Andrew Rines (0:00)

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 high. O Silver, the Lone Ranger. It's Sam. It's for this 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 hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come, Silver. Let go. Big Saul Chandler, leading banker and real estate broker in the cattle town of Claxton, met in secret with three tough looking men. They were Slim Nelson, tall and blonde. Scar Perry, squat and with a livid scar on his forehead. And Chuck Sterling, who acted as Chandler's right hand man. Chandler was talking. That note of Jim Fannin's is due in four days. I don't want him to pay it. Put up his ranch as collateral when he borrowed the money from you, didn't he, boss? Chuck, you know that as well as I do. I'm telling Slim and Starr so they won't treat this matter as just another wrestling job. No, we won't, Mr. Chandler. Slim and I owe him. Let me talk, Star. Boss, you mentioned rustler. You don't want us to rustle a cattle. Fannin's going to drive to market tomorrow. I want the cattle killed. You and your men lie in ambush until Fannin's outfit drive the herd past Laurel Gully. Then ride them down shooting. Stampede the cows and make sure they fall into the gully. That's all. Shortly after dawn the next morning, a small band of men, their faces masked, waited in the underbrush near Laurel Gully. Chuck Sterling, acting as leader, moved his horse over to where Slim Nelson and Scar Perry acted as lookouts. They're coming, Slim. Yeah. Looks like they got about 200 head. That's all the bosses on field. Better get the boys ready, Chuck. I'm going to. All right, you fellas go in shooting. Get the outriders first. General, start the lead cows for the gully. Make sure the rest follow after you shot Shannon in his hand. You ready? Yeah, we're ready. All right, here we go then. Come on. Jim Fannin and his call hands intent on keeping the herd on the side of the range away from Laurel Gully were unprepared for the attack by Chuck Sterling and the masked gunman. That's it. Right over this way. Shoot it down. I watch out. Come on. Slim Fannon's shock fell from his horse. Three of his riders, bullet ridden, fell to the ground as the others tried plain fight the crooks and to hurt the cattle at the same time. Within a matter of minutes Chuck Sterling and his men had full control of the situation. The fighting cattle, stampeding with heads down, veered towards the gully. As the Sterling gang galloped away. The cattle were plunging downward onto the rock covered ground below. Sterling, Slim Nelson and Scar Perry remained in hiding with the rest of the gang for the entire day. That evening the trio went to the cabin on his ranch which Saul Chandler used for his meetings with them. There were self satisfied looks on their faces as they ollied. Don't walk in here smoking like that. There's nothing to laugh about. What's the matter boy? We did a good job, didn't we? Surely the whole herd went over into the gulch. We saw him go. Yes, that part was all right. But you didn't kill Fannin and you should have. You didn't say to kill him. Both said they shoot him and we did. Yes, and because he's still alive, this stampede of ours is a complete failure. Huh? You. I mean that Trannon still has time to get money to meet his notes. And he's going to do it. But how can he get it with his cows going to no money in the bank because he has a brother Tom in Powell City. A brother who's going to borrow money from the bank there and lend it to Jim. How do you know that, Mr. Terry? June cannon, Jim's daughter came in this evening and told me to exchange telegraph wires with her uncle. He leaves Pile City tomorrow night with the money. Did she say anything about what happened this morning? Accused me of instigating the stampede in the shooting. But you did. Mister, making accusations and proving them are entirely two different matters. I need that Fan and ranch to combine with my own. I know boys. And make you the biggest man in the valley. And I'm going to get it too. They haven't paid the notes yet and they're not going to either. But if Tom Fanny boy's not going to leave Pal City because Slim and Scar are going to see that he doesn't see him, you and Scar riding the Powell City tonight. Slim Nelson and Scar Perry arrived in Powell City the next morning they had located Tom Fannin, who had spent the greatest part of the day visiting the bank attorney's offices and the courthouse. Now, a short time before the daily stagecoach to Plaxton was scheduled to leave, they stood in the shadow of a nearby building and waited for Fannin to leave the bank. Where he had gone once more, the street at this early evening hour was deserted. He's being cagey. Wait until evening