
The Lone Ranger and Tonto assist a woman whose letter holds critical information, working to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Original Air Date: October 09, 1939Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Lone RangerPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:•...
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Foreign welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and I'm.
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Excited to bring you another episode absolutely free.
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This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment.
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Now let's get into this episode.
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A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty hi O Silver the Lone Ranger.
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Stage hold ups were frequent in the early days of the western United States. Every coach carried an armed guard, but one man was helpless against the outlaw bands. And it was not until the masked rider of the plane started his great fight for law and order that travel on the frontier trails became safe. 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. Come on, Silver. We're heading for the Endicott Ranch. Hello's waiting on the trail ahead. How Silver away. Three men sat at a dusty table in a tumbledown shack. Gunny sacks were hung over the windows and a lamp turned low Cast a narrow circle of light. The three men stared at one another until finally the eldest spoke and. Well, we gotta decide which one of us is going or not. I don't know Dutch. You, Jess? I'd go Dutch, only I was seen. They know me, and there's lawmen scattered around the whole district. I wouldn't have a chance in 10, Rhett, with the bad leg I got. What's the matter with you? Well, I wasn't seen, but I'm wanted for other things. They'd nab me just as soon as they nabbed you. Well, bless us. This ain't getting us no place here. One of us has got to go. If there was only someone the law couldn't connect up with us. If we could stand. But there ain't, so why talk about it? Well, what do you mean? I'll draw for it. Huh? Hand me that pack of cards. There you are. Now what? I'll deal a poker hand around a low hand goes. No use argument. There ain't no other way. Dick. Hey, Dick, Come here. Huh? You see something move? Ain't that a light? See that second window? Ain't it just a spec. It shows there's somebody there, don't it? Yeah. Are you scared? It's kind of lonesome. Oh, that's nothing but a coyote howling. Maybe. Maybe we better go on to the next place, huh? What's the matter with you? Come on. Golly. Well, shucks. I'm going Even a few. Wayne. So doggone hungry I can feel my stomach rubbing my backbone. And you're hungry too. You just said you was. I'm awful hungry. Well, then, come on. You think they're gonna bite you? It's just that it looks like such a funny kind of place. You are too scared. I ain't either. You are. All right, I'll show you. I'll ask if you'll ask. And come on. We'll knock at the back. Do. I might have known I'd be the one to get stuck. Better get started. He's waiting. I'll go out to the bar and help you sail. Red can stay. Who's that? Shut up. Bless you. You think it might be the sheriff? Whoever it is, they seem to know we're in here. If it's the law, this is the showdown. Get ready to blast your way out. Yeah. You gonna open up? Just keep the door covered. Reach what places? It's a pair of kids. Get him inside and close the door. Get in here, you. We never meant no harm. We just told. Stand over there. But we. You like get told. Yes, sir. Now then, who sent you kids here? Nobody, mister. Nobody on us. You sure? We, we were just hungry and we seen the light here. We thought maybe you'd give us something to eat. What do you think? They sound to me like they're scared to be lying. Where you youngins live? No place now. Tell the truth. Gotta live somewheres. Who are ya folks? We ain't got none. Ruth's paw and mine. Both was killed in the war. We. We ain't got no other folks. Tall. Yeah. You still ain't told us where you live. Around here someplace? Uh, we. We come from downhill. Noi way from. From Kincaid. That don't sound straight to me. If that's where you're from. How'd you get away out here? Somebody bring you? You got cash? Nobody brung us, mister. And. And we ain't got no cash neither. We hiked it the whole way. Yes, sir. Ajit. Old folks gave us vittles. Most times we worked for him. We'd be mighty glad to chop some water or do something for you folks. If it happened you had some vittles to spare. Well, I'll be a slick eared maverick. You ever hear the beat? Yeah. Believe them, Dutch? Sure, why not? You ever see such a mangy looking pair before? They ever had any kind of folks at all. They'd never get to looking like that. I don't know. What do I do with them? We didn't mean to bother you none. We'll be on our way. We don't want jerks. What's your hurry? You're hungry. Hang around. Sit down. