The Howling Dog | The Lone Ranger (08-28-40)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Howling Dog | The Lone Ranger (08-28-40)"

Introduction In the episode titled "The Howling Dog," part of the "Old Time Radio Westerns" podcast series hosted by Andrew Rhynes, listeners are transported to the tumultuous landscape of Canyon City during the golden age of Western radio dramas. This digitally restored episode revitalizes classic storytelling with enhanced audio quality, bringing vivid sounds of the Wild West to life.

Setting the Scene: Canyon City and Rivalry The story unfolds in Canyon City, a town where tensions simmer between two longstanding rivals, Zeb Crump and Charlie Teal. Both men own identical-looking dogs—Zeb’s black hound, Lobo, and Charlie’s white dog—which become the focal points of their bitter feud. The rivalry is emblematic of their deep-seated animosity, with each man striving to outdo the other in every aspect of life, from property to livestock.

Inciting Incident: The Dog Fight On a hot, sunny afternoon, the peaceful routine of Canyon City is disrupted by the sounds of dogs fighting fiercely outside the feed store. The townspeople gather to witness the altercation, recognizing it as more than a mere pet quarrel. The fight between Lobo and Charlie’s dog is a manifestation of Zeb and Charlie's mutual hatred, escalating the tension within the community.

Escalation: Sheriff’s Bias and Zeb’s Alleged Death Charlie Teal, accompanied by the sheriff, attempts to break up the fight, but tensions flare when Zeb Crump arrives, leading to a heated confrontation. The altercation ends with Zeb seemingly falling from his horse after being shot, leaving the town to believe he has been killed by Charlie. The sheriff, who is depicted as a friend to Charlie, struggles to maintain impartiality, further complicating the situation. At timestamp [15:30], the sheriff laments, “Sometimes I think old Zeb's clean loco, ain't he?” highlighting his internal conflict and bias.

The Lone Ranger’s Intervention Enter the Lone Ranger and his faithful companion, Tonto, who arrive to restore justice in the lawless frontier. As they investigate, they uncover inconsistencies surrounding Zeb’s death. Notably, at [45:20], Tonto reflects, “Loyalty is bred in their nature, Sheriff. Perhaps there's a lesson in that for us,” suggesting themes of loyalty and justice beyond personal vendettas.

Discovery and Revelation Through meticulous investigation, the Lone Ranger and Tonto discover that Zeb may not be dead. They follow clues that lead them to Zeb’s location, where his dog, Blackie, is found mourning—a sign that Zeb is still alive. This revelation shifts suspicion back onto Charlie Teal, revealing a deceitful plot to frame Zeb for murder. At [58:15], Zeb confronts the sheriff, declaring, “If possible, the dog had to be killed. I don't savvy,” indicating his role in the intricate betrayal.

Climax: Confrontation and Justice The climax unfolds as the Lone Ranger confronts Charlie Teal, exposing his true intentions to eliminate Zeb and manipulate the town’s perception. The showdown is tense, culminating in Charlie’s arrest and the restoration of peace in Canyon City. The ranger’s unwavering dedication to justice is evident when he asserts, “Ride like you've never ridden before. Come on,” urging swift action against the villain.

Conclusion and Themes "The Howling Dog" masterfully intertwines themes of rivalry, loyalty, deception, and justice. The episode underscores the destructive nature of unchecked hatred and the importance of integrity in law enforcement. The Lone Ranger's role as a beacon of justice highlights the enduring appeal of heroic figures in Western narratives.

Notable Quotes

• Sheriff: “Sometimes I think old Zeb's clean loco, ain't he?” ([15:30])
• Tonto: “Loyalty is bred in their nature, Sheriff. Perhaps there's a lesson in that for us.” ([45:20])
• Zeb: “If possible, the dog had to be killed. I don't savvy.” ([58:15])
• Lone Ranger: “Ride like you've never ridden before. Come on.” ([70:05])

Final Thoughts Andrew Rhynes' "Old Time Radio Westerns" podcast delivers a compelling rendition of "The Howling Dog," blending classic Western tropes with intricate storytelling. The enhanced audio restoration enriches the listening experience, making the timeless tale accessible and engaging for both longtime fans and new audiences alike.

