Disappearing Stage | The Lone Ranger (06-11-41)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode: Disappearing Stage | The Lone Ranger (06-11-41)

Host: Andrew Rhynes | Released: June 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode features an immersive remaster of the 1941 Lone Ranger radio drama, "Disappearing Stage." The story centers on a mysterious stagecoach robbery where not only the vehicle but also its guards seem to vanish into thin air. As lawlessness threatens to overtake Grant’s Pass, only the intervention of the legendary Lone Ranger and his faithful friend Tonto bring justice and answers. Enhanced with rich, digitally restored audio, listeners are transported to the golden age of Western radio drama.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Setup: Scheming in Grant’s Pass

[05:08 – 07:44]

• Brady and Hawkins: Two outlaws plot to make a stagecoach vanish, crafting what they claim will be "the biggest mystery this stretch of country's ever knowed." (Hawkins, 06:46)
• They discuss a letter from their accomplice, Sam Selden, indicating a tunnel is ready to spirit the coach away.
• Their paranoia escalates when a silver bullet is left at the scene—a warning from the Lone Ranger.
  • "That there bullet is the calling card of the Lone Ranger. That's what I was afeared of." – Clerk Clay, [08:28]
• The hotel clerk, Cleaney (also known as Clay), insinuates he knows the men’s criminal pasts and offers to help neutralize the Lone Ranger—for a cut of the spoils.

2. The Robbery Unfolds

[12:30 – 16:18]

• The following day, the stage departs with a new, unfamiliar guard (the Lone Ranger in disguise).
• On route, a tree blocks the trail—a common outlaw tactic. The "guard" prevents a fight, insisting instead on evasion ("Don't try to fight it out with anyone who might try to stop us," [13:02]).
• Per the plan, the stage is abandoned while Clay and Hawkins take possession.
• Outlaws marvel at the plan’s success but feel uneasy about the loose ends.

3. The Mystery Deepens

[16:18 – 21:15]

• Sheriff and townsfolk learn the stage has vanished without trace ("It just disappeared into thin air. No cracks or nothing. Not even a sign of the horses." – Sheriff, [16:52])
• Cleaney claims to have found the Lone Ranger's corpse in his hotel, but when the sheriff and others investigate, the body is gone—only another silver bullet remains.
  • "The body had been moved. There was another one of those silver bullets there." – Clay, [28:33]

4. The Truth Emerges: Tonto’s Arrival

[21:15 – 25:17]

• Tonto enters, leading the sheriff and a posse into the hills.
  • "Me show you masked man." (Tonto, [21:37])
• The party finds a body, but it’s not the Lone Ranger—it's Jackson, an official with the stagecoach company.
• The real Lone Ranger reveals the deeper betrayal: Cleaney murdered Jackson and conspired with the robbers, using the legend of the Lone Ranger (and silver bullets) as misdirection.

5. The Outlaw's Hideout & The Lone Ranger’s Trap

[27:03 – 30:37]

• Clay, Hawkins, and Cleaney reunite for their payout. The stage has been blasted into a cave to hide evidence.
• Their boasting is cut short when the true Lone Ranger and the sheriff confront them ("Get your hands up... He's the real Lone Ranger." – Sheriff, [28:55 – 29:04]).
• Tonto detonates more blasting powder, uncovering the hidden coach and sealing the criminals’ fate.
  • "There's the back wheel of the stage coach... That makes the evidence complete. Take the prisoners to town, boys." – Sheriff, [30:49 – 30:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Plan:
  • “It’ll be the biggest mystery this stretch of country’s ever knowed. That’s what it’ll be.” – Hawkins, [06:46]
• Recognition of the Lone Ranger:
  • “That there bullet is the calling card of the Lone Ranger.” – Clay, [08:28]
• On Justice:
  • “You crooks thought you’d be safe if you put the stage where it couldn’t be located. Well, you forgot that there might be someone watching to see where it was moved to.” – Sheriff, [29:40]
• On Deception:
  • "He thought if it could be believed that the dead man was the Lone Ranger, he would never be suspected.” – Lone Ranger, [30:12]