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. What's your handle? My name's Ruth. Rufe Plunkett. Yeah, he's Dick Sloan. Roof and Dick, huh? Well, Roof, I reckon we can scrape up something for you and your part to chore on. Yes. Take a look. You loco. I know what I'm doing. But you can't. They said they was willing to work for their grub, didn't they? Ain't that right? Oh, sure, mister. We'd be real glad to even to go run an errand. We wouldn't mind. Then maybe you can. Yeah. Just forget about saddling up. I reckon we found a better. The Endicott ranch was only a few miles from the shack. The bunkhouse was dark and deserted, but the main house was ablaze with light. Two horsemen rode toward it across the open prairie. That's the place, Tata. We won't have to watch out for the crew. They joined the sheriff in combing the countryside for those fellows who held up the stage this afternoon. Ma Endicott and her daughter are the only ones there. Why them act so strange? I don't know. That's why I asked you to return with me. When I stopped there to buy supplies, Ma Endicott saw my mask and thought me one of the road agents. She was frightened, but not because she thought me an outlaw. Me not savvy more. She and her daughter acted as though they'd expected me. That heap strange. I may be wrong. They wouldn't talk after they'd learned I was really there only for supplies. They'd said enough beforehand to indicate something belonging to them had been with the stage loot. They said enough to indicate it might have been a letter. A letter? They didn't want to fall into the wrong hands. I think they were ready to pay for its return. Believe me. One of the stage robbers come to make them pay. Why them do that? Your guess would be as good as mine, tadda. Certainly. Both Mrs. Endicott and her daughter are law abiding. They've made a success at the ranch. They're respected by everyone. There is one possibility. What's that? Something that just occurred to me. Something I've just remembered about them. The more I think of it, the more I believe it's a thing they fear. What? You? I'll explain later. I'd want to make certain before I spoke of it. There's a fence ahead. Kimasabe. This way. Come on, boy. Get him up. Teller. We'd better not take the horses too close to the house. Teller. We'd better stop over. Look. What? They're horsemen. Those of a horse. Oh, Scout.
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Oh.
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One man. Tata. Two men. No, two boys riding double. That right. They're heading for the indicate place. Pull over behind the corral. T. We'll stay out of sight. Come on. Get him up, Scott. Inside the ranch house, Mrs. Endicott and her daughter Betsy had been talking with Sheriff Quinn and his deputy, Sim Slade. The lawman was preparing to leave. And? Well, we was just inquiring, ma'am. Them stage robbers must be somewhere in the neighborhood. They ain't had time to get far away yet. And when we heard there'd been a masked fellow seen leaving here. He weren't one of them, Sheriff, I'm sure. Seems funny he'd pay for the grub you gave him if he was. Just the same, I'd kind of like to put some questions to that hombre. We'll keep an eye out for him. Aren't you gonna ask these folks something else, Sheriff? Hmm? Oh, yeah, something else. Oh, nothing particular, Miss Betsy. But them fellas you sent to jine the posse, they was saying some things. What thing? Well, they seemed to have the notion that when you heard about the stage being robbed, you acted like maybe something of yours was stole at the same time. You wasn't expecting anything but stage, was you? Nonsense. Oh, no, nothing. I thought it was foolish. You'd have reported it if there'd have been anything. Well, good evening to you. Come along, Sim. We still got work to do. Yeah. And ma'am, don't you fret too much about things. What do you mean, Sheriff? Nothing. We looked for that masked feller's trail. And who could that be? I'll get it, Ma. Oh, come in. Is this the Endicott place, ma? Sure it is. What you boys want? Well, we was told to give you this here note, ma'am. Oh, what is it, Ma? Ma, what is it? Who gave you boys this? Quick? Who give it to you? Why, so we don't rightly know them, ma'am. It