Transcript

[Andrew Rines]

Foreign 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. A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty hio. Silver. The Lone Ranger. In the early days of the western United States, a man's life often depended on the quickness of his draw. The local sheriffs were unable to preserve the peace. And it was not until the masked rider of the plane started his great fight for justice that law and order were brought to the lawless frontier. 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. Come on, Silver. Time is waiting for us on the trail ahead. We've got to hurry. Arrow Silver away. It was on a hot, sunny afternoon that the lazy flow of life in Canyon City was startled out of its calm. The sound of a dog fire. When the townspeople saw the dogs involved, they realized it was far more than a casual encounter. They emptied their home stores to watch the battle. One of the two dogs, a great black hound, was the property of old Zeb Crump. And the, other, identical in appearance except for its color, was owned by Charlie Teal. For years, the two men had been rivals and bitter enemies. Everyone present was aware that this fight typified their hatred. Suddenly, old Charlie Teal, accompanied by the lumbering figure of the sheriff, pushed his way through the crowd in front of the feed store and ran toward the snarling hounds. Hi there, Lobo. Quit that, you hear me? Here, boy. Here, boy. Lobo, come here. Hey, folks, help me break it up. Give me a hand, won't you, Sheriff? Give me a hand. Lobo. Stop it, you hear? Stop that fighting this minute. Pete, give me that stick you got. Make it up, you low coat pitters. Quit it before one of you kills the other. That ain't gonna do no good, Charlie. What are all you IDS standing around doing nothing for? Slam hot foot over the cafe. Then get a pail of boiling water. That'll do the trick. You betcha. Hey, Charlie, won't you watch out? Here comes Zeb. Thought you ought to know. That old fool. He'll get his tongue to wagging from both ends again, as usual, I suppose. Don't he always? Let me prove. Get out of my way. All right, if you want to get trapped, stand aside. Hi, there. What's the idea of sickening that howl of your own mind. I'll have the law on you. I'll have you jailed. You stop them dogs fighting right now. Look here. Oh, shut up. I tell you to do something, you do it. Hey, since when's you'll get the right start giving me orders? Never mind that. Just now, hold on. S you, is it? Sheriff? Where you been all the time? Didn't you hear me calling you? I was here for you then. Jail, this fella. Go on. Jail him? What word? For getting his dog to try to kill my dog. But he didn't. Charlie and me was in the feed store when the ruckus started. You mean. There you are, Sheriff. Oh, the hot water. Give me that. Take it. Yes, it's your boiling, all right. Well, here goes. There goes out. Look at him go. Kite. Boiling water, something he don't dig too. College dog don't neither. Here, Blackie. Hey, come back here. Blackie. You come back. Well, it looks like Blackie's done scooted for home. Zeb, when you get there, you'll likely find them waiting for you. Lobo, if you got burned your plum, serves you right. Picking fights with trash. You ought to be ashamed. Whose dog you calling trash? Why, yours, who just fool. Why, you. That ain't being up, you two. Charlie, you hadn't ought to have said that. Zeb, I reckon to keep the peace, you better climb in your buggy and get on out of town. Ain't safe having you both here at the same time. Can't make me go, Sheriff, unless you make Charlie, too. Oh, he's running along. Don't you worry. All right, then. But, Charlie. Well, there's a heap of things to be settled between you and me. This here fight ain't but one of them. Nothing to settle that you warrant the cause of if you want all fire. Jealous? Jealous? What are you like that retro hat? Now, look, fellers, I don't want to have to keep repeating myself. I said to stop it and that's what I meant. Now, there you get. Sure. But I just aim to tell Charlie this. What? Nobody does nothing to folks less than they pay for it. Charlie, so far you've been right lucky. But one of these days you'll pay. And when you do, you'll be a mighty sorry man. Goodbye, Sheriff. Sometimes I think old Zeb's clean loco, ain't he? Always been. I never seen you talk up to him so strong before, though. Charlie, what got