line when I can't. Cowboy, huh? Sure. What were you doing outside Ben's place the other night? Just meant to ride by. I stopped cause I wondered what was going on. Uh huh. And you sure this is the hombre you seen sneak out and ride away? Wait a second. What kind of horse you ride? Injun. Me riding paint horse. That yours? Outside, huh? Well, Sheriff, that's all I wanted to know. You can't always tell of one redskin from another, especially at night. But you've seen that paint horse. Reckon anybody could mistake it? Not unlessin they was blind. All right, Injun, start marching. What matter? Night before last, Ben's place was busted open and robbed. This gent Senior. So you're under arrest. In the meantime, time at the Craig home, Molly Craig and Brad Wallace were facing Mrs. Craig. Mother, why don't you like Brad? But Molly, I do. Then why do you say we shouldn't get married? Molly, I'm afraid you've deliberately misunderstood me. Brad, I admire you very much. I'd be very sorry if anything I say convinced you. I didn't. Sure, ma'am. You can talk straight out. I reckon I'll understand. How much money have you, ma'am? You're right. Embarrassing. Every dollar I got is right here in my pants pocket. If I had one less, I couldn't make the two of them jingle. I thought as much. Money isn't everything. Sometimes it's a great deal. You've never talked this way before. You've never thought of marriage before. I don't see why. Evidently, there are a number of things you don't see. Brad, I want you to look at this as I do. We've never been wealthy, but we've always had more than enough. Molly isn't used to doing without things. But, Mother. I don't mean that. You couldn't, dear. But you're not accustomed to it. I wouldn't complain. Of course not. But silence isn't a proof of happiness. Nothing I say is right. Molly, don't get cross. Let your ma have her say. Ma'am, somehow I don't believe you're really a Guinness. Thank you, Brad, I'm not. But you're objecting just the same. Is it cause I was married before, is that it? No. Is it on account of Jean? No, it isn't. In fact, if anything could persuade me to give my consent, it would be your daughter. She's at the age when she needs someone to mother her. She and Molly get along together splendidly. I believe they'd be good for each other. Then what in Tonka is wrong? What I've said before. Money. But I've got a homestead. I got my health. I ain't lazy. I won't always be broke. Then wait until you have a better start. I tell you that. Believe me, Brad, I'm trying to advise you wisely. You're both young. You can go on seeing each other. I'll not put any obstacles in the way. But wait until you have a thousand or so in the bank. Wait until you have a little security? Thousands. An awful lot. Ma'am, that is cash is these days. I didn't mean that literally. Just prove to me that you can give my daughter the right kind of a home and I'll ask nothing more. You're happy now. I want to make sure that living from day to day, from hand to mouth, doesn't destroy your happiness. Maybe you're right, ma'am. But doggone if I can see it that way. You will, when you've had my experience. But what if I tell you I'll marry Brad without your permission? Mother, what would you say to that? Well, then, dear, I'd wish you both every good thing in the world. But I'd feel that I'd fail to earn my daughter's respect. Mother, I didn't mean that. I wouldn't. I wouldn't. But. Oh, I don't know what's right. It didn't take time to think it over. Sure, Molly, that won't hurt us. What else can we do? We won't be sorry for it. Brad. There's Jean. You must have told her you'd be here. If I hadn't, she'd have guessed it. Ben, you shouldn't let her run like that. If she fell, she'd hurt herself. You try making her stop. Is Pa here? Say, Youngin, what are you. Pa, they've got Tono. They've got Tano and they put him in jail. What's that? Tonto? Who in the world is that? Who? Just one of the two fellas I owe my life to, that's all. Molly, I gotta leave you. I'll see you later. But where you going? To the jailhouse. I've been wanting to pay them back part of what they've done for me. Maybe here's my chance. Them? Who does he mean? Tanto, Mother. And the Mask Man. Mask man? Yes, the Lone Ranger. Brad did not go directly to the jail. He stopped for almost an hour at the