was just some fellas that live in that place about three miles east of here. What's that? You kids mean the old place just south of the trail? Uh huh. There ain't nothing wrong, is there, Mr. Jeff? Ain't nobody lived in that place for the past two years. How many fellows was there? What'd they look like? Oh, we ain't done nothing we shouldn't. Honest we Christ did. Quit sniveling and anterupping. There was three of them. Three, ma'am? What's that there note say? That's my business. I'm sorry, I'll have to ask you to show it to me. If there was three of them and they was on the old Megan place, then it looks doggone suspicious. Now let me see that paper. This note was addressed to my mother, and you haven't any right to read it without her permission. You got anything to hide? Don't act so foolish. It ain't nothing. You're just making a mountain out of a molehill. And if you aim to go after them robbers, you better be going. Ma'am, I leave until I see what's writ there. If you ain't got nothing to hide, you'll hand it over peaceable. If you have got something to hide, then it's my bounding duty to find out what you can't. Stand still, Betsy. Sheriff, I'm standing on my right. This note is mine. You don't get it. Hand it over. I said hand it over. Sim, get the voices ready. Hey, what's up? Who fired that shot? The lamp. The lamp's busted. Get another lamp. Where's another lamp? I'll find one. Hurry up. Come along, Mason. Just a minute. It starts in here. Here's a lamp. I got a match here. Now then. What happened here anyhow? The note. Somebody took that note? No, it was in my pocket. I put it there and it's gone. Well, I'll. Who took it? Did you take it, Sheriff? One of you must have. There weren't nobody else in here. It warrant me. No, me either, ma'am. It has to be one of you. I thought I heard the door close, ma'am. You did. Listen, Silver. That's what that masked fella called his horse. Then it was him. He shot out the lamp. He come in here when it was dark. He's got that note. If he has, then he's the varent we got to catch. Come on. See him aspirate. 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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Now to continue our story. The sheriff joined his posse, but no trace of the masked man was found. In the meantime, Mrs. Endicott and her daughter prepared a hearty meal for young Ruth Plunkett and Dick Sloan. Poor youngins eat hearty now. There's enough in despair. Here, Dick, have some more potatoes. Gee, thanks, but honest, I'm so full I can't hardly eat another bite. Me neither. Betsy, you go fix up the spare room. They can sleep in there for the night. All right, Ma. You mean we can stay here tonight? Of course you can. Longer if you want to. There's enough work to be done around the place that you boys can Help at be a home for you. Oh, golly. That'd be fine, ma'am. I don't know how we can thank you, ma'am. Sure. Forget it. You don't want no thanks. Who's that horse belong to? You rode up here. Oh, them fellers give it to us to ride? Well, we can put the coyotes in the corral. Sheriff will decide what to do with it. Now, if you grant it this sheriff again, I'll be bound. You boys stay right there in the kitchen. If he's here to pester you tonight, I'll send him on his way. Yes, ma'am. I'm coming. I'm coming. Now, Sheriff, have you the masked man. Step out here and close the door. You almost had me thinking you weren't one of them stage robbers. I'm not. Then why'd you take that note? Why'd you shoot out the light? If I hadn't, the sheriff would have seen what was written there. Would you have wanted that? Huh? He knew there was something wrong, and he meant to find out what. Mrs. Endegate. What if he'd learned the letter addressed to you that was stolen from the stage was from your husband? Written from a penitentiary in the East. Although your husband is supposed to be dead. Please, not so loud. There's no one to hear us. How do you know all this if you weren't one of them that robbed the stage? You forget that information was in the note the stage robbers sent you. Why'd you come back here? You want money to keep still. I don't want money. I want to help you. But you too. The men who hold that letter want money from you. The note they sent for Those boys demanded $2,000. I'll pay it. I can't have folks know. What if you do pay? They promised to give back the letter from Josh. They know its contents. Even if they returned the letter, they could tell what they had read there. It'd be easy for anyone interested to check and learn the truth. The note you received told how much cash those fellows wanted and contained instructions how to deliver