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Old Time Radio Westerns
The Adventure of the Phantom Steed | The Lone Ranger (05-08-50)
Original Air Date: May 08, 1950Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Lone RangerPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• Brace Beemer (Lone Ranger)• John Todd (Tonto) Writer:• Fran Striker Producer:• George W. Trendle Music:• Ben Bonnell Exit music from: Roundup ...
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- [00:00]
Podcast Host
This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace. Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You, you'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance. No problem. Now get $80 off of 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 SPACE80@Talkspace.
- [01:16]
Andrew Rines
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. Now let's get into this episode.
- [01:47]
Narrator
A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a haughty aisle Silver the Lone Ranger. It's.
- [03:16]
Podcast Host
This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start Talkspace. Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance. No problem. Now get $80 off of 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 SPACE80@Talkspace.com.
- [04:33]
Narrator
With his faithful Indian companion, Tato, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. 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. Clint Collingwood was one of the most famous sportsmen of his time. Young as he was, he had hunted big game in many lands. He had climbed mountain peaks on which no other man had ever set foot. The table of fast horses which he maintained at his eastern home was beyond compare. But young Collingwood's great ambition had not been satisfied. He wanted to capture a fleet white stallion which was reported to roll the plains, outrunning all pursuers and evading all traps. It was of this so called phantom steed that he talked as he rode across the vast crossover spread in Texas accompanied by Dave Hilton, the ranch owner and Hilton's daughter, Laura Collingwood was saying, I'm sure there is or was such a horse. There's a basis of truth in all legends. Well, maybe so. Cleve here, he's always fired with his smoke. But I'll bit my bottom dolly and never find you. Goose horse Dave. The wild horse hunters I've hired to look for him say that he's wintering around Mesa Granby. They're just singing you. They want to keep the job, dad. You can't be sure of that. Washington Irving and Herman Melville believed there was a phantom Steve and read about him. Yes. Who are those fellas? Lawyers. Two great authors whose works I read in school of antique. Ah, those writing fellas are like professional horse honey. They'll tell anything for money. What about the Mexicans and Indians around here? They believe in the horse. The vaqueros call him Son of the Wind. The Apache name for him is Thunder Hoof. They're just plain superstition. Just the same, I'm going to find out what's behind so many stories. Well, that's your right, Clint. I'll help you all I can, seeing as how you're going to be my son in law. But I sure hate to see you spending so much money and get nothing back but a horse laugh. You're a practical man, Dave. I suppose you think I've got too much imagination. That's why I like you. So do I. Now I've got a greedy about study a big horse rat Goodbye. Bitter saddle stuff. The days are coming when an elite draft horse is even worse. Yes, I can see that. Now. Why don't you put some of your money to work building up the West? You could be raiding the flesh and blood horses we need instead of chasing a goose horse. Hey, we could be partners. The horse ranch of Hilton and Collingwood has now been founded. Do you mean that, dear? Of course I do. But I don't like to give up hunting thunder hoofs just yet. Yes, I. Serve me, sir. Fellas. Dreams die hard. Dave, you're a sympathetic man. He's a deer. Yeah. Really? Incarnation. Do you figure to find those wild horse hunters yours? Yeah. They had a camp in the cedar breaks along the Rio Rojo when I visited them before. Well, here's the river. Breaks her up speed. Yeah. Come on. As Clint Collingwood and his companions turned their horses up river, a dozen hard bitten men whom he had employed on their own word that they were professional wild horse hunters rose from a scatty meal at a camp in the city. Two of them climbed into a chuck wagon which stood nearby, ready to roll. Harper, the leader of the outfit, called to them. Rusty, you and Hank had better cut straight across the range to the crossroad headquarters. I want some chuck back here. But suppertime. Right, boss. Sell Collingwood. We want plenty of bacon and coffee. We're working for all we can get. Get up there, Jack. That Collingwood fella must be loco. Hiring