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Important Timestamps

• [05:08] – Scene set, stagecoach risks introduced
• [07:32] – Silver bullet calling card
• [12:30] – Stage leaves Newfield, robbery begins
• [16:18] – Sheriff addresses townsfolk, mystery of the disappearing stage
• [21:24] – Tonto brings news of the "dead" Lone Ranger
• [24:16] – Discovery that the murdered man is Jackson, not the Lone Ranger
• [27:03] – Outlaws gather in the cave; payout and double-cross
• [28:53] – Lone Ranger and Sheriff reveal themselves, arrest made
• [30:49] – Buried stagecoach revealed, case closed

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode maintains a suspenseful, old West mood—full of grit, tension, and classic heroics. Dialogue is quick and sharp, with the characters expressing paranoia, bravado, and indignant fear. The enhanced audio brings the action to life, with sounds of the trail, saloon doors, gunfire, and galloping horses setting the ambiance for this tale of deception and justice.

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Final Thoughts

"Disappearing Stage" is a tightly plotted mystery with classic Western elements—scheming outlaws, an ingenious crime, and the Lone Ranger’s moral certainty and cunning. The episode highlights why the series remains compelling nearly a century after original broadcast, especially when restored for modern ears.

Sheriff’s closing words sum up the Lone Ranger’s iconic presence:
"You crooks thought you’d be safe if you put the stage where it couldn’t be located. Well, you forgot that there might be someone watching to see where it was moved to." [29:40]

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Listen for immersive drama, clever misdirection, and the ultimate triumph of justice—"Hi-yo Silver, away!"

Transcript

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[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. You can find more Western shows at our website by going to otrwesterns.com now let's get into this episode.

[Narrator]

A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty higho Silver the Lone Ranger.

[Clay]

Foreign.

[Talkspace Host]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace.

[Talkspace Testimonial Speaker]

Last year I went through many different life changes. I needed to take a pause and examine how I was feeling in the inside to better show up for the ones who need me to be my best version of myself.

[Talkspace Host]

When you're navigating life's changes, Talkspace can help. Talkspace is the number one rated online therapy, bringing you professional support from licensed therapists and psychiatry providers that you can access anytime, anywhere.

[Talkspace Testimonial Speaker]

Living a busy life, navigating a long distance relationship, becoming a first stepfather, Talkspace made all of those journeys possible. I could speak with my therapist in the office. I could speak of my therapist in the comfort of my home. I was never alone.

[Talkspace Host]

Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code [e-mail].

[Narrator]

The men who drove the stagecoaches in the early days of the western United States were faced by many dangers. The rough country made perfect cover for road agents and hold ups were an everyday occurrence. It was not until the Masked Rider of the Plains started his great fight for law and order that travel became safe. It was he, more than any other man who blazed a trail for progress and made possible the winning of the West. Return with us now to 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.

[Hawkins]

Newfield pedals waiting for us.

[Sheriff]

Pedals. T.

[Narrator]

Brady and Hawkins shared a room

[Clay]

on the first floor of the hotel at Grant's Pass.

[Narrator]

Brady studied a letter by the light of an oil lamp and then raised his eyes to Hawkins.

[Clay]

I you, Hawkins. It'll be the biggest sensation of the year. I can just see all the smart Alex around here on the stage. Don't come in. Me too. Brady, if the plans go through as we want them to, what can go wrong? Everything's working out. The last detail. Yeah, I hate to miss being here in Grants Pass. They'll wait for the stage and it won't show up. Then they'll send scouts out hunting for it. Yeah, they're right east along the trail and won't find no sign of it. And when they get to Newfield, they find that the stage left there, heading west, right according to schedule. They won't find no tracks, they won't find no stage, Not a thing.

[Hawkins]

It'll be the biggest mystery this stretch of country's ever knowed. That's what it'll be.

[Clay]

Let me see that letter from Sam Selden again, Brady. Here it is. He tells us that he's got the tunnel all fixed in the hill. Everything's set at his end. All we gotta do is take the stage there. Then we make that stage.

[Hawkins]

The horses, the guard and the driver just disappeared.

[Clay]

Brady. Oh, shucks, are you talking loud? These walls ain't no thicker than paper. I wouldn't trust no one around here.

