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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.

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The lone ranger. During the years when great herds of cattle were driven north to the railroad towns from the southern Texas ranches, the Lone Ranger led the fight for law and order in the range country. Rustlers and hostile Indians attacked the honest ranchers constantly, and it was only through the strength and courage of the masked rider of the plains that peace and security were brought to the frontier. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the west was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. On the day Brede Gomez, the tomahawk foreman, was to be tried. The courtroom in Leadville was crowded. Everyone knew it was the Lone Ranger who had obtained the evidence against him. But so far, Benjamin Steele, who had said nothing for or against his former employee, would he stand by him or condemn him? The question remained unanswered when a judge rapped for order. Case of Jim Carrey versus Breed Gomez. You got all the witnesses lined up, Sheriff? Who's that messy for? Smiling I owe this trial is illegal. What do you mean by that? Just what's the charge? You ought to know that. Poisoning a water hole. And who brought the charge? Why Jim Carrey here. He's got no right to bring charges. The water hole was on my land. If I don't want to bring charges, nobody can. Now wait a minute there. He poisoned my water hole too. You just figure he did. You got no proof. Well, he must have. You got any evidence no, we caught him at your water hole. But I said Bill Gore's. I'm the only one who can bring charges. Your Honor, you know how all this happened? Breed was really trying to kill off my cattle. He sent word to me that I could use Steel's water hole. I got that message after he poisoned. Now, hold on. Did Breed give you that message himself? It was Ted Bailey brought it, but Breed told him to. You got any proof of that? I got Ted's word. Is that enough, Your Honor? Not unless there was witnesses. Steele's right about the legal part of this case, Carrie. He's the only one who's got the right to bring charges. But I want to tell him here and now it's his duty to do it. I get an answer for that. Well, out with it. Reed's worked for me for a long time. He's a good foreman, and I need him to run the Tomahawk. I'll admit he made a mistake, but most of us do every now and then. Not even a Lone Ranger would stop an honest man from getting a second chance. An honest man? That's what I said. Reed figured you ought to send your land to me for your own good. You've got sort of options about it. He just figured out this little trick to make a change of mind. It was crooked. It was wrong, I'll admit. But I'll answer for him to everybody here in this courtroom and everybody in the Tomahawk Basin. He won't try anything like it again. That's why I'm not bringing charges against him. Your Honor, I'm caught on you to throw this case out of court. I object. Well, rightly speaking, there is no case. Objection overruled. Release the president. Courts adjourned. He will not be sorry for what you have done today. I know that, Breed. Sure you do. And every small rancher here knows it, too. You think you put one over on us, but you haven't. Reed isn't going to jail, Jay. The Lone Ranger didn't accomplish anything by getting him arrested. Oh, yes, he did. He's forced you to put your cards on the table. You can't pretend to be friendly to us anymore. You were trying to drive us all out of the Basin. And from now on, it's war. Now on, it's war. Yes. Toto Gary told the truth. Tomahawk outfit plenty strong. Strong as all the other outfits put together. Steel is. Instead of breaking the law, he'll use it. He'll use his money to force the small ranchers into bankruptcy. He'll try to frame them for rustling and send them to jail. Him plenty bad. But he won't attack them openly until everything else has been tried. He must make sure his plans fail, Kimosabe. Afterwards, when he's turned his back on the law. And we'll have a chance to put him where he belongs and make him pay for everything. For every head of cattle, for every ranch he's stolen. And most of all for something we can't prove. You mean Black Arrow? Yes. He'll pay for his treason. Black. Quite a simple breed. The thing I like about it is that it's legal. Legal? Yes. How are the other ranches coming with the rounders? They're just about started this. Yeah. It's the same with the tomahawk. We've got to finish first, that's all. You haven't got nearly enough men. Oh, si, senor, we have plenty. Not for what I'm planning. Let