cafe. And when he finally entered the office of the sheriff, he had all the information he needed to carry out a plan. Howdy, Sheriff. Oh, hello there, Brad. Come in. Thanks. The last fellow I look to see. Thought you had enough of this place. That's what I thought. Something I can do for you? I hear you jailed a redskin. Uh huh. And got him out back. Know him well? I don't know. Don't tell me you had something stole from you. Oh, no. Then what's on your mind, Brad? Doing to sound unsociable, but I'm kind of busy. I just came to tell you you've jailed the wrong fella. What's that? You'll have to let him go. Wait. Hold on. Don't get ahead of yourself, Brad. I got a witness that seen the engine coming out of Ben's house. He's as guilty as all get out. I ain't locked up that red skin just on suspicion. And there's been a mistake. There couldn't have been. But I tell you there was. What makes you think you know anything about it? I know all about it. Huh. Sheriff, it was me that robbed Ben. I've come to give myself up. Unaware that Brad owed Tonto a debt of gratitude and convinced that the young homesteader would not have confessed to a crime he had not committed, the sheriff reluctantly freed Tonto and locked up Brad. That night, Tonto told his masked friend what had happened. We made no mistake when we helped Brad Kiwisabe. How many men are there who would have done what he did? Mmm, there are not many. One out of a thousand. Maybe you did wisely when you didn't object. Tanto. It'll be easier for me to prove Brad innocent with you to help me than to prove you innocent with Brad's help. We're used to each other's ways. There's just one thing I don't like about it. What? That I was making progress on the bank robbery at Kiowa City. I think in a few days I could have found the fellow who held it up. If I leave that to help Brad, he may be able to make good his escape. That'd be bad. It's a pretty big thing. The authorities have posted a $5,000 reward. The bank claims to have lost more than 200,000. Well, it can't be helped, Hunter. The reward means nothing to us. Only what manner I suspect Molly and Brad wish to get married and hope to manage it. So Brad could collect the reward would have been a great start for them. Well, we won't talk about it. Hello. How about this fellow? Bud Lennox, the fellow who claimed he saw you leave the Hoffman house the other night. You ever seen him before? Me not see him. You were sure he couldn't be summoned. We'd sent to jail in the past. Someone who'd choose this way to get even. That not it. I don't understand it. He positively identified Ewan's scout, so he must have been lying. But if he doesn't know us, what's his motive? Maybe him break in house, draw attention to himself by accusing someone else. I don't think so you say he'd never been seen in Kirkwood before today, that right? And if he were guilty, he would never come back. No one saw him that night. He could have ridden on and no one the wiser. Here, Silver. You ride again? Yes, out of here to town. What'd you do? It seems to me that Lennox went out of his way to accuse you. We won't get to the bottom of this until we find out why me go too? No, Kimasabi, stay here. You won't be needed. When it's time for action, you'll know it. Come on, old fellow. Come on. The authorities at Kiowa City had been as active in investigating the recent bank robbery as a lone ranger had been Sheriff Hudson. Following every lead called on the sheriff at Kirkwood. The latter cheerfully cooperated with his brother lawman. And so you think the hombre you're after headed this way, huh? Well, I don't know. I'm just what you might call fishing. I think if a cast fur enough and long enough one of these days you'll get a bite. Well, I'm wishing you luck. Are the fellows ready to talk to yet? Won't be long. My deputy will tell us when they're rounded up. Ain't but three or four strangers around town now that I know of. That's what you wanted, wasn't it? Just the drifter's own hand. That's right. You'd have a hot time questioning everybody. Don't think it'd get me anyplace. Anyway, the way I see it, this job was done by one of them tough gun hands that are always drifting. They got to. They're always getting in trouble. The man I want ain't one of the settlers. You're likely right figure to be. I think this is