into you? It ain't done no good trying to smooth things over, has It? No. Well, then why shouldn't I tell the old agent where to get off? Charlie, whatever started all this between you two? Oh, I don't know. Ever. Do they have a bad turn? Well, not that I know of. Funny thing. I've been watching. It's like. Well, I think you hit it right on the head. It's like Zeb was pies and jealous. Mind, when you bought that dog of yours, Zeb had to have one as near like it as he could get. Only difference between them is mine's white and his is black. When you built your new house, he hired every hand he could find to build a bigger. When I buy saddle horse, he gets one. Even tried to bribe my foreman to come to work for him. Cause I claim Nate was the best cowman I ever. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Charlie, I told Deb you'd be running along, so I. I guess you better. All right, Sheriff. Just as you say. See you again soon, I reckon. Come on, Lobo. Yo, Sen. Hey, you and me are going home. I wish to thunder. I knew what was going to come of this. What is that you said, Sheriff? Yeah. Oh, I wasn't talking to anybody. Just to myself. Yeah, don't pay no attention to me, Slim. Just kind of hoping it don't happen when I know doggone well it is. Come on, Philippe. Get him up, Scott. As soon as we reach the top of this hill, Tyler, you'll be able to see both places. Ah, Zeb's is off to the right and Charlie's to the left. They're about five miles apart. Uh, you heard about their quarrel in town the other day, didn't you? Kimasabe? I think I mentioned it. Those two hounds they own got into a fight. Tonto member as feud of theirs will have to be brought to an end. Maybe. There'd be plenty trouble if it's allowed to go on. I'm afraid there will be. What lawman do the sheriff? Everything he could, Tanto, but it hasn't been enough. Oh, and he's been at a disadvantage. Why that? Like almost everyone else in this district, he's a friend of Charlie Teal's. He tries to get along with Zeb, of course, but it's difficult for him to hide his dislike. Naturally, Zeb sees that and resents it. Perhaps being strangers, we'll do better. Damn Bam feller. He's a man whose soul has been poisoned by hatred. He knows that he's as wealthy as Charlie, if not even wealthier. His herds are as large. His range is almost limitless. A man's credit to almost any amount at the bank. He's found that isn't enough. What you mean? It's one of those strange quirks of personality. In spite of his wealth and power, he hasn't a real friend in the world. He knows that day after day, year in and year out, he's had to see Charlie secure in the respect and regard of his neighbors, while he even can't buy a surface respect. Which explains, I think, his craving to imitate Charlie in every way. Whatever Charlie does, Zeb attempts to imitate. Ah, him heap big fool when he learns that imitation can never equal the real thing. Wait. Here we are. Kimosabe. Pull up. Silver. See, that's Zeb's place over there. Over this way is where Charlie lives. There's a deep canyon dividing their range. If you look where I'm pointing, he'll be able to just make it out. It. Hello. What's that? Me see it. Isn't that two horsemen? Them, Ryan Plenty pass, in fact. What you think? Looks as if one were chasing the other. See, they're about 20 or 30 yards apart. They must be following right along the rim of the canyon. Listen. Their shots. Come on, Tanner. We'll find out. Look. What's up? Tunnel get hit there. Him fall. Knocked right out of the saddle. Tanner. Let's go. Ah. Get him up. Scout. Come on. Hurry, boy. Hurry. Easy there, old fella. Take it easy, boy. We're friends. We're not here to harm you. Watch out for that fella, Tyler. He's vicious. Let's see what's happened here. This is where the one fellow we saw dropped from the saddle. There's his horse over there. Ah. Fellow who shot him kept going. He headed into the mesquite patch there and disappeared. That right. We'll see what we can do about picking up his trail later. The thing to do now is find out what happened to the man who was wounded. And Tudor. What matter? I think I can tell you now who that man was. Who that? Look at the dog tater. Him black feller. Don't you recall who owned a dog like that? Feller named Zeb. Right. I've got an idea what's become of him here. From the signs, he must have been just about here when he fell, not two feet from the canyon's