[Hawkins]

Well, ain't no one around here anyhow.

[Clay]

Don't forget the clerk in the office. He's a sneaky looking critter. I wouldn't put nothing past him. Well, anyhow, we start out first thing in the morning to meet the stage. Now hold on. Quiet. I thought I heard something outside. I didn't hear nothing. It might be a good idea to close a window anyhow. Hawkins, the lamp is shot out. Get a light.

[Hawkins]

Hey, there some in the room with us.

[Clay]

I ready?

[Sheriff]

Brady, where are you? Stand where you are. Stand still or I'll let you have it. Stand still, I say.

[Clay]

Where are you? Brady, can you strike a match? I'm trying. Get a lamp in here.

[Sheriff]

Get a lamp of some sort. What was the shooting here?

[Clay]

Look around, Clenny. See if there's a sign of a critter riding away from here. Mr. Brady's good. I'm all right, Clint. I brought a lamp along with me. All ain't lighted. Who shot that one up like that? Someone's got to pay for this damage. You ain't nothing but the clerk, Clint. You don't need to worry about that lamp. I want to find out who come here and why I. Brady. Look there on the table there where the letter from Sam Sellen was. The letter's gone, but look what's there? A bullet. Who left that cartridge there like that bullet? What'd you say about a letter? Was there something stolen from you, Mr. Hawkins? Ain't none of your affair. Clerk, you get back to the office where you belong. But.

[Sheriff]

Go on now.

[Clay]

Leave us be. We'll handle our own affairs. We can. Mr. Hawkins, this bullet, look. Look at it.

[Hawkins]

What say about the bullet?

[Clay]

It's silver.

[Hawkins]

Silver?

[Clay]

Yes, I've seen a bullet like this before. Man, there's something big going on here. What do you know about a silver bullet, Clay? Mr. Hawkins, that there bullet is the calling card of the Lone Ranger. That's what I was afeared of.

[Hawkins]

The Lone Ranger?

[Clay]

What's he doing around here? I don't know. Don't you gents know how? Should we Let me close this door. A few things. I want to speak you gents about it. Hey, now put this lamp down. Cly. We just at least be left alone, if you don't mind. Take a chair, won't you, Mr. Hawkins? Got a few things to say. You men said there was a letter stolen from you. It ain't important, Grady. Are you sure of that?

[Hawkins]

Why shouldn't I be sure?

[Clay]

I know what the letter was, don't I? Maybe you're lying about the importance of it. Clark, you get out of it so fast, Hawkins? There's no use in you two trying to pour the wool over my eyes. If you got something to say, Clay, go ahead and say it. I have. Hawkins, you and Brady are pretty well known around Amarillo. You don't remember me, but I remember the two of you. As a matter of fact, if you go back there, the law is going to want to ask you a few questions about some state hold ups.

[Hawkins]

What about him?

[Clay]

He never was near Amarillo. No use, Brady. I worked in a hotel there a couple years ago. Go on, Claney, say it. What are you getting at? I knew the Lone Rings around that part of the country too. You know him?

[Hawkins]

You lie.

[Clay]

Nobody knows a Lone Ring. I knew him as well as any man. I seen a silver bullet just like this one that he left in the hotel there once. You know why he left that silver bullet? Go on, tell us. Because he learned of a couple of crooks who was planning to stick the stage coach up. They had the plans on a piece of paper, sort of a map that they draw. So the Lone Ranger put the bullet in place of the paper and made off of the paper, is that it? The same as he'd done right here. Well, you boys needn't be afraid of squeal on you. I always say every man should mind his own business.

[Sheriff]

Live and let live.

[Clay]

That's the way I feel. Ain't none of my affair what you boys do. Let the sheriff worry about it. I'm to worry about what you do give the law. Then I'll be the sheriff. Plenty of wasting time that we could put to better purpose than listening to you. I got doubts about that, Hawkins. Before I get done, you'll be glad you listened to me. Be quiet, Hawkins.

[Hawkins]

Let the clerk go on.

[Clay]

It seems that you two were thinking on doing something to the stage. How about it? None of your business. All right, none of my business. Fact is though, there was a letter taken from you, wasn't there?