us horse thieves as mustangers and selling us to hunting a horse that don't exist. But you better not talk out of turn when he's around. You got to keep him thinking we're honest horse hunters and that there is such a critter as Thunderhoof. We need this job to hide behind that soul. We're warded, wanted plenty bad for raiding that herd of army remounts. Sure was the wrong play for it. But it looked so easy. The army hadn't put the US Brand on those horses yet. Only a few soldiers on guard. Yeah, but we had to plug some of them. Now the whole army's after us. That's not all. In order to get away, we had to turn loose every horse except that white stallion. Jack. We'd better get rid of him too. Oh, there's a lot of white horses. He can't be traced. How come you keep him hidden all the time? Don't want Collingwood to see him around camp. You know, as dumb as that Easterner is, he's bound to start wondering pretty soon why it's always us who see the Ghost Horse and never him. So what? Well, if he shows signs of giving up the hunt and firing us, we'll let him have a look at the army horse from way off. Anything that's white or looks like thunder will figure there's somebody's coming Eastern. He's got the cross. Old boss and his gal with him. Howdy, folks. Hello. Thanks, Robert. The Hilton and his daughter in law and see how things are going. I just send Rusty and Hank to the ranch to see you were out of provisions. We didn't meet them, but they won't have any trouble getting supplies at the ranch commissary. Did anyone see Thunderhoof today? No, ma'am. We've been busy building a horse trap down the river. I'm going to take a look around for my real desk. Watch the high places, Laura. That's where mustangs go to look for dangers. Tex, I've been wondering why Thunderhoof has never seen in the company of other mustangs. Well, sir, I reckon he's kind of a lone wolf. But we'll get him. You'll give us time enough. How big do you think he is? Oh, he's a good 17 hands high. Silver white. I see a big white horse. Get up your bike. Where is he? I caught the big mason there across the river. Let's see. I certainly should see a horse, but your mustang. Get a saddle on. There's a man on the other side of him now. He's stepping around in front. He's wearing a mask. Whoever he is, he has the finest horse I've ever seen. I wouldn't leave the wood as a horse if I wasn't looking at him. Tex, take a look. I got my glasses on him. That must be Thunder Hoof. He looks just like I always pictured him. Then why hasn't he been seen with a rider before? Well, that's easy to answer. Nascar, who'd like him, would ride at night mostly, let his horse graze in the daytime. There's another rider up there now, an Indian. I see him, but it's that white Italian I'm interested in. I'd give $10,000 for it. 10,000? Well, they're not. Boys will get him for you. Now, hold on. I'm not hiring you to steal him. What is a stealing? To take something from an outlaw. That's your creed? No custom out here for a fellow who captures or kills an owl hoop to take his horse in here. Providing nobody else has got a better claim to it. Capture both the rider and horse. But don't harm either. It turns out that I can claim the horse. You and your men will get the money. That suits me. We wait until they pull back from the edge of the mesa and then go after them. I'm drunk, alone. And so am I. Oh, no, Laura. It may be dangerous.
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Podcast Host
Dangerous?
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Narrator
Well, you listen to your dad, girl. You stand right here in camp, and I'm still with you. Unaware that they were under observation, the Lone Ranger and TLE looked down from the mesa top and discussed a letter which had been forwarded to them by a certain Padre several weeks before. In it, their old friend Colonel Grayling of the United States Cavalry had asked their help in apprehending the horse thieves responsible for a murderous raid on a government herd. The masked man was saying, otto, that kind of a crime threatened the future of the whole West. The frontier must have the army. The army must have horses. That's right. Colonel Grayling is determined to make an example of the horseback. He's moving his command into the Rojo Valley with the utmost secrecy. When him say for us to meet him today, he wrote that he expected to reach the Crosshair Ranch this afternoon. Established headquarters there. Mean up. Savvy? Why him come here? The horse thieves were headed in this direction when the first pursuit party lost the trail. This is mustang country. So the colonel suspects that the thieves have assumed the guise of wild horse. Hunters, maybe. Plenty hunters around. How anybody know? Guilty fellas. He hopes to catch him in the possession of the one horse which wasn't