to pick up his money. He'd only. Hey. Yeah, I see. Coming out of the bank. It's. No, it's not. It's not Fannin. It's a boy. Yeah. Walking over to the stagecoach people too. Yeah. Never mind. Keep your eyes open for fence. The doors open in the center. It's Tom Fannon. That's him all right. We gotta stop him before he gets to the depot. Come on. Have your gun right now. Tom Fannin, aware of what had happened to his brother, planned to keep from losing the money he had withdrawn from the bank. But he was unprepared for the holdup outside the building. The two men sidled up to him. Before they could readjust the brown packet in his pocket. Their guns were menacing. All right, turn around and walk to the rear of this building and turn left and watch in the woods. We'll take that packet from your lady. Slim Nelson and Scar Perry had killed Tom Fannin as instructed before taking the packet from him. They took the back trail to Claxton and we're nearing the town once more when swim Nelson ordered the Scar faced men to stop. Ho, ho ho there. Ho, Scar. Ho ho, ho ho, boy. Hey, what's the matter? I was just thinking. We got the packet told Chandler wanted us to do. Means that Jim Fannin doesn't get the money. So he won't be able to pay off. Chandler gets the ranch he wants. You mean Chandler doesn't need this money himself, huh? Yeah. You're thinking like I was. Why can't we take it for ourselves? Yeah. All those thousands. We could open that packet and see how much is in it. Slim Nelson took the packet from his shirt and tore it open. His eyes a gleam with excitement, became startled as he handled the contents. Scar. A double cross. What? We killed Tom Fannin. For what? For this. This isn't money. Nothing but a pile of torn up papers. Why that dirty nugget. Gotta tell a boss about this. Planning courses. He must have sent the money by mail and a car. Oh, there was a boy. Slim Boy. He went out of the bank just before Fannin left. Yeah, yeah. But would the boy have the money? You can't tell. Maybe he did have it. Too late to get to the main train. Don't stop the coach, Scar. We gotta go on to Clackson. We gotta be there when a coach arrives. Come on. Come on. Oh. Hold that. Hold down. Dan Reed, teenage nephew of the Lone Ranger, was the boy who had left the bank in Powell City and who arrived the next afternoon by stagecoach in the town of Claxton. Toto, the Lone Ranger's Indian companion, was waiting for the lad. Me take you to camp, Dan. If not far. I'll go along with you, Tano, as soon as I look for someone. Who you look for? A girl, Tano. Something strange happened last evening. I'll tell you about it when we get to camp. Right now I must look for a girl named June Fannon. June Fannon? Did you say June Fannon? A young girl who had been standing but a few feet away, anxiously watching the passengers emerge from the stagecoach, had overheard Dan's words. She came to him unaware that she was being watched from a distance. I'm June Fannin. How do you do, miss? I'm Dan Reed. I have a packet I'm to give to you. A packet from Uncle Tom? Yes. I met him in the Powell City bank last evening. Where is Uncle Tom? Before the boy could start to explain, a man wearing a stock on his jacket also joined them. Ms. Fannin. Oh, hello, Sheriff Grady. You want to speak to me about your Uncle Tom? Ms. Fannin, some bad news to give you. Just received it by wire from Powell City. Bad news? What is it? They found your uncle's body in the woods there this morning. Murdered. Murdered? They shot my father, and now they've killed Uncle Thomps. There they're not. It's Saul Chandler. He's the one responsible for this. I know he's behind it. Are you sure he is. I know. The girl sobbed on the verge of hysteria. Ben Reed stepped back and spoke low to Cotto. Donna, wait for me, please. I'm going to turn this packet over to the girl and the sheriff. Then I'll join you, and we'll go to Kent. We wait. Sheriff, may I tell you something? I think it's. Later, in the camp of the Lone Ranger, Dan Reed repeated the story he had told Sheriff Grady and June Fannin. I'd met Mr. Fannin in Paul City many times, sir. When he saw me in the bank last evening, he asked me to do him a favor. That's when he asked you to hold the packet? Yes, sir. He said he'd reclaim it for me when we arrived in Claxton. Then he said if anything happened to him before we arrived, I was to keep it hidden and give it to June Fannin. She and the sheriff have it now, sir, there was money in it to pay off the note signed by Jim Fannin and held by Saul Chandler. Yes, sir. The notes are due tomorrow and Mr. Chandler has refused to extend them. Ms. Fannin told the sheriff the entire story and I heard it. How do you know where Saul Chandler's ranch is? Don't