them. Good. Go right ahead of you boys. Well, here they are, Sheriff. Thanks. Look here, what's the idea of this? Can't a fella take a sociable drink without being drugged? To the sheriff's office. You ain't got nothing on me. What do you want me for, dog on it? Shot. What's the idea? Ain't no charge against any of you. And as far as I know there won't be. We just brought you here to answer some questions. What about? Who are you? What do you care? Don't get hot headed in here. We'll cool you off. Well, what do you want? Answer the question. I ask you. What's your name? Pete. Nemo. Well, Pete, where was you last Thursday night? Over by Red Gap. You can prove It. How do I know I didn't tell nobody to keep me in mind case the law got to asking fool questions. I'll get back to you later. What's your name? Bud Lennox. Where was you? He ain't the man you want, Hudson. If I'd have told my deputy why you wanted him, he wouldn't have bothered with this fellow. He was here Thursday night. Yeah, uh huh. We had a robbery ourselves that night. Bud's seen it. Oh, he couldn't have been two places to once. Reckon you can go, Bud? Thanks, Sheriff. Well, it's just one of you left what was last year. You can go to blazers. I ain't answering questions for nobody. Now nobody's accusing you. Say the talk. You're wasting your time. Nobody wants this feller's name. Calls himself Bat Fletcher, Sheriff. All right, you know my handle. What good's it gonna do you? You don't aim to say where you was Thursday night? Not now or anytime. You heard what I told Pete here when he got fresh. You can't tell me anything. Why, Brad, do you want trouble? Just hold it. That's fine. I said hold it. What's the use of a fight? We ain't got nothing on. Batney knows it. He won't answer questions. Don't it look suspicious? Well, that's his own affair. You just bet it is. Then clear out of here. I don't need no second invite. Wait. Well, that's not an order to leave town. Maybe there's nothing on you. But you try it and you'll find yourself behind bars whether there is or not. When you come for me, you better have your hardware handy. For 2 cents, I'd knock these ears down. Well, what do you think? Back Fletcher, eh? Ain't that what you said? That's what they call him at the cafe, Sheriff. Well, that hombre will bear watching. I am Filmer Hoy. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes. Please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Sa now to continue our story. The Lone Ranger raced back to the hidden camp where Toto was waiting for him. What happened? T cold Scout. Here, Scout. I found out plenty in town. Kimasabe, huh? Now we have work to do. Let's go. Get him on, Scout. Come on, Silver. Come on. Early the following morning, Molly Craig saw Brad at the jail. Gosh, I'm glad to see you, honey. Brad, no one can hear us. Tell me the truth. You didn't break into Ben's house, did you? Molly? What do you think I. I know you didn't. I knew you wouldn't go back on me. But I'll bet a heap your maw's plenty mad. She isn't. No. Not after I explained what Tonto and the masked man had done for us. She says she's proud of you. Doggone Molly, if you're more ain't one of the best. But you look here. Yes. Don't you and your ma go around town saying I ain't guilty. The sheriff ain't any more than half convinced it was me Rob Ben as it is. You start him to think and he's likely to go looking for Tondo again. Brad, could. Could Tondo be guilty? I mean. Well, there's that cowboy who claimed he saw him. Do you think that. Gosh, to tell the truth, I never thought of that part of it at all. I don't believe Todo's a thief. Shucks, I reckon I don't either. But that ain't really any of our business. I wouldn't turn again him and his part, no matter what they done. How did you make the sheriff believe you when he had a witness? By using my head. Before I looked up the sheriff, I stopped at the cafe to hear the gossip. By the time I got here, I knew all about it. Yeah, my horses are paint, so that part was easy. And knowing this here Bud Lennox claimed to have seen a redskin, I told the sheriff it's how I disguise myself. He sure didn't want to believe it, but he just couldn't savvy anybody trying to go to jail a purpose. You won't be sorry for what you've done, Brad. I know you. No, Molly, I won't. I guess by now