Whitey take charge for a few days. And you head down to San Antonio. Hire every man you can find and get back here by the end of the week. With a hundred at least, 100 at least. And as many more as you can find. How many men would you need to drive a trail herd of 50,000 to market? Oh, we will know. There are 50,000 head. 5,000, maybe. What? 50,000. Oh, 50,000. Yes, senor. What's more, they have to get to market before any other cattle from the basin. You'll have to move fast for him. I am beginning to see. If you sell them 50,000 head, the buyers will have enough. They will offer little or nothing for the other cattle from the basin. I'm hoping it'll be nothing. This will be a bad year for the small ranchers. They won't have enough money to run until next year. And they'll have to borrow. And if they can't borrow, they'll have to sell out at my price. It's so simple. You will lose some money yourself, of course. 50,000 head at one time. You cannot hope for a top price. I can afford to lose money to get the land I want. Say, I congratulate you. Don't bother to do that yet. You gotta move fast if it's gonna work. You get down to San Antonio and hire those men. Prado. Get up. Get up. That's Breed Tunnel Steel. Wouldn't have bothered to get him out of jail if he didn't have some work for him. That right? It's strange that he should be leaving the basin just when the roundup is getting Underway. What you think, Kimosabe? I don't know. I don't like the looks of it, though. Better follow him, Tano. Maybe he'll go long way. Well, it doesn't matter. Follow him wherever he goes. Follow him until you find out what he's up to. T do that. Then when you learn anything, t come back plenty fast. Good luck, Kimosabi. Get him up, Scout. One night a week later, the Lone Ranger rained up in front of Jim Carrey's ranch house. A great yellow moon was rising above the western hills that rimmed the basin. The distant lowing of the cattle and an occasional Winnie from the mustangs and the corral were all that disturbed the silence of the night. The range country seemed at peace. As he climbed the steps of the ranch house. The Lone Ranger's face was grim beneath his mask. Steady, big fell. Good evening, Kerry. Well, I'll be dogged. The Lone Ranger. Come on in. Thank you. Too bad Abby and Ted aren't here. They've gone to a shindig at the Bar M. I was afraid you might be there, too. Nope. I had a lot of figures to go over. Roundup time. I hardly ever leave the Home range. Then you don't know what's going on over at the Tomahawk. Going on? You mean Steve's up to some funny business again? Just answer me this. How do you split up your herd during the roundup? Why, three ways, of course. The cows and the calves that are going to be branded and the ones we're going to drive to market. And the others? The Tomahawk crew are only splitting their herd in two, Just cutting out the cows and calves. And they aren't doing any branding at all? Only earmarking them, huh? Not even that. They'll have to. Well, they aren't doing it now. It looks to me as if they're getting a trail herd together as fast as they can. What's the sense of it, Harry? It will be a trail herd such as the west has never seen. You know how many heads Steel has? Half of them would run the total to nearly 50,000. But they can't drive that many to market. No, not altogether. There's no trail crew can handle more than 5,000. They can split it up 10 ways, but that would mean 10 crews. And steel doesn't have that many men. He doesn't now, but he may be able to hire. Well, not around here. Reed rode south last week. He did? And he rode a long way because Tono followed him. And he hasn't come Back plenty of men in San Antonio. Yeah, but I can't figure it out though. Why would Steel want to sell 50,000 head? He's got plenty of grass and water. And I doubt if the buyers in Clarksville would. Would what? $50,015 a head we're getting now. You're beginning to realize that's $750,000. Why, a drive like that would break the market wide open. How many were you planning to sell this year? A thousand head and all the others in the basin. Outside of Steel, you mean? Yes. Well, all together we'll have about 6,000 head. And you've got to beat Steel to Clarksville or you won't get anything for them. But we hadn't planned on starting yet. Well, you've got to. Most of the small ranchers are over at the Bar M tonight, aren't they? Yeah, I guess so. And go there? It'll be hard to convince them Steel's up to a trick like that. You aren't sure? It doesn't matter. They'll have to admit there's a chance of my being right. And if there is, it means you have to act. I'll talk to him. I'll give it to him straight. We'll get