[Hawkins]

You already said that.

[Clay]

This here bullet tells the Lone Ranger got that letter, don't it? Well, boys, maybe I can find the Lone Ranger and get the letter back for you. It wouldn't do no good. If he's ready, maybe I can fix the Lone Ranger so he can't do nothing about interference with your plans. Even if he has read it. I'll be in the office, boys. I'm open to propositions, Clenny. Where you just made a remark about fixing a Lone Ranger so as he couldn't interfere with us. I better close the door. Are you just shooting off your mouth or did you mean that? Hawkins, I'm going to my office. You two talk it over if you come to an understanding and I'll be there ready to talk to you. Hawkins, I don't like that Polecat. Neither do I, Brady. He's a double crossing coyote. I never seen a man that looked like him that wouldn't double cross his best friend. Yeah, but what are we gonna do about it? Well, that letter we had told a plenty. If the Lone Rangers got that letter, he'll sure be able to interfere with our plans. Stage has a heap of folding money on board, I know it. It's coming from the banks in the east. We figured on having enough cash in this job to put us in clover for the rest of our lives. What do you think we better do? Well, if the Lone Ranger interferes, it'll

[Hawkins]

mean we'll get nothing.

[Clay]

That's how I look at it. If we whack up the loot four ways instead of three, we'll still get a sizable amount including the clerk for an equal divy. Is that what you got in mind? I don't know as you'd settle for anything less. Come on. Where you going? Better go talk to Clay. There ain't no way out of it that I can see.

[Narrator]

The next afternoon the stage left Newfield on stage schedule. But just before it started the guard was replaced by a man whom the driver had never seen before.

[Clay]

I didn't take the time to go into much detail with you, mister. All I. I know is you had first rate credential to take over the job of guarding this here stage driver.

[Hawkins]

Have you ever had trouble on this run? No.

[Clay]

Hate no outlaws?

[Sheriff]

Never bothered us.

[Clay]

Come on there.

[Sheriff]

Go on, you laser good for nothing kaloots.

[Hawkins]

You were told to be especially careful on this trip though, weren't you?

[Clay]

Oh, sure, I know we got a payload. This time I'm going to give you

[Hawkins]

instructions that may be hard to understand.

[Sheriff]

Meaning what?

[Hawkins]

Don't try to fight it out with anyone who might try to stop us.

[Narrator]

No.

[Clay]

Say mister, what manner of guard are you?

[Hawkins]

The note I gave you said that you were to take instructions from me.

[Clay]

Well, the other guard would have shouted out with a whole army to get the load through.

[Hawkins]

He isn't guarding this load.

[Sheriff]

I am, but dreaded. Don't you look up ahead.

[Clay]

There, I see it. A tree has been dropped right across the trail. It wasn't for these here mountains we'd go around it.

[Hawkins]

But we can go around it so stop Here, here. Right here. Driver.

[Sheriff]

I'm hanged up.

[Hawkins]

I'll stop the horses for you. Come on, driver, you're going with me.

[Sheriff]

Let me go.

[Hawkins]

Hurry. I miss elite horses. We're getting away from here and heading

[Clay]

into the hills and leaving the stage. Yes, well, I'm I getting it. I tell you.

[Sheriff]

Guard.

[Clay]

I'm again this we're shown yellow.

[Hawkins]

We're running out.

[Sheriff]

We're turning tail.

[Hawkins]

You're taking orders. That's all you have to do. Oh, but I that horse and ride with me.

[Clay]

Thunder racing.

[Hawkins]

Come on. That tree was put on the trail to give Crooks a chance to shoot. You ready?

[Clay]

I don't really they'll ever will be. But I'd still like to draw a beat on the crooks and swap lips.

[Sheriff]

Get up. Get up there. Get up there. Come on, get up there.

[Clay]

The better.

[Hawkins]

That beats hole I ever heard of. Vul.

[Clay]

They left right out. You see him heading off yonder in the hills.

[Hawkins]

The garden driver. Well, that is good, eh?

[Clay]

Put your house is in the lead. We'll take the stage where we planned in the first place.