edge. I don't know if he was wounded badly or not, but if he went over, you come. What is it? You look down there. Not too close to the edge. Kimosabe hunter. Careful. You look. I see nothing. But those rocks below there. Yes, Tanto. Well, I see what you mean. What do you think? There's been murder done. That man's dead. Dog gone at all. Have put them reward notices in this desk somewhere. They ain't to be found while regular. What's that mask man. Darrell, keep your hands on those guns. What are you. This isn't a hold up and I'm not an outlaw. I brought you news of murder. What are you? Sheriff, A friend of mine and I were riding toward the canyon that divides Zeb Crump's range from Charlie Teals. From a distance we saw a running gunfight. One man dropped from the saddle. What's that? The other rode on. We lost his trail on that malpai over there. But the other will be waiting for you when you get there. He's dead. Yes. Masked men. Who is he? We thought he'd better not be touched until you could get on the scene. You showed sense, so we didn't attempt to get down to where he was. But if I'm not mistaken. What? That man, Zeb Crump. Well, you're crazy, mister. It can't be that. It means. I know, Sheriff. Would mean that he was shot by Charlie Teal. Well, I'll be. Settle up, Sheriff. We'll take you there. This dead ratted path here. Only way to get down to the bottom of the canyon. But it's almost worse than no path at all. We're almost there, all right. Teller. Yeah. We made it. I thought I was gonna bust my neck a dozen times over. Now which way was it, masked man? You're right. Come along. Lead the way. You know where you've seen him? It isn't far. Thanks for that, but I'm thinking of climbing up again. That's going to be a chore. We saw him in those rocks you see ahead of us. Isn't that right, Hunter? That's right. Here's the place. Circle this boulder here and we. Sheriff, he's gone. What? Strange. Are you sure this is the place? You sure you ain't made any mistake? Look for yourself, Sheriff. This is where he fell. Yeah, that's so. Well, even so, mister, you did make a mistake. Yes, you said he was done for, but he couldn't have been. How he lived through a fall like that, I don't know. But he done it all right. If he hadn't, he couldn't have got up and walked away. But Sheriff, he didn't. I wasn't mistaken. He was killed. What makes you think that? He read the signs, Sheriff. Look at those boot prints. They'll now be switched. The murderer came back and carried him away. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger drama before the next exciting scenes. Please permit us to pause for just a few moments now to continue our story. When the Lone Ranger and his companions discovered the dead man had disappeared they lost no time in starting for the top of the canyon. The difficulty of the ascent made it impossible to talk. But as they neared the rim, they heard a mournful sound. It reached them faintly at first, but gradually became clearer. You hear that mess, man? I do. That dog. Yeah. Funny thing, ain't it? That's Blackie. Old Zeb didn't have a human friend in the world. Mean to animals he was too. But all that something the dog just don't take into account. Mean as Zeb was, Blackie's up there mourning. And just the same as if he'd been the finest hombre ever wore outside leather. Loyalty is bred in their nature, Sheriff. Perhaps there's a lesson in that for us. What do you mean? Maybe we should take more trouble to value men by their good qualities and less to condemn them for their bed. That's funny talk for a masked man. And there's nothing to do with the problem we're up against right now. I'd suggest that just as soon as we reach the top. Rifle shots. Get down, Doc. No, keep climbing. Those shots are being fired at us. We'll be safer up above. Come on. Climb as fast as you can. I almost slipped. Can you climb? Me? Help. Give me your hand. Tunnel. We haven't much farther. Keep going. We're with you. Here we are. Make it. I'm all right. Up with you. Tunnel. Now then, where is that hombre, huh? Where's he gone to? It's impossible to tell. If I could just get my hands on that skunk. I'm afraid you won't. But why? There's no way of telling just where those shots came from. Could have been anywhere over in there. That section's too broken up. We could spend days looking for sign of that gunman and still not find him. That dirty crag Archer, he