you, miss? A ranch near Fannin Ranch on Valley Road. If he combined them, he'd have the richest strip of land in this territory. Dan, I think June Cannon's suspicions about Sol Chandler may be justified. I do too, sir. But they have the money to meet the notes now. Where is it? In the sheriff's office? No, sir. There's no safe in the sheriff's office. I saw a deputy take the money out to the Fannin ranch. He's going to remain there to protect children and father only one deputy. The west needs men like Jim Fannin. Can't allow the solid Chandlers to kill off the good people and take over that right. Chandler may be the man behind all the things that happened to the Bannon. If he is, there's nothing to prove it. That's what Sheriff Grady said. If there were, he said he'd have done something about it. Otto, you go to the Chandler ranch and learn what you can. Ah, me do it. Dan, you and I are going to the Fannin ranch for the main road. Want to make sure that Jim Fannin and his daughter remain safe. Are you ready? Yes, I stand ready. Victor. Come on, Victor. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger adventure before the next exciting scenes. Please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue. Slim Nelson and Scar Perry had arrived in Claxton that morning. But it was evening before they met at the hideout with Saul Chandler and Chuck Sterling. Chandler was angry. You stupid fools. To let that boy get away from Power City with the money. Well, anyhow, we know the boy gave the money to the girl in the sheriff. Chuck was at the depot keeping an eye on her. Yeah, Sheriff moved in before I could get to her. You were sure the money's in Fannin's sleep at the ranch, are you, Jack? Yes, boss. I was able to look in the back window of the sheriff's office after they went there. I thought the deputy take the money along when he rode to the ranks with the girl. Only one deputy, eh? Who was it? Joe Alvarez. He's not very smart, Chuck. You'll be the one to go out there. Unless she is this salvage know yet? I know him, but he doesn't know me. Then you'll be the one to approach him, Jim Scott. Now listen. Here's what you do. The three men rode from Chandler's hideout a few minutes later and traveled a short distance to the Plannin ranch, where they dismounted away from the house. Chuck stayed in the shadows. As he neared the figure of Deputy Sheriff Alvarez standing in front of the main door to the house, he called to the man, Alvarez. Hey, Alvarez. Who is there? Who calls me? Me? Alvarez, the sheriff sent me to tell you something. Come here, whoever you are. I'm ready to shoot. You don't have to. Beaty sent me. Burlington, stand still with your hands up. Why do you ask about the girl? I tell you, the sheriff said this. All right, boys, good word. Now tie him up. Show him in the bushes ready to move in on the old man. All right. I'm going to the house and get the girl away from there. June Flannon was feeding her wounded Father Jim when she heard the knock on the front door. She put the plate and spoon aside and got to her feet. Excuse me a second. Daddy. That must be Mr. Alvarez. Just a moment. I'm sorry, Mr. Alvarez. Where's Mr. Alvarez? Who are you? Alvarez is down front looking after my horse. Sheriff Grady sent me for you, Ms. Fannin. It's about your uncle. They've just brought him in from power. Oh. But why don't they bring the body here? They will later, miss. They need you to go down and make identifications. Sign up these papers. That always has to be done. All right. Then you'll come inside and we'll. Oh, no. No, thanks, man. I'll go down to the gate and send Alvarez back. You get your horse and I'll meet you there. This way, Ms. Vander. You ready? Yeah. Hold it there, big boy. Where's Mr. Alvarez? I didn't see him on the way down from the barn. He's up at the front door, miss. He and another deputy I brought out. Make sure your father be safe there. You see them? Chuck waved an arm in the direction of the two figures standing in the shadow of the door to the ranch house. Oh, yes, I see them. It's so dark here. Shall we go? Yes, ma'. Am. Come on. Get up. Everyone. Come on. A few seconds after Chuck and June Fannin left the ranch gate, two other riders appeared. Dan, you said There would only be June Fannin and Sheriff Grady's deputy here. That's my understanding, sir. Who are those two riding down at the Valley Road? You better find out so they become Easy Dan. Follow them. Yes, sir. Shall I come back here when I find out who they are and where they go? Yes. Meanwhile, I'll manage to get into the house for the rear. I want to talk to Jim Fannon without the sheriff's man being any the wiser. Yes, sir. Clavic, Slim Nelson and Scar Perry broke the lock and entered