that cash after you'd drawn it from the bank. Yes, it was the note told you. Get the money, see that it's in small bills as they asked. Leave the cash at the place they specified it. Said to leave it. Right again. The bottom of Red Rock. Do that. You have my word your money will not only be returned, but no one will learn your secret who doesn't know it already. Why should I do like you tell me to? Not as I tell You. As the men have told you in that note, you seem to have little choice. But the cash, if it's took from them, they'll talk anyhow. Even if they ain't got the letter no more, they can always tell what was in it. I. Your daughter's coming. There's no time to talk now. Remember, you have no choice. Wait. Come on, Silver. Come on. Old Father. Ma, you out here? Who was that? I thought I heard someone say Silver. Never mind, Betsy. Maybe. Maybe we're gonna have help. But it don't make no difference. Tomorrow we go to the bank. Leaving the ranch house, the masked man rejoined Tonto. What her say? I didn't attempt to convince her I was on her side. T. It wasn't necessary. I simply wanted to make certain she carried out the instructions she received. And I believe she'll get the cash and leave it at Red Rock as she was instructed. And what do the money will be bait for our trap. It means the capture of those stage robbers. But how? Keep them from talking. They can talk, Tutto. They can tell everything that letter contained. But it'll do them no good for a reason they don't know. Back to camp, Tutto. Hit him up, scum. Come on, Silver. Dutch and his two companions had slipped through the lines of the posse under cover of the night and were hidden in the wild country near Red Rock, a well known landmark of the district. It made a cold camp there. They remained for the rest of the night and the whole of the following day. Finally, just at dusk. Yes. Yeah. You saddle the horses. Going after that cash, you figured it'll be there by now, Dutch. If it ain't, it won't never be. She knows what we told her. She's had time aplenty to get the cash out of the bank and put it where we said. You don't sound like you're worrying much about us walking into a trap. The law searched out. That district won't be around unless it has reason. Yeah, that's just what I mean. Eh, lessen it has reason. What's to stop Mo Endicott from telling the law she put the cash at Red Rock. Then what's to stop the law from laying for us there and nabbing us when we get it? She ain't no fool. Now. What do you mean? She knows we read that letter from Josh, don't she? Otherwise how'd we know he wrote it from the pen? Well, say we took the case, she got the letter. Then the law stepped in to jail us. That's what I was thinking of. Wait till I finish. All right. We can still tell what was in the letter, can't we? Maybe we wouldn't have proof, but it wouldn't take folks around here long to check on it in her secret to be out just the same. In other words, she's got to see that we get safe away in order to be safe herself, huh? Yes, so. I never thought of it that way before. Well, that's the way it is. That's why I say I ain't as scared of no trap. It'd be just as bad for her as for us. Good. Let's hit leather. 30 minutes to Red Rock, fellas. And 2,000 richer when we get there. Get up. Get up. Mrs. Endicott and her daughter, having left the cash at the base of Red Rock according to their instructions, were returning to their home. And we'll go back tomorrow, Ma. And. And what if they just took the cash but didn't leave the letter? What do we do then? No use thinking of that child anyhow. They wouldn't have anything to gain by it. If they tricked us this time. They'd know doggone well we wouldn't trust them another time. Wouldn't do no good for them to ask for another payment. We just can't let folks know about Paul for the best. That's all we can do, I suppose. Ma, you see him? Horses. Great day. What do we do? What do we save? Now, don't get excited, child. I reckon we got as good a right as anybody to be out riding. We don't have to tell nothing if it's the sheriff. Just keep your mouth tight closed and say nothing. Come on, Silver. Ma, it ain't the sheriff. It's the masked man. The redskin with him. What do you want? We're heading for Red Rush. The posse's on our trail. We've left a trail easy to follow. No, you can't help a red rock. That letter Tallow and I are going to get those crooks and hold them until the posse arrives. You spare boil everything. They'll talk. We. Come on. Get up. St. Come back. You'll just boil things. Please wait. Can't let them do it, Betsy. We can. What do we do? Follow after. Back. Boy. That boy. Get up, boy. Get up.