[Hawkins]

Yeah, right.

[Clay]

Steady there.

[Hawkins]

Easy boy.

[Clay]

That's easy. Looks like that hotel clerk kept his word all right.

[Hawkins]

Yeah, we ain't seen nothing of the Lone Ranger.

[Clay]

If Clay manages to kill the Lone Ranger, it's going to be the biggest news alive, Hawkins.

[Hawkins]

With a stage coach disappearing and the Lone Ranger being killed, Grant's Pass will just about be the biggest news in the whole world.

[Clay]

Never mind that. Them horses in the line.

[Hawkins]

Yeah, sure.

[Clay]

I'm aboard then.

[Sheriff]

All right.

[Hawkins]

You want to drive or should I?

[Clay]

I'll take the reins. You keep watch in case you see anything of that other garden driver here. The last I seen them, they was

[Hawkins]

heading into the hills.

[Clay]

They're a long way off by this time. There they are still riding away from here.

[Hawkins]

You gonna turn around?

[Clay]

I see here they're moving that tree we dropped in the trail. We got to go the other way anyway. Hey, let me look behind us first. Oh, what?

[Hawkins]

Well, first we want to make sure the ground here so hard packed it don't take tracks.

[Clay]

When I look at that, tracks won't show. You know, I'd like to be in Grant's Pass on the stage. Don't show up. There's only one thing I don't like about this. Hey, what's that, Hawkins? That garden driver kiting away from here. Well, it saved us having a shooting match with him. I didn't figure them to do that. I thought we'd have to shoot him. What's the. I don't know. I just got an uneasy feeling about it. You don't reckon that clerk squeal, do you?

[Hawkins]

Shoot?

[Clay]

No.

[Sheriff]

Get up there. Get on. Come on, get over here.

[Hawkins]

Laney wouldn't squeal. He's got as much cash to get out of this deal as we have.

[Clay]

That garden driver will be able to tell about the tree being on the trail.

[Hawkins]

Oh, what's the odds? Men that start hunting the stage will see where it's been cut down. Anyhow, they'd know the stage got that far.

[Clay]

I reckon so.

[Hawkins]

They won't know how far it went back for. It disappeared, though.

[Clay]

Well, anyhow, this is one stage.

[Sheriff]

It ain't going to be seen no more. You soon have our hands on all the cash we can spend. Get up. At.

[Narrator]

The following day, the sheriff made an announcement to the people of Grant Pass.

[Sheriff]

Folks, what I got to say ain't going to be easy to believe.

[Narrator]

What's the news about the stage?

[Sheriff]

Did the boys bring back a report from Newfield? Yep. They rid all the way to Newfield and found the stage had left there just as he was planned to do. There was a new guard got on board at Newfield. The boys talked to the old guard. He said he was replaced by a stranger. Now quiet down, gents, so I can finish telling you what I got to tell. There ain't no sign of a stage any place between here and Newfield. It just disappeared into thin air. No cracks or nothing. Not even a sign of the horses. It's the dog gondest mystery I ever heard of. What are you gonna do about it? Sheriff, you've got to find that stage.

[Clay]

You can't let her just disappear without doing something.

[Sheriff]

How about a posse? Oh, I know. Quiet down now, will ya? I'll sign up for a posse. A posse ain't so good. I tell you. There ain't nothing to start looking for. There ain't a lead of any sort to follow down. That's Claney from the hotel. What's the matter, Claney?

[Narrator]

Yes? I got news.

[Sheriff]

Something awful's happened over in my hotel. Your hotel? You mean the hotel you work in?

[Clay]

The same thing. But Sheriff, come fast. He's in a room on the first floor.

[Sheriff]

Who's in the room on the first floor? The dead man. What dead man? What dead man are you talking about? Who's dead?

[Hawkins]

What killed him?

[Clay]

Who is it, Clint?

[Sheriff]

Wait till you hear. Folks, listen to me, boys.

[Clay]

In the first floor hotel room, I found the Lone Rangers.

[Sheriff]

Lone rangers?

[Narrator]

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.

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[Narrator]

Now to continue our story. While the sheriff was announcing the disappearance of the stagecoach, Cleaney rushed up with the news that the Lone Ranch.