recovered. The white horse the colonel picked out for himself because he admires Silver so much. Him not fine horse like Silver. No, he acknowledged as much. Said he would have been satisfied with it. In examining it, he naturally looked in his mouth. The horse had perfect teeth, except for a slightly chipped front tooth. The chip was broken from the right corner of the upper middle tooth. Oh, that's a good way to know him. Let's get back into the saddle. Easy to look uneasy on us. Where we go now? Now that we've had a view of the country, we go back down to the valley and head toward the ranch house, scouting those cedar breaks on the way. Meanwhile, Dave, Hilton and Laura had walked to the edge of the thicket which concealed the camp, hoping to get a better view of the hunt as Clinton, the killers he had innocently hired, disappeared at the base of the mesa. The rancher lowered his field glasses. They'll be lucky if they catch the marsh man. Why do you say that? Well, the mate is a big place getting on toward night. Look at the sun. Rain. I see. That must be the Turk wagon Coming day. The horses are running. What the hurry is? Should we tell them where the men were? No. Wait. I want to know what scared him. The boards and 12. All except the white one. We run. What do they mean? As the two horse thieves descended from the chuck wagon and continued their discussion of the whereabouts of their companions in crime the Lone Ranger and Tahoe drew rein on the opposite side of a Rio Rohan the masked man pointed to the hoofed horn bank. I know a big party of horsemen crossed here a short time ago. Look at that trail. Ah. See it? Where do you think them go? It appears that they headed for the west side of the mesa. It's a good thing we come down the east side. Yes, they want to avoid being seen before we contact the cavalry. There we go. Now, the back trail of those riders may tell us something about them. So we'll cross here and go on. At that moment, Laura's horse, Winnie. As Hank and Rusty stared into the cedars and drew their guns the girl clutched her father's arm. My horse has given us away. Look at this way to find a better hiding place. No, no, no. In Queen. Where the ear. And that's the Ed. Come on now. Howdy, fellas. This is the boss of the cross zone in Shorty. You can put away your guns. How come you're out here? Why, we're waiting for a kid of Collingwood and the rest of the Bunny. Where Tony tonight? Oh, across the river chasing a marsh man on a big white horse. Larry and I, we're down on the bank watching him. Didn't you know we were here? Sure. You heard the chuck waiting? Heard more than that. You weren't 50ft away. What was it? Here. Don't try to run a bluff Call super till you ran to kick if you hear the spy. Sure. I didn't call any soldiers. And I'm not a spy. I wouldn't have my daughter long if I was. Figured she'd keep us from suspicioning you, you ornery horse thief. You can't say that about me. So you did hear it. What will he do with the girl? Just cross the river where the rest of the boys are and take her alone. Listen. I heard horses splashing in the river. I don't hear anything. Bella isn't dead yet. Finished. Pull the girl away. No, no, don't. Come on. Get away from your old man. That's far enough, Rusty. Now I'll do a good job on it. Look there. The master. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scene. Please permit us to pause for just a few moments now to continue. Clint Collingwood had innocently hired a gang of murderous horse thieves to capture a fabulous stallion called Thunder Hoof. Mistaking silver for the legendary seed, Collingwood set out with most of the gang to capture the Lone Ranger and dismount. Meanwhile, the masked man and Toto had reached the outlaws camp just in time to keep two of them from killing a wounded rancher, Dave Hilton. As the Lone Ranger commanded them to drop their guns, one outlaw yells, run for the wagon, Rusty. Hey, there's an engine. Back of it. I'm dropping my gun. There goes mine. I thought I'll pick up their guns and tire them. The wounded man. They were going to shoot my father again. I know he's not badly hurt. The bullet didn't penetrate his head. I'll help you bandage him. Now you fellas put hands up. Sure, Engine. Sure. Hank's right hand went up only as far as his shoulder. Then, with a swift movement born of long practice, he snatched out a keen edge throwing knife which he had carried in a sheath between his shoulder blades. Potto leaped in the grapple with him, calling a warning. Watch out. Keep it coming at the engine. Rusty. I've got hold of him. Get that mask back. The knife flashed out of Hank's hand. He had aimed at the Lone Ranger's side. But the masked man's reaction to danger was quick. As he jumped up from the crouching position he had taken in examining the wounded rancher. The blade