a part of the herd started tomorrow morning. The sooner the better. Someone just rode up. Yes, It's Toll. You'll have news of Breed. Kuma Toby me follow your trail from camp. Had a long ride. Tutto scout Plenty tired. What did you find out? Breed go to San Antonio. Him hire many men. Maybe hundred. You hear that, Carrie? Them get here by morning. All men wear two guns. Many killer. That's the sort of men Breed with hire. Did you hear what he told them? Uh huh. Tonto. Here. Breed promise them get much money. But are they going to stay at the Tomahawk Ranch? No. Them drive big herd to Clarksville. A hundred men. Carrie Steele has nearly that many working for him already. Do you need any more people? I sure don't. Can you get all your cattle on the trail tomorrow? We can try. I'll make it to the Bar M in half an hour and when I get there, the party will be over. Now listen to me. I haven't finish. You can't be too careful about this. You can't weed out your cattle the way you usually do. We gotta move fast. Now just make up your mind how many heads you want to send. Cut em out tonight and drive em to the flats along Banjo Creek. That's where we start from tomorrow morning. Don't waste any time. And talk. Get into your saddles and head for your home range. Prado. Hold there. Hold. Horse. Where are you? What's the matter, Jake? They're on to your game. What do you mean? Just what I said. I heard a lot of excitement at the Bar M ranch. It was having a party, but there aren't any more. I could hear Jim Cherry talking to him. I saw him start riding away. What'd he say? Almost word for word what you told the boys yourself. They suppose have been blabbered all over the range. Oh, they haven't. It was a lone ranger figured it out and passed the word along to Carrie. Besides that, the engine. What's his name, Tano. He followed Breed to San Anton. Your new men will be here tomorrow morning. That's fine. It'll be too late. You might as well send them back. Car's herd will be on its way. They can start. I'd like to bet they never get too Clark. Bill. Huh? Now listen to me. Listen close and get everything straight. Afterwards you're going to climb aboard that Major cayuse you call a horse and hide. Tail up to the roundup camp. By sunrise the next morning the small ranches herd was taking shape in the flats near Banjo Creek. Hard riding cowboys hazed the wild longhorns into one great milling mass. Hours passed as they rounded up the strays but at last the herd was quieted down. Carrie was about to give the word for the drive to begin when the Lone Ranger on Tonto raced up. Hey, we're all set to go. You'll have to wait. What's that? Steel has 3,000 head moving already. Now reach the pass before you can. Dog gone. We'll have to wait until they get through. You can't start your drive until this afternoon. This is going to be bad. One herd in front of us. Is Steel sure to start another moving as soon as he can. It's like being between two fires. Yes, Carrie, it's 400 miles to Clarksville. There'll be trouble every foot of the way. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger stories before the next exciting scenes. Please permit us to pause for just a few moments, Sam. Now to continue our story. When Breed rained up in front of the Tomahawk ranch house with the men he had hired in San Antonio. He slipped from the saddle and ran up the steps. Senor. Break them home, Breed. Yeah, I'm too late. You think so? It's true. Carrying the other smaller rancher they have the trailhead ready to start. We see it Narvanjo Creek. Sure, breed, but we got 3,000 head going through the pass right now. 3,000 wants to be 50. No, don't get excited. We've had to change our plans. The Lone Ranger got wise. Oh, the Lone Ranger. He's smart. You got to give him credit for that. But I hold all the tropes in this game, and I know how to play him. You will explain. Please. I do not understand. It won't take me long, and you and the boys out there can go to work. Terry's herd was driven through the path late that afternoon. The Lone Ranger had been scouting the trail ahead. Kerry found him waiting on the far side. Oh. Oh. Oh, boy. Oh, there's. Yes, Gary. Yeah, still light. We can cover a couple of more miles before we have to bed the herd down. You can't go any further tonight. Why not? Because Steele's herd is less than two miles ahead of you. The crews made camp, huh? You mean to say they started before daybreak and didn't get any farther than that? Didn't want to get any farther. Didn't want to. Now they're trying to hold you up. You can't go on because if your herd ever got mixed up with theirs, well, it would take you days to separate them. Oh, I know. But