[Clay]

Right over here, Sheriff.

[Sheriff]

I know where the hotel is. Go on, I'm right behind you.

[Narrator]

We're all right behind you.

[Clay]

Clearly it's the last room on the first floor. Ain't touched nothing, Sheriff.

[Hawkins]

Good thing.

[Clay]

I figured you'd want to look around. Especially before anything was touched.

[Sheriff]

When did you find him? Dead?

[Narrator]

This morning.

[Sheriff]

When did he come in?

[Clay]

Last night. All right, now don't everyone try to

[Sheriff]

crowd into this room. He's right. All you keep back.

[Clay]

I'll open the door now.

[Sheriff]

There you hell. Where is the dead man? Plainy? Well, that is how?

[Hawkins]

I don't know.

[Sheriff]

He was here. Where? Right there on the bed. Don't see no sign of him now. But he was here. I seen him. How'd you Know he was dead?

[Narrator]

Well, he.

[Sheriff]

He was.

[Clay]

I examined him.

[Sheriff]

I made sure of it. Don't look to me like there's been any murder done in this room. You sure you ain't been seeing things?

[Clay]

Cleaning.

[Sheriff]

Wait.

[Clay]

Sheriff's got something.

[Sheriff]

Cleaney, you were right about one thing. Huh? The Lone Ranger was here. Look.

[Clay]

A silver bullet.

[Narrator]

The sheriff was unable to find the slightest trace of the missing stagecoach, the guard or the driver. But two days later, an Indian entered the lawman's office.

[Sheriff]

Well, what do you want? Redskin?

[Clay]

You know what color name. Clay, tell people what him say.

[Sheriff]

Lone Ranger.

[Clay]

Dead.

[Sheriff]

Well, what about it?

[Clay]

And you come with Tonto.

[Sheriff]

Tonto? Is that your name?

[Clay]

That right?

[Sheriff]

For what? Where do you want me to go?

[Hawkins]

You come.

[Clay]

Me show you masked man.

[Sheriff]

What do you mean to say you know where he is?

[Clay]

That's right.

[Sheriff]

Where?

[Clay]

It's not near here. 20 Long Way. You ride horse? Red skin.

[Sheriff]

You talk like you knew what you was talking about.

[Hawkins]

Right.

[Sheriff]

I'm going to take you up. I'll get a posse right away.

[Narrator]

Hawkins, Brady and the Hotel Kirkclini Rose rode with the posse as they followed Tonto along the stage trail and into the hills for several miles.

[Clay]

Can't explain it, Hawkins. I don't ask you plenty if you try to double cross on us.

[Hawkins]

No, no, no.

[Clay]

I think Redskin.

[Hawkins]

No Redskins name is Toddo. You know who he is? Who? The friend of the Lone Ranger.

[Clay]

I thought you knew so much about the Lone Ranger. Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. That's Tano. The friend of the Lone Ranger. Then you look doggone. I should think you'd be glad to be riding out to find the Lone Ranger dead. Yeah, yeah, sure. That's a pretty thin story you try to tell us. Well, it was the truth, wasn't it? You told us that you'd fixed a Lone Ranger in one of the rooms in the hotel there. And when a sheriff come to find

[Hawkins]

him, he was gone. Dead men don't walk away cleaning.

[Clay]

Let me tell you, he was there. I don't know how he got away.

[Sheriff]

Maybe Tunnel moved him.

[Clay]

That's all I knew about it. He didn't seem none too anxious to ride with us on this trip either, Clay. Sure I was. We ain't giving you no share of the cash until we find out if

[Sheriff]

you've done your part.

[Clay]

I've done it. You'll find out. You wait and see. We're waiting and we're counting on seeing. Look, Jen, I ain't used to long rides. You'd better get used to them then. I'm feeling sick. He mind I go back. We do mind.

[Hawkins]

You're gonna come along with us, Cleanie.

[Sheriff]

The redskin says it's just a head boy. All right, come on, get up there, Cleany.

[Clay]

You're see we're most there now, so you don't need to turn back.

[Hawkins]

Good.

[Clay]

I'm glad we're most there.