struck his cartridge filled gun belt with a clang. Seeing the knife fall harmlessly to the ground, the desperate outlaw rushed the Lone Ranger. He was snarling, you'll never take me alive. We'll see about that. Look at this. I'll show you something. Oh, help me, Rusty. I can't. The engine's breaking my arm. Hold on to him, Tuttle. I'll take care of this. Calm down. Don't hit me anymore. Lie there. You can be tied same way, brother. I'm on my knees. Oh man, that's better. There's a rope hanging on that wagon. T. I'll watch these men while you get it. Dang it. Too my too thick for bullets. Get internal headaches. And it'll cure me to see those buzzards get their neck next. We're not taking the law into our own hands. I only want to make sure they don't escape. After the two outlaws had been tied and loaded into the wagon, Dave Hilton and Laura related what had happened in the camp and explained why Clint Collingwood had crossed the river with the other horse thieves. The Lone Ranger waved aside their apologies for Collingwood and turned to Toto. Toto, search for a ticket for that stolen horse the thieves mentioned before they discovered Mr. Hilton and his daughter. Bring in our horses. He's laughing. You'd better get started with a rank for those two bullcats, and we can tell the soldiers about the others. If the cavalry attempts to capture the other outlaws while Collingwood is with him, use him as a shield and the soldiers will shoot. Certainly the commanding officer wouldn't let them kill an innocent man. Colonel Grayling is prepared to sacrifice his own life and the lives of his troopers in the line of duty. You won't reckon Collingwood's life as being more valuable than that of a private in his regiment? I reckon he'd be right. Maybe I can find the gang and get him away while there's still time. You've been in enough danger, Laura. I like Clint, but you're my daughter. It was a few minutes later when Tottle reappeared. He was writing scout and leading Silver and another white horse almost as big as the mighty stallion. Oh, how did you find him? Stick out, Gully. Keep hold of his picket rope and I'll take a look in his mouth. Hey, boy, Easy. Steady. Huh? And what you're playing the stolen army horse. There be no doubt of it. You hang the letter thinking to catch it. Mr. Hilton, I'd like to use your standing Brighton on this horse. You go ahead and I can ride him to Chuckling. Getting dark. You better start back to the ranch at once. Go with them, Toto. Take their horses along. What you do? I have a plan that may cause the outlaws to expose themselves to Colonel Grayling. Keep Silver in the stolen horse here. That sound plenty dangerous. The risk is worth taking. Let me tell Colonel. Tell him to do nothing tonight except keep a strong force of men posted around the ranch bellies and corral. There. I've got the saddle grip tight. Well, the horse is ready to ride. Why do you think the thieves kept him? They didn't know he could be identified. For another thing, he could have been used as a rear for Thunder Hoof if he wasn't seen too close. Here, dad, let me help you into the way. Oh, no, I'm making his own. Right. I'll draw it. Adios. Get up. Soon after the chuck wagon rolled away, the Lone Ranger rode the stolen horse into the gully where it had been concealed. There he left Silver, the Great Stallion, sensing That his master was about to ride away on a strange horse. We need a protest. The masked man responded with a reassuring pat. No. I'm not giving you up for another horse, big fella. You wait here. Come on, stranger. We have work to do. Come on, get up. Get a boy. The moon was up when the outlaws who had been hunting the masked man and his horse approached their camp led by Tex and Clint Collingwood. Tex was saying, I don't know how. That owl who gave us a. He sure tried hard enough. Get you his voice. He could have crossed the river while we were on the other side of the mesa. Now we're coming to the river camps up this way. I don't suppose the Hiltons waited this long for me. Well, likely not. I sure hope the chuck wagon's back. Better stay overnight with us, Mr. Collingwood. Maybe we can pick up the Big Stallion trail in the morning. I don't know. Hey, look across the river. What? The mask. Man in the river, boys. Let's get it. Come on, get out. You all going to shoot? They'll try to hit him, he shot back. You heard my orders. Meanwhile, the Hiltons and Tasso had reached the crosshole with the prisoners. Finding Colonel Grayling quartered in the ranch house, they told him what the masked man had requested. He shook his gray head. No. One man can bring in 10 or 12 desperados. Masked man has a plan. Give him a chance. A chance to do what, Mr. Hilton? Let the gang escape? No. He's done his part and done it well. Now the army takes over, I'll use my whole regiment. To