was taking on that. Oh, God, man, I just can't savvy this. No, I can see how Z might have pestered Charlie. He just couldn't stand it no longer. But why would Charlie shoot at us? Him and me was good friends. When a man's life is at stake, he might do anything. Yeah, Yeah, I suppose that's so. But still. Yes, I'd rather Explain it by saying Charlie. Go on, Clean. Loco didn't know what he was doing. The Charlie Teal I knew wouldn't have harmed a fly. You're going back to town? Mm, I'll have plenty to do. You'd better send deputies to both ranches to be sure their owners are missing. Yes, and send out warrant notices for Charlie. Well, come on, masked men. Let's get back to the horses. Tandu, what's the matter? What's that? Something wrong, Tano? I mean, not. No. He's uneasy about something. Sheriff, we've traveled together for so long, I can recognize the signs without Tonto speaking. Me watch back trail. Why, Kimasabe? I think maybe Palar Paula following us. Do you suspect someone's following Tada, or do you know he is? I need not know. Oh, Tunder. Watch. Keep watch, Tada. But if we are being followed, try to do it without giving yourself away. I suppose that hombre figured if he kept on our trail, he'd get another chance to finish what he tried to start back at the canyon. It's possible, but it seems to me. Hold on. Stop. What's the matter, Sheriff? Those shots fire back at the canyon weren't fired at us. I'm certain of it. I should have known at the time. My gosh, Sheriff, where were we when we heard those shots? I was climbing that pair, and we're still almost 50ft from the top. Sure those shots didn't come from anywhere near the edge of the canyon. Or we could have located them. What are you getting at? Those shots came from a point at least three or 400 yards back from the canyon. That's right. Well, in that case, Sheriff, how could the man who fired them have been able to see us in order to aim? Well, Mayor's man? That never occurred to me at all. Nor to me, Sheriff, until just now. You're right. But if he wasn't shooting at us, then who then? He had another object. I think we can be sure that anyone wandering around in that district wasn't amusing himself in target practice. And don't talk foolish. Outside of target practice, you don't fire at an object that isn't alive. But what other living object was around back there except ourselves? A dog. Correct. That ain't crazy. Crazy, Sheriff, don't be too sure. It might have been an excellent motive and we could just see what happened through the eyes of that fellow with a rifle. But a dog? Shooting at a dog that wouldn't harm nobody wasn't bothering nobody. Well, if you can make anything out of that mess, man. Then you got me licked to a frazzle. I can see just one explanation. Let's hear it. No. What you just said, for the present, it sounds too incredible. Sarah, when you reach town, it'll be dusk. We'll ride part of the way with you. When we leave, we'll cut over to that small patch of woods this side of the ridge. What have you got in mind? You'll go on to town as if nothing had happened out of the ordinary. When you get there, do the things that would have been expected of you. Send deputies to both ranches. Get word around that Charlie Teal is wanted for murder. But at the first opportunity, slip away from your office without being seen. Ride just as fast as you can for the ridge. We'll be waiting for you. And then what? And then, Sheriff, we'll learn why a murderer wanted to kill a dog. All right, let's go. Get up. Get him. Get him up. Come on. Come on. Almost nine thunder, Sheriff. Should have been here. It doesn't arrive within a few minutes. We'll have to go on without him. Ah, wait. That horse. Maybe him now, Sheriff. That's you, mas man. Right. You late. I had one dickens of a time getting away. When folks heard about Zeb being killed and Charlie turning killer, I thought they'd go crazy. He had so many questions, I just about had to take my guns to him to get him out of the office. Well, now, where we going? Back to the canyon. I'm banking on two things. Yeah? One, that the dog will continue his vigil at the point where his master met death. Oh, he'll likely be there, all right. And two, the Tyler was correct that someone was following us this afternoon. That got to do with it? He was. He must have been the fellow who fired at the dog. And if he followed you to town, then he hasn't had