[Sheriff]

Is that the place, Tono? That house there? That's right.

[Clay]

You go inside.

[Sheriff]

You fine fell there room ranger.

[Clay]

You fine fell there who wear a mask. Come on, let's go see what the sheriff's going to find.

[Hawkins]

Come on, Cleany.

[Clay]

Ain't you curious? Well, sure. Sure thing.

[Sheriff]

I know this here cabin. This is the place that old Brannigan built a long time ago.

[Clay]

That's right. Him not here for a long time.

[Sheriff]

No. You left this part of the country

[Hawkins]

who used cabin last, you know?

[Sheriff]

No, it's been used by hunters around here, though. They come and go.

[Hawkins]

Look.

[Sheriff]

Look over yonder. The mask, man.

[Hawkins]

You did do it after all, Clay.

[Clay]

Sure did. Just like I told you.

[Hawkins]

But you don't know how you got here.

[Clay]

Well, no, I ain't got no idea. You how he got here? Too many crickets.

[Sheriff]

It ain't possible. It just ain't possible. That's all there is to it. The Lone Ranger. Take the mask off.

[Clay]

Yeah.

[Sheriff]

Reckon I'd better. Though I sure as thunder hate to do it. What's the matter with you galoots? Take your hats off. Hey, Cly. Where are you and Hawkins and Brady going? Oh, wait.

[Clay]

We're just going outside.

[Sheriff]

We'll be back now for the mask. Jor Gong. This man's been known around as Jackson. He was an official with a stagecoach company, he was sure. He come to town a few days ago telling me about the load of cash money that was coming through. He was making arrangements to guard it when it got here. To think that he was a Lone Ranger.

[Hawkins]

He was not the Lone Ranger.

[Clay]

They're real Lone Ranger.

[Hawkins]

I'll tell you who killed Jackson. I'll tell you who stole the stagecoach

[Sheriff]

and where the stage is now.

[Hawkins]

Yes, and the gold as well.

[Sheriff]

And the driver?

[Hawkins]

The driver will be in town when you get back. He will verify what I tell you. I had to wait until I had all the facts and had them clearly worked out. Jackson and I were friends. He gave me a letter and told me that he knew of a plan to rob the stage. He asked me to replace the guard, which I did.

[Sheriff]

Yeah.

[Hawkins]

Jackson also thought the hotel clerk was a friend of his. He trusted him. When he stopped in the hotel. He told the clerk his suspicions. That clerk was a crook.

[Sheriff]

You mean he is a crook?

[Clay]

Yes.

[Hawkins]

I once warned Claney in the last town he worked. I sent him a silver bullet as a warning and he left town. Well, he used that bullet when he came here. He murdered Jackson. And he made the stage robbers think I was on their trail by leaving his silver bullet. After he had smashed the light, he came into their room and told them he would get me out of the way. And he put Jackson's body, which had been hidden until then into one of the hotel rooms where he could show it to you.

[Sheriff]

But Jackson wasn't at the hotel.

[Hawkins]

No. Toddo had been helping me. Before you enter the hotel with Claney. We brought poor Jackson here.

[Sheriff]

But why did you do that?

[Hawkins]

So the men Clay was working with would come to see it.

[Sheriff]

Where are they now? Where's Claney?

[Hawkins]

He's gone. And his crooked partners with him. Come with me.

[Sheriff]

Come on, boys. Follow the long ring. Come on. It's pretty.

[Clay]

I feel we're being trailed.

[Hawkins]

Just your nerves.

[Clay]

C. How much farther we going? That rocky hill dead ahead.

[Hawkins]

For what?

[Clay]

Finish our business. There's a cave there. I see.

[Hawkins]

We'll go right in. Come on.

[Sheriff]

Get up.

[Hawkins]

Get up.

[Sheriff]

Get up.

[Clay]

Well, here we are. You're paying me off now, Auntie. That's why you were brought here. Where's the stage coach? That's what's the matter. Thought I heard something outside. I felt all along that we've been following. I'll take a look instead of the Teddy Clinton that the stage is right here in the cave with it. I don't see it neither. With the law, if they try to prove anything. I couldn't see anyone outside. Never mind then.