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When they arrived at Red Rock, Dutch, Jess and Rhett dismounted quickly and started looking for the packet of money. The sun had disappeared behind the horizon and was rapidly growing dark. Ain't it yet? Nothing on this side look good. Gotta be here someplace. Ain't no dough going well. He wouldn't have. I got it. Take a look here. If this ain't it, I'll eat my shaft. Open it up. You found the cache? Yeah, we think so. We'll soon. Greenbacks. It's it. Should I count it? If they left the cache, they left all of it. Let's get out of here. Throw that cash in your saddle bag and we'll divvy up later. But the letter. Oh, yeah. Here, Rhett. Take it and leave it where you found the cash. I'll do that. Someone covered it. A masked man and a redskin. Come on, boy. Come on. Grab your guns. Let him have it. We'll blast those guns right out of your hands. You can go to places. Oh, my hand. Get him. Get away. Get back. Oh, you hit me. You're not hurt. You there. Drop that gun or take it. There's my gun. I'm finished. I ain't shooting. Nice men. Let them go. The posse's right behind us. You. They'll talk. They'll tell everything they know. You have nothing to fear. That's what you say. You think we ain't gonna tell everything? You're loco. How will you like it, ma'am? How will you like the folks around here knowing your husband's in jail? Well, that's just what's gonna happen. Lessen you talk these fellas into letting us go. And Prano. All right, the posse was right behind you. There's no time to waste. Please let him go. Please. You don't understand what this means to us. I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave this in my hands. Besides, even if I wish to release them, it's too late. There's the posse we've been seeing there. Ma, I. I suppose it had to come out sometime anyhow. We'll just try to make the best of it. What's that fella, T? I think he's getting ready to make a break for it. You can kill. Then we are all. You're covered. Run on your gun. They've already done that. Who are you, mister? Never mind who I am. These are the men you want. The stage robbers. These fellas, right. You want evidence. They still have a letter in their possession they stole from the stage. Find their hideout or go through their saddlebags and you'll find more. The three of you were under arrest? Yeah. And the letter the mask man told you about is from Josh Endicott. Josh Endicott, who was supposed to have died. Please. I said I'd talk, and I will. Died, eh? Well, for your information, right now he's sitting in a pen and he's there for life. You. You told. What else do you expect? We give you a fair warning. It's your fault, masked man. You wouldn't let him go. You held him here for the posse. I believe the sheriff has something to say. You better listen to him before you blame me. We didn't want it known, Sheriff. Now everybody. I kind of hate to say this, but the whole county's knowed the truth for quite a spell. Oh, that. That ain't so. Yes, it is. We've known it almost from the first. But you couldn't, Mrs. Endicott. These people are your good friends. You'd stop to think you'd have realized a secret like yours couldn't be kept for long. It was your pride that made you wish it a secret. Your friends realizing that never permitted you to learn they were acquainted with the facts. How can we face folk? Betsy? You too, ma'am. There ain't a one of us thinks the worst of you for it. The masked man's got it right. We are your friends. And nothing Josh ever done can change you. I could have told you this, Mrs. Endicott, but it wasn't my place. Moreover, I couldn't be sure that if you were told you'd leave the money here. The necessity would have been gone. And Dutch, Jess and Rhett might never have been captured. So that's the part you played in this, stranger. It's you we gotta thank for capturing these hombres. You can thank their ignorance. They hadn't been strangers to this part of the country, they'd have realized that letter was of no value. This is your fault, Dutch. You was the one that thought it was such a smart idea jailed. Cause you didn't have sense enough to check on what you was doing. Quiet. You fellows see him? Put the cuffs on them. Where's the mask? Fell in the engine. I want to get him up. Stone. Hey. They cleared out. But I wanted to thank them for what they've done. And Chill. They never even waited for me to thank them neither. You Ma. For what, Betsy? For showing us we got friends to be proud.