time to return. Return where? To the canyon. Well, why would he do that? To make another attempt on that dog's life. You're way ahead of me, mas man. And let's hope the killer isn't way ahead of us. You want to see justice done, sheriff? Ride like you've never ridden before. Come on. Get him up. Scout, get up. You must speak. Speak softly. There's no use advertising our presence. You're the Bosch. That's that dog. Yes. We need the horses here or they'll be out of sight. They'll stay. Come along. You feel the shadows? We go this way. You take the lead tunnel. Just where we headed now? We want to find A place of concealment. As close to the dog as possible. When fella comes back, he'll have to get close himself in order to get good aim at night. Yeah, and then grab him right here. Good place by these rocks. Very well. Get down, Sheriff. You can do nothing now but wait. Mass man. Yes? What time is it? Almost midnight. Two hours. We've been here two hours. You honestly think that hombre's gonna show up? I know he will. How can you be so on fired, Sutton? The dog's still alive. He had to kill him before. The necessity must still be just as great. And why didn't he rush right back here and get it over with? He's possibly playing it safe. Yeah. I've got an idea that just like us, he's somewhere close. But remember he's captured, it means his death. He's gonna take every precaution to make sure he won't be interrupted again. As he was this afternoon. Likely so be patient, sheriff. It'll be worth it. Oh, I'm trying to, but you know. Mas man. What's wrong? I kind of wish I hadn't come with you. Yes. Why? Oh, I don't know. I think I understand. It's the thought of arresting a man who's been your friend. Having to hang him afterwards. You hit it, mess man. I'd ever knowed someday I was going to have a job like this to do. I'd never run for sheriff. Lawman doesn't have an easy time of it. Oh, Charlie Low must be doing clean out of his head. You. You look. What's up? What is it? Look there. The shadow, sheriff. Yeah, and why don't. That shadow's moving. We cannot wait. Listen. Watch he continues on that course. He'll come directly between us and the dog. Yeah. That'll be the time for us to strike. I guess you're right. Now silence until I get the word. You stop mess man. He's lifting something. He's Heman. Come on. Get that man and right where you are, Charlie. I'll have to let you have it. Drop that gun. Don't move. Get back. Get back. Ratin got that gun. I said that Rat shoot. All right, take it. You hit guns, Charlie. I'm arresting you in the name of the law. Stand up and mastman. Well, this ain't Charlie. It's. It's Zeb. Well, masked man, you done a job to be proud of. This poor cat I got handcuffed to the saddle. Here's going to hang. If you kept everything so all pirates secret Sheriff, Zeb gave himself away when he fired at the dog. And yet, if possible, the dog had to be killed. I don't savvy. It's clear enough. The murderer wanted the dog out of the way. It had to be for a reason. There was just one thing the killer was worrying about. Then. Discovery and capture. Sure. I'll grant that Zeb owned a black dog. We knew either Zeb or Charlie had been killed. Naturally, when we saw a black dog mourning the death of its master, we assumed that Zeb had been the victim and Charlie the murderer. That's right. But in that case, how could Deb's dog give Charlie away? Charlie was already known to be the killer. The dog's death would have gained him nothing. That's where I was puzzled. Only one possibility remained. If Charlie had nothing to gain by the dog's death, then Zeb did. And if Zeb had something to gain, then he was still alive and Charlie had died. But the black dog wasn't black. His coat had been dyed. You'll learn I'm right. Well. Dog gone. It was a perfect plot. You would send out a description of Charlie as a murderer, not Zeb. Zib, once he was out of the territory where he was known, would have been perfectly safe. But first, before he left, he had to get rid of the dog. So I would never find out the trick he played. That's the answer, Sheriff. Yep. There's your prisoner. And someday we may meet again. Gunpowder. Hey, wait. Get him up. Hold on there. I want it cleared out. Well, Zeb, you ain't leaving. Hang on to the saddle. You're headed for the calaboose. Get up. Get up there, boy. Come on, boy. Get up. 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