what good will it do to hold us up? They'll be just holding themselves up too. There's more to it than that. I've sent Tunnel back to the pass. I'm afraid he'll be bringing us some bad news before long. Here he comes now. What kind of news? It's simple. Terry Steel's going to start another herd as soon as he can. What of it? He can't move any faster than we do. He'll have to keep back a couple miles. No, he doesn't. What? He might even stampede this next herd right into yours. Leaping cactus. What did you find out? Tuttle it like you think. More cattle on way to pass now and move plenty fast. They're coming through the pass tonight. We got to go on. Then we got to keep ahead of them. You can't go on. We've got to do something. There's one way out. Name it. Drive your cattle to the east for 20 miles and follow the Merrick to Clarksville. That's twice as long. If we do that, we lose. You want your herd to be stampeded. You want to lose most of them. No, but I. Merrick's your only trail and only chance. If you drive 20 miles a day, you can get to Clarksville. First 20 miles a day. You stay here or try to drive through or around that herd up ahead, you'll never get there. Dog gone. I guess you're right. Boys, swing that point to the right. We're heading east for the merry trail. Three nights later Steel and Breed were camped with one of their trail crews on Spanish Creek. The rancher was in a bad tamper. Why hasn't Jacob back yet? I do not know, senor. He has gone since last night. Meet Dr. Lidville. If he has done that, I would beat him off Good. I tell him to locate the carry herd and report back at once. Pour me another cup of coffee. See? It's too bad they slip out of our crap. What did they gain by it? Nothing. The Maric trail is too long. We get to Clarksville first and that is all you want. Just the same. Just the same what? It's hard to forget. The long range arrives with him. He's not a man to be trusted. Give me that coffee. Hello. It's about time. Where have you been? This way. Like in my breath. I'll tell you. Why have you take so long to ride a few miles? A few miles nothing. I had to ride all the way to the Sweetwater before I caught up with them. Sweet water? It's not possible. They could not have got that far. They would have to drive 20 miles a day. That's just what they're doing. I never saw a trail herd move so fast. I followed them along the ridge for a while. That masked man was everywhere. You should have seen him. 20 miles a day they win. Yeah, that is so you get to stuck them. Tomorrow night you'll take 20 of the best men you got from San Anton. He's clawed up. There may be storm tomorrow night. That ought to help. Just make sure that herd is scattered so they'll never be able to round it up again. See? That isn't all. From now on we drive 20 miles a day ourselves. A passer would along. Following night the carrier herd was bedded down north the Sweetwater. Just before dawn the lone ranger rode up to the dying campfire. Carrier was rolled up in his blanket beside it, sound asleep. Carrie. Carrie. Huh? Oh, hello there. It isn't five o' clock yet, is it? No, I've just been taking a look at the herd. Don't you ever sleep? There can't be much more sleep for any of us tonight. Something wrong? The storm. Huh? Yes, it'll break any minute. Cattle are getting restless. I can hear them. Your night riders. What are they shouting for? There's no way to quiet cattle gunfire. Steel may have sent some men after us. Here, Silver. Roll out of your blankets, boys. They've got a storm and a parcel of coyotes to deal with. Silver. Before the Lone Ranger reached the herd, the gunfire had stopped. In the flash of lightning he saw a band of horsemen disappearing over the ridge. There was no time to follow them. The cattle were already milling. And at that moment the storm broke in all its fury. Almost at once the longhorn started to run before the driving reins. Jagged streaks of lightning cracked toward the earth. Great balls of fire played above the heads of the terror stricken cattle. On they raised a stampede. You give the orders fast, man. All we can do is run with him. This corn les up. We try to turn the leaders. The cattle ran for 10 miles before the last of the thunder rumbled away in the distance. And the Lone Ranger directed the cowboys in the desperate work of getting the herd under control once more. Hour after hour of hard riding followed. The sky clear. The sun rose high in the heavens. It was nearly noon when the last of the strays were rounded up and the herd was started back 10 miles back to where we left the chuck wagon. You won't get there until dark. Whole day lost. Yes, Carrie, I'd like to lay my hands