[Hawkins]

You're telling Claney about the stage?

[Clay]

Yeah. We drove it in here and went as far as we could back in the cave with it. And we unhitched the horses and our palace, taking them south to sell. He knows a lot about handling blasting potter, so that's what he done. Why? Blasted the inside of the cave here so it caved in on a stage. You see, the cave ain't more than 25 or 30ft deep. Now, it used to be three times that deep. All of the back was blowed down and the stage was buried.

[Hawkins]

Lucky for the garden driver they wasn't buried with it.

[Clay]

Now, here's your share of the cash. That cleans things up, don't it? Yeah. Yeah. Wait. What? One thing that I don't savvy. What's minute? You took the sheriff to the hotel to see the body of the Lone Ranger.

[Sheriff]

Then what about it?

[Clay]

The body had been moved. There was another one of those silver bullets there. Oh, well, how do you explain that, Clenny? I think it must have been the Indian.

[Hawkins]

Remember him?

[Clay]

You think he moved the body? Yes, he must have moved it.

[Hawkins]

And.

[Clay]

And that's the silver bullet. Now. Now give me that cash and let me get away from here. All right. Here you are.

[Sheriff]

What poking?

[Narrator]

Come ask, man.

[Hawkins]

Get your hands up.

[Sheriff]

Jack. Beat the real Lone Ranger.

[Clay]

No, no, no.

[Narrator]

He's an imposter.

[Sheriff]

I'll show you. Hold my hand. My hand. Here.

[Hawkins]

Don't go for a gun, Brady. Or you got the same as Hawkins did.

[Sheriff]

If you want to be sure he's the real Lone Ranger, Hawkins, look at the bullet that hit your gun. He's the real one.

[Clay]

No one else could draw and shoot like that. You can take the care, Sheriff. Seems to be all together there. Plain of you. Double crossing lion crook. You told us you'd kill the Lone Ranger.

[Sheriff]

That's about what we need, Hawkins. You sure he told you that?

[Clay]

He did.

[Sheriff]

That'll be important evidence that he's trialed for the murder of Sam Jackson.

[Hawkins]

Now hold on, Sheriff. Don't you do things you're going to be sorry for.

[Sheriff]

Like what?

[Hawkins]

Arrested me and Hawkins without evidence. We know all right.

[Sheriff]

She got no proof, no nothing. Except all that cash. It was given to us.

[Hawkins]

The man that robbed the stage has gone away with the horses.

[Sheriff]

Too thin, Brady. You crooks thought you'd be safe if you put the stage where it couldn't be located. Well, you forgot that there might be someone watching to see where it was moved to. That was the case.

[Clay]

Me show stage now that redskin was

[Sheriff]

on hand while you two was out of here.

[Hawkins]

Go ahead, Toto, light the fuses.

[Sheriff]

Tono knows a thing or two about the use of blasting powder. Now come on, everyone out of here. The fuses are lighted. We'll just see if we can't get part of the state in the same way it was buried.

[Clay]

I'll get square with you for this, Clay. For the last thing I do.

[Sheriff]

Save your wind, Hawkins. The law handle things.

[Hawkins]

It might help you to understand, Hawkins, if I tell you that Clayney murdered Jackson. And then to account for a dead man's body, he started all those stories about me. He thought if it could be believed that the dead man was a Lone Ranger, he would never be suspected. Otherwise it would be a complete investigation and he might become involved. What about that blast the fuses were long.

[Clay]

Fanny was at huge. Stole that paper from us in the first place. Making us think it was the Lone Ranger. Yes, you may as well know it.

[Sheriff]

There she goes. Let's go and see if the stage is in sight now. Come on. Oh, Nick, you can't stay in here long. We don't need to. There's the back wheel of the stage coaches there, Sheriff.

[Hawkins]

Good.

[Sheriff]

That makes the evidence complete. Take the prisoners to town, boys.

[Clay]

Ram.

[Hawkins]

It,

[Clay]

Sam.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.

[Andrew Rines]

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 our most recent ranch hands, Steve who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcast trwesterns and you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739. This episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.

[Clay]

Sam.