do what? Well, have the river patrol. I'll surround the cedar breaks and beat the brush till nothing that creeps, crawls or walks can get away. But you'll get Clint Collingwood killed. I know Mr. Collingwood. He put himself in danger, and he'll have to take his chance. But, colonel. Young knave. Those horse thieves defied the army, stole government property and killed good soldiers. They must be wiped out at all costs. Wait just an hour before you do anything like that. An hour it's nigh. Now, you hide men here. Colonel, like my friends say, if Nothing happened by 10, he go out with you. Me show you where outlaws got camp. All right, Tanu, out those guards here and wait that long, but not a second longer. As the colonel made his decision, the Lone Ranger began to circle back toward the outlaw camp. Some of his pursuers were shooting to kill. But the stolen army horse was fresher than theirs enabling him to keep out of bullet range. Texts were shouting he's cutting back, but I'll head for you. Come with me. Put the spurs your horses. Keep him out of the cedar, Frank. We're gaining a little. That horse isn't as fat. I go. Just don't forget to promise you'll be paid. Looks like pushing the bunch of getting ahead of him. Stop, fellas. You can't get away. Somebody drilled him that time. His horse is going up. He's falling. There he goes. I told you not to shoot him. Put in accident. Get a rope ready. I'm making a loop. There's where the masked man fell. I don't see him. Forget about him. Watch me. Take that horse there. How's that for a throw? You put the loop right over his head. Don't break his neck. Never mind I'm taking any. Easy. I put another rope on him and we can lead him between it. That's stopping him. I see you got the horse, but where's the mask man? Somewhere behind him. Stop. Some lead. Let's go back and look for him. What for? We can't let him crawl away and die out here. Let him die? If he isn't already dead. I'll go back alone. Yourself. What do we do with the horse? Take him to the Crosso corral. I'll see you later. Right. Get up. All right, boys, let's go. The outlaws were in high spirits as they rode through a cottonwood grove with a captured white horse and saw the lights of the cross old ranch just ahead. Butch was paying $10,000 for today's work and no law to worry all Holl. Just the same, I wish Colin would have come along with us. The masked man might have had enough life left to kill the dude. Then we be on our money. Ah, quit doing way that ombre fell. He didn't go far or live long. There's the corral. Let's pull up and lie, gentlemen. Who are you men? Collingwood's horse hunters. Want us to put this white down in the corral. Where is Cullingwood? He'll be along a little while. Close him, man. Close your front. Move and we'll shoot you to the last man. Oh, we haven't done anything. Just arm the men. Ser. Bring the ladders from the birth house. Honest sir, you, horse need to see a mass man tonight. Mass man? What are you talking about? George Lie only. He could have sent you earlier, my friend. Come now, Colonel. Here's why it's under their ears. Hey, look. The mask man. And look. Why, it's impossible. He's still riding his white horse. There's Collingwood with him. I see you've caught the gang, Colonel. Thanks to you. But how did you manage to send them in? How are we going to prove them guilty? They brought the evidence with them. The evidence? There's the white horse that was stolen. You can identify him by his chip tooth. Why? Why? He let us catch that critter. And he pretended that f we just the same as hung ourselves. I don't understand this at all. Mr. Collingwood can explain. Explain later. I met him on the way here and told him what happened. Thank heaven you're safe. I'm the better for what happened here. I've had my fill of hunting horses, especially ghost horses. Masked man has told me that the legend of Thunder Hoof started right after the Mexican War. So the horse died long ago. If he ever actually existed. So there is no Thunder Hoof. No. There is a silver and he Lazarus. The mask man and Indian was gone. Gone. There was so much I wanted to ask. I never heard of the lag. Why? We didn't even get a chance to thank them. Then we sure owe them a lot. Yes, and so does the army. They want no thanks. They've dedicated themselves to the betterment of life in the West. Yet keeping to that end, they find their reward. Colonel, who is the man's name? He's almost a legendary figure himself. He's the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created by George W. Trendle, produced by Trendle Campbell Enterprises, directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beame.
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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 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.