Tono's told the masked fellow about what I'd done. Likely he's trying to figure a way to get me out. Of course he is. But whether he does or not, I still won't have no complaints. I don't know what they'll give me for this. But I'm still remembering that once I was sentenced to jail for life for what I didn't do. Tono and the masked man got me out of that. This don't even begin to make things even. I wish there was something I could do. Now, Molly, don't you go to feeling like that. You just look after Gene again and that'll be plain. Say, what's the matter? Oh, you won't stay here. Brad the mess man. You shouldn't have come here if you're thie the Sheriff isn't around and Tyler's talking to the deputy. No one knows I'm here. But you can't stay here. You gotta get out. I will when I'm ready. I came to tell you not to worry. I know the truth about all of this. And you're going to help me prove it. What? How? Watch out. Raise your hands. Don't reach for them guns. Be still now. Face around, mister. What? Great land of Goshen. Remember me, Sheriff? You. Why, you were the masked fellow that caught Snyder. You're the hombre proved Brad never killed Tom Craig. Right. So that's it, Brad. You almost had me fooled. Fooled? What do you mean? You think I don't know who this hombre is? Well, you just said he's a lone ranger. Forget what I said, stranger. You ain't under arrest. And Brad, you ain't either. Doggone it. I am too. You just think you are. But I ain't as simple as I maybe. Look now come out of there and make room for somebody needs to be locked up, Sheriff. You're local. Think I don't know the masked feller's got a red skin, pard? I don't. And you think I can see through what you done? You lied to get him loose. You figure you owed it to him. What I ought to do is keep you jailed for tricking me. But I'd sure feel small arresting the feller just for being grateful, stranger. Yes, I know you're all right. Even Judge Thornton swears by you. But this ought to teach you a lesson. You think so? I think you put too much faith in that redskin. From now on, you better keep that in mind. I agree with you that Brad isn't guilty. Sure he ain't. But neither is Tonto. I'd expect you to say that, mister, seeing as how he's your friend. Before the day's over, I'll prove I'm right. Well, maybe so. But in the meantime, I think I'll hold on to Tonto, just to be sure. You know where he is? Uh huh. In front of the feed store, talking to my deputy. You plan to arrest him again? I got to. He open that cell, you bet he. Let go. Take these keys in with you, Molly. Get home, Red. You're coming with me. This is where we part, huh? What are we to do, Tyrannos? Take orders from him, can you? Who? I'm calling him Ben Hoffman. Come on, Silver. Come on. What are you, masked man? You were robbed recently? Sure. How much did you lose? There was over $100 stolen. You want it back? I sure do. Then be at the sheriff's office within an hour. Hey, wait. Come on, Silver. Come on. I'll raise you 50. Your say, Bat. And what pleasure do you want? Trouble Slap Mother, if you don't leave that game and come with me. The sheriff, long since freed by his deputy but still angry, glared at Sheriff Hudson from Kiowa City with grinning and open amusement. Amusement? So you think it's funny, huh? I'm sorry, Sheriff. I just can't help it. Doggone, every time I think of that masked fellow thrown into that cell, I gotta laugh. But you needn't worry, I'll tell about it. That's lawmen. I gotta stick together. So you think it's funny too, do you? Oh, gosh, no, Sheriff. And what were you laughing for? I just happened to think of a joke a drummer was telling me down at the cafe. I wasn't thinking about you at all, honest I wasn't. You keep still about this too, sir. Oh, sure. If you don't, it's your job. You said the masked feller was a lone Ranger, didn't you? It was him, all right. Don't get upset. Being jailed by him ain't no disgrace. Taint nothing to laugh at neither. Well, let's forget about it. I wish I knew what to do about Bad Fletcher. Still figure he's your man? Yeah, I do. Trouble is, tain't nothing more than a hunch. Couldn't prove a thing on him. Well, we could keep him watched. Would you? Sure, if that's what you want. My deputy here can keep an eye on him. Well, now, that'd be fine. Oh, that's all right. You