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Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast Summary
Episode Title: Mrs. Endicott’s Letter | The Lone Ranger
Release Date: January 25, 2025
Host: Andrew Rhynes
In this episode of the Old Time Radio Westerns podcast, host Andrew Rhynes presents a digitally restored rendition of a classic Lone Ranger episode titled "Mrs. Endicott’s Letter." Set in the rugged landscapes of the Wild West, the story intricately weaves themes of justice, secrecy, and redemption, showcasing the timeless appeal of Western radio dramas.
The episode unfolds with a tense situation involving stagecoach robberies plaguing the early western United States. The masked hero, the Lone Ranger (accompanied by his faithful horse, Silver), emerges to confront the outlaws threatening the safety of frontier travelers.
The central narrative revolves around Mrs. Endicott and her daughter Betsy, who find themselves entangled in the aftermath of a stagecoach robbery. A crucial letter from Mrs. Endicott's supposedly deceased husband, Josh Endicott, becomes the focal point of the conflict, drawing the attention of both lawmen and outlaws.
Encounter at the Shack ([04:30]): Three outlaws—Dutch, Jess, and Rhett—find themselves in a tense standoff within a dilapidated shack. Their inability to decide who will leave forces them to confront an unexpected threat when a mysterious light appears, eventually revealed to be a coyote.
Introduction of Ruth and Dick ([04:30] - [12:49]): Ruth Plunkett and Dick Sloan arrive at the Endicott Ranch seeking food and shelter. Mrs. Endicott, displaying her innate kindness, offers them refuge, unaware of the mayor's impending threats.
Secret of the Letter ([17:24]): Sheriff Quinn interrogates Mrs. Endicott about a note delivered by visiting boys. The note refers to a letter from Josh Endicott, prompting suspicion and leading to a confrontation where the Lone Ranger intervenes, revealing the true value of the letter.
Confrontation at Red Rock ([27:03] - [31:55]): Dutch and his companions ambush the secluded Red Rock area, leading to a showdown with the Lone Ranger. The masked man attempts to retrieve the letter, culminating in the capture of the outlaws and the revelation of Mrs. Endicott's hidden past.
Justice vs. Vengeance: The Lone Ranger embodies the pursuit of justice, contrasting sharply with the outlaws' quest for personal gain, highlighting the moral dichotomy prevalent in Western tales.
Secrets and Redemption: Mrs. Endicott's concealed truth about her husband drives the plot, emphasizing how hidden pasts can influence present actions and relationships.
Community and Trust: The episode underscores the importance of community support, as exemplified by Mrs. Endicott's generosity and the eventual alliance between the ranch owners and the lawmen.
The Lone Ranger: "I don't have to convince her I was on her side. I simply wanted to make certain she carried out the instructions she received." ([19:18])
Sheriff Quinn: "Something belonging to them had been with the stage loot. They said enough to indicate it might have been a letter." ([12:49])
Mrs. Endicott: "If you hadn't, the sheriff would have seen what was written there. Would you have wanted that?" ([19:18])
Dutch: "We can still tell what was in the letter, can't we? Maybe we wouldn't have proof, but it wouldn't take folks around here long to check on it." ([27:03])
Betsy: "All of you think the worst of you for it. The masked man's got it right. We are your friends." ([31:55])
Mrs. Endicott’s Letter masterfully captures the essence of classic Western storytelling, blending suspense, character development, and moral dilemmas. The Lone Ranger’s unwavering commitment to justice aids in unraveling the mystery behind the stolen letter, ultimately leading to the redemption of both the outlaws and Mrs. Endicott.
This episode not only pays homage to iconic shows like Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger but also revitalizes them through meticulous digital restoration, offering listeners a rich and immersive auditory experience that honors the golden age of radio.
Note: This summary excludes non-content segments such as advertisements, intros, and outros to focus solely on the narrative and thematic elements of the episode.