on. The skunks have started the stampede. They're back for their own hurt by now. We just can't win, masked man. Harry isn't like you to give up. They know where we are. They know how far we've gone. That means they'll get along a lot faster themselves. You and I are riding on to Clarksville. You're leaving us? Yes, Kerry. We'll be back. Means time. Keep driving as hard as you can. Now. Come on, Silver. Help. Help. Very big fell. Clark's still at last. Kabi. Well, we have three hours before dawn. Are you sure this is John Bennett's house? That right. His door won't be locked. Walk right in. There's a lamp on the table. What? The mask man. An inch. You're covered, Bennett. I've got to call for help. Hey, what's the idea? Get into your clothes. You're leaving town with. It was over two weeks later that Steele and Breed rode into Clarksville at the head of their first herd. There was no sign of Kerry and the rancher congratulated himself as he walked along the main street toward John Bennett's office. Yeah, we put it off, Breed. Cat'll be pouring into town all this week. When Kerry shows up. He won't get a dime for his tears. This is a place. Then our Penny will be surprised when you tell him how many heads are on the way here. Mr. Steele. Hello. Where's your boss? You mean Mr. Bennett? Yeah. Where is he? I don't know. Nobody knows. He just disappeared about two weeks ago. Disappeared? Yeah. He left the office one night and went home. And the next day he wasn't anywhere to be found. Sheriff's had a posse looking for him. He must have found some trace. No, he didn't. He didn't say anything to anybody about leaving town. And we haven't had any word. We don't know what happened to him. Well, I got 3,000 cattle down in the corrals. They want to sell them. There's other buyers in town. I can't. You're not big enough to handle this deal. The 3,000 are only a starting. It's better we go to the sheriff. Maybe this deal goes wrong at the last minute. Just because Bennett takes it into his head. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Somebody stop us. Hey, it's Mr. Bennett. What kind of a yarmy you trying to make me swallow? I told the truth. But look who's with him. A masked man and an engine. You better get the sheriff. He's the only range. Hello everybody. Let's meet again. This Bennett. Where have you been? You don't mind mask man? I'd like you and town will stick around a little while in case there's any trouble. He'll be glad to. There won't be any trouble now. Steel. What can I do for you? Where have you been? We're just taking a little business trip. Been to see an old friend of mine. That's a likely story. But here says you've been going two weeks and. That's right. Any objections? I want to talk to you long. No thanks. You've got anything to say, you better get it off your chest right now. All right. I want to sell some kettle. Uh huh. About 50,000 head, isn't it? The nice man told you. He's told me a lot of things. Well, what'll you give me for him? Market price. $15 a head. Have you gone local? Nope. $15 a head. Only buy 10,000. Oh wait. You'd take the whole 50 if I offer them to you at let's say 5. 10,000's all I can handle. Already bought 6. You've what? Yeah, from Jim Carrey. Rode out with a mask man and met him on the trail. That's it. I'll break you for this minute. And how do you plan to do that? I'll tell you how I'll sell all my Kelly other buyers around here at $5. 2, 1. I don't care. You'll never been able to get rid of that 6,000. No sale, steel. I'm talking for all the buyers in town. We'll take 10,000 from you and not one. There's a double cross. Yeah, it's a double double cross breed. Yeah. Loco. Bennett, I'm offering you a chance to make a fortune. You're turning it down? John Bennett doesn't figure the same way you do, Steel. I've told him that you're trying to ruin every small rancher in Tomahawk Basin. If that happens, he knows he'll have to deal with you alone. And I'll be the one to get ruined. No thanks, Steel. Hold us ranchers. And we're going to stick together and play along with the small guys. The market price for beef stays where it is. What if we only sell 10,000 head? What we do with other 40,000 head can rent some range land and winter them around here. When they sold them in the spring, I wouldn't make a cent. Right, Steel, this dial has cost you a lot of money. Let's go, Tano. How long, master man? I enjoyed the trip. You'll never regret your decision, Bennett. Not for you, Steel. We'll see that Jim Carrey's herd gets here safely. And T and I are riding back to the basin. We'll meet again. Yes, we'll meet again. And the next time, Breed, I promise you the tables will be turned.