Old Time Radio Westerns: The Lone Ranger — “The Brother’s War” (05-14-52)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Title: The Brother’s War (The Lone Ranger)
Date Released: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners to the classic era of radio with a newly restored presentation of "The Brother’s War" from The Lone Ranger (original air date: May 14, 1952). The drama unfolds around the Masters family after the patriarch’s death, focusing on a deepening feud between brothers over inherited land and cattle, mysterious cattle rustling, and a murder that shakes the community. Legendary hero, the Lone Ranger, with his companion Tonto, steps in to uncover the truth, restore peace, and bring justice to Harding County.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Masters Family Feud and Will Reading

[04:01 – 06:09]

• Scene: The Masters brothers (Bill and Ben) return home for the reading of their father's will by lawyer Sam Warren, learning the land and assets are split equally but the third brother, Kerry, is left with only a dollar.
• Notable Insight:
  • The land cannot be sold, only passed to their descendants.
  • Debate arises over fairness, especially concerning the distribution of better water and grazing land, sowing seeds of discontent.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “But that wasn’t our idea. Pa’s. Yeah, and not a bad idea either. It’ll save arguments later on, but I always thought you were the old man’s favorite.” (Ben, 05:21)

2. Kerry’s Manipulation

[06:09 – 07:29]

• Scene: Kerry, the disinherited brother turned cattle broker, stirs up rivalry between Ben and Bill by telling each one the other received the better end of the will.
  • With Ben, Kerry implies Bill got more water; with Bill, he says Ben got better grazing.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Well, I’ll admit the business of the brands is unfortunate...” (Kerry, 06:56)
  • Kerry subtly suggests Ben could be stealing cattle, stoking Bill’s suspicions.

3. Escalation to Conflict and Accusations

[07:29 – 09:32]

• Scene:
  • Mysteriously, cattle go missing, always via Ben’s ranch, and Bill’s suspicions grow, fueling a violent rift—coined “The Brothers War.”
  • Gunplay erupts between rival crews; Rocky Lane (Ben’s foreman) is accused of murder when found near the body of Bill’s foreman, Chick White.
• Notable Interaction:
  • “Naturally, I dismounted to take a look and see if he was dead.” (Rocky Lane, 08:32)
  • The sheriff arrests Rocky Lane on tenuous evidence, deepening the drama.

4. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Investigate

[09:32 – 15:37]

• Scene: Lone Ranger and Tonto’s involvement begins when Sam Warren asks for help, presenting an unbiased, outside perspective.
  • They discuss community suspicions, Kerry’s shady history, and the importance of finding the real cattle rustlers to clear Ben’s name.
  • Clues lead the heroes to a local outlaw, Kansas Mike, and a younger man resembling old Jed Masters—the likely Kerry.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “He doesn’t sound like the type who’d rob his own brother.”—Lone Ranger (10:49)
  • “He isn’t to be trusted. That’s all I can say.”—Sam Warren (11:06)

5. Setting the Trap: Kansas Mike, Kerry, and the Cattle Deal

[17:25 – 20:25]

• Scene:
  • Undercover, Lone Ranger (posing as a bandit’s agent) lures Kansas Mike into a cattle purchase scheme, baiting him into revealing his role in the rustling.
  • Mike refuses to admit to possessing stolen cattle but admits he could connect with someone who does, hinting at Kerry’s involvement.
• Memorable Dialogue:
  • “I suppose you’d want the steers delivered across the border.”—Kansas Mike
    “No, I have enough men with me to drive ‘er at the trail of the borders on the other side of the hills…”—Lone Ranger (19:53)

6. Bringing the Masters Together & The Final Showdown

[20:54 – 26:56]

• Scene: Lawyer Sam and Ben try to enlist Bill’s help in the Lone Ranger’s plan to trap the real rustlers, finally uniting the feuding brothers against a common enemy.
• Trap Set:
  • Kerry is brought, under duress, to the mine tunnel where the sheriff’s men and the Lone Ranger lie in wait.
  • The rustlers are caught red-handed as they drive the stolen herd into Windward Pass.
  • Kansas Mike accuses Kerry of orchestrating the murder of Chick White and the rustling: “Kerry’s your killer!” (25:33)
• Revelation:
  • Sam reveals the dark reasoning behind Kerry’s disinheritance: “He tried to kill your father once.” (26:08)
• Climactic Moment:
  • Kerry, upon being confronted, tries to escape and ultimately falls to his death attempting to leap the gorge on horseback.

7. Resolution and Epilogue

[27:33 – 29:56]

• Scene:
  • Rocky Lane is exonerated and released. The tension between Bill and Ben dissolves, restoring family unity.
• Final Reflection:
  • “There’ll never be any hard feelings between me and Ben again. The end of the brothers war.” (Bill, 27:33)
  • Sam Warren emphasizes the Lone Ranger’s pivotal role: “Only one man is responsible for bringing peace to Harding County. And that man is the Lone Ranger.” (Sam, 29:30)

Memorable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• Kerry manipulating Ben:
  “Still, I suppose you’re right. At any rate, you weren’t the favorite.”—Kerry (05:21)

• Kerry’s implication to Bill:
  “It’s a wonder some of his night riders didn’t see the rustlers.”—Kerry (06:56)

• Rocky Lane’s defense:
  “I didn’t shoot him. I rode up a few minutes before you did and found him lying there.”—Rocky (08:32)

• Sam Warren on Kerry:
  “He isn’t to be trusted. That’s all I can say.”—Sam (11:06)

• Lone Ranger setting the sting:
  “Gonzales has many men to feed. He will pay ten dollar a head.”—Lone Ranger, disguised (19:39)

• Kansas Mike exposes Kerry:
  “It was Kerry who shot Chick White... That’s why I was on the south trail the next night. Kerry sent me there. Kerry’s your killer.”—Kansas Mike (25:33)

• Sam reveals Kerry’s dark past:
  “He tried to kill your father once.”—Sam Warren (26:08)

• Bill on the feud ending:
  “There’ll never be any hard feelings between me and Ben again. The end of the brothers war.” (27:33)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Reading of the will & inheritance dispute: [04:01 – 06:09]
• Kerry’s manipulation of both brothers: [06:09 – 07:29]
• Murder and Rocky’s arrest: [08:32 – 09:32]
• Lone Ranger and Tonto’s investigation: [09:32 – 15:37]
• Undercover deal with Kansas Mike: [18:55 – 20:25]
• Trap, confrontation, and resolution: [20:54 – 27:33]
• Epilogue; the feud’s end: [27:33 – 29:56]

Tone & Style

This episode is steeped in classic Western lore, with a mix of tense family drama, suspenseful investigation, and dramatic action, all heightened by the Lone Ranger’s measured nobility and unflinching sense of justice. The restoration provides immersive background sounds and crisp dialogue, evoking the lost grandeur of old radio drama as Andrew Rhynes promised in his introduction.

A classic tale of family, betrayal, justice, and redemption—brought to life once more with the Lone Ranger leading the charge for truth amidst the sun-baked badlands of Harding County.