see, with nothing definite to go on, I don't dare stay here too long. If it should turn out Bat ain't the man I'm after, I'd be giving the real crook too much time for his getaway. So I. Who's that? Come in. Howdy, Sheriff. Howdy, Bat. Howdy. I bet you got my money back for me. Thanks a heap. Can I have it now? Who told you that? Wasn't it true? It maybe will be, but it ain't yet. Who told you? Why, a masked man. Was he lying? A mask like the Lone Ranger, Sheriff? I'll bet a million it was. Huh? Then was that fella riding a white horse? Uh huh. A beauty. And it was him, all right. Now what do you suppose he's up to now? I can't get in there. Here's the man you want, Hudson for Robbing the bank. Right. Tain't so. I never. The masked man's liar. We'll see about that. You can prove it. I was in Kiowa City the day of the robbery. I saw the trail left by the fellow responsible. I lost it between Kiowa City and Kirkwood. But here's the man you want. Just as I thought. He's framing me. He's just after the reward. I don't take rewards. And the Lone Ranger don't frame nobody. What's that? The Lone Ranger. You're looking right at him. But it wasn't me, I tell you. Honest. I never had nothing to do with that bank. Hold up. I wasn't anywhere near Kiowa City when it happened. If you weren't, where were you? Right here. Can you prove it? No, but I. And I'm afraid your story's too thin. Take him, Hudson. He's your prisoner. He should get a good long term in jail for that 200,000 he stole. You bet he will. I never. I was in Kirkwood. You said you couldn't prove it. But I care now. I was lying. Yes, I couldn't have been in Kiowa City. Cause it was me to rob Ben Huffman here the night of the same day. What's that? Pretty thin bat. And that's an old trick. Pleading guilty to a minor crime to get out of one more serious. It's so. I still got the cash I took. And I got Ben's watch, too. I'll show you right where I hid it. Good. You heard him, Sheriff. He's confessed. But. But I thought you said he robbed the bank. He didn't. That was a trick to make him confess this other robbery. He had to confess it to establish his alibi. Well, I'll be dog gone then. You don't know who robbed the bank after all. I do. Red Wallace is bringing him here right now. Look there. That's Bud Lennox with Brad. That's the name he gave you. He's really the Gila Kid. It was his trail I followed to Kirkwood. Here he is. And here's the evidence. Open up that valise and you'll find your $200,000 gold and folding money. I reckon it's all there. Brad, you got the wrong fella. I reckon not. But he couldn't have held up the bank and seen the robbery here on the same day. Of course he couldn't. But he didn't see the robbery here. What he knew. As long as it seemed he had nothing to gain by claiming he saw. And you'd accept his word as a truth. And if you did, he had a perfect alibi for the holdup. My thunder. I hadn't seen him when I heard what he told you, but I knew he was lying. When I did see him, I recognized him as the Gila Kid. His horse left the same prints as a bank robber's horse last night. Tonto and I found where he'd hidden the money. So you're the Heela Kid. I reckon there ain't no use denying it. Well, he's your prisoner, Hudson. That here is mine. And the masked man gets a reward? No, what you worry about. Brad made the actual capture. He's entitled to at least a part of that reward money. And he's welcome to my share as well. I never even knew there was a reward. Just $5,000. What? Sounds good, eh? But I can't take all of it. Might as well. That masked man meant what he said. Oh, golly. Do you know what that means? It means me and Molly can get married right now. Maybe that's what the masked man had in mind. Where's he gone? There he goes. And the engines with him. So you'll have to take the hull 5000, Brad. Oh, gone. I try to do him a favor and he does me a bigger one right back. You're lucky you got him for a friend. Lucky, Chef. That don't say the half of it. It's the story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated. This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank the following ranch hand, Steve, who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739. This episode is copyright under the Attribution non Commercial Share alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.