the Fannin ranch house. Jim Fannin, weak from his bullet wounds, lay propped up in bed in the main room. A mask of despair covered his face as he saw the two men standing before him. Who are you? It doesn't matter. Fanny. No. We don't want to hurt you or anything, so be nice. What do you want? The money. You have the money, the board turned over to your daughter and the sheriff sent back here for you to put in your seat. You can't have it. I won't give it to you. No. That'll be bad for your daughter. You can't harm my daughter. She's under the sheriff's protection. Elva is the sheriff's protection is tied up outside in the bushes. June's going off with one of our men. Yeah. He's taking her on a little sightseeing trip. Nothing will happen to her if you tell us where the safe is so we can get the money. You'll kill me even if I do give it to you. You'll kill June, too, because now, wait. Wait, Fannin. We'll kill if we have to. He didn't want to kill your brother. He tried talking to him in Powell. He started shooting his fist at it. It was his own fault we had to kill him. He might kill you this time, though, if you don't talk. Don't talk, phantom. Is that enough talking already? Oh, my arm. That's just a sample. I'll do more if you try to reach for those guns again. Come over here. Out of the way. That's it. Thank heaven you've come, whoever you are. When I finish talking to these men, Mr. Fannin, I hope you'll realize I'm on the side of the law. Because then I'm going to ask your cooperation. What do you mean, talk to us? Why did you shoot us for? You want to live? Tell me the things I want to know. I won't tell you, Slim. He's going to shoot again. I'll give you three to talk. One who no, wait. Wait. I'll talk. You'll shoot Slim? Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. All right. What do you want to know? While I was outside, I heard everything you two said in here. Now I want the truth. Slim Nelson and Scar Perry were wounded but slightly spotted by the Lone Ranger. They told the complete story of Sol Chandler's plot. The Lone Ranger bandaged the crooks. Then he gagged and tied them together. After he talked with Jim Fannin, he left the ranch house and was galloping down the valley road when he saw a horseman riding towards him. He reined his horse and backed into the clearing. Back up. Easy now. Easy, boy. The rider was Dan Reed. And as he passed, the Lone Ranger called to him. Dan. Dan. Hold up. Hold my. Hold. Victor. I followed them, sir. One of them is June Fannin. Yes, I know. He's safe. Then? When I left, she was. The men took her to a cabin not far from here. It's at the end of the Chandler ranch. I'll lead you to it, sir. No, just tell me its exact location. I'll find it. I want you to continue on to town. Yes, sir. What'll I do then? Tell Sheriff Grady everything and ask him to come to Sol Chandler Ranch. Let's see if he'll. Please stop at the Fannin Ranch first and make prisoners of Slim Nelson and Scar Ferry. He'll take them along to Chandler's. I'm sure he'll learn all there is to know. Chuck had taken June Fannin to the cabin which the gang used for a hideout. There he was to await further instructions from Saul Chandler. When he heard a faint tapping on the door of the cabin. He drew his gun and walked stealthily to answer it. But first he spoke to June. Don't leave that chair if you know what's good for you. Who's out there? Open up. Oh, just a minute. Chuck opened the door with his left hand and held his gun in the other, ready to fire. There was no one in the doorway. He stepped forward one pace about to look around. But before he could react, a gun barrel crashed down on his head. The Lone Ranger bent down and dragged Chuck's body into the cabin. As June Fannin, white faced and wide eyed, watched the Lone Ranger gagged Chuck and left him tied up in the cabin. Then, as arranged, he went to a spot behind Chandler's ranch house where Toto was watching. June Fannin was with the masked man, but he walked away from her as he spoke in low tones to his Indian companion. Is Chandler alone in the house? Toto Slim Nelson said he would be only one. See, Nothing happened here. It will from now on. Totto. This is the climax of many things. He must have it. Booker rides and hills men ride down Valley Road. It's Dan with Terrence really means men. I thought they'd be due about now. Hello. Ms. Pennant and I are going to the ranch house. Do not wait for posse. No. I'll tell you what my plan is. First, Ms. Pannen and I are going to face Chandler. Saul Chandler had opened the door when the Lone Ranger knocked and whispered the name Chuck. He gulped and stepped back into the room as June Fannin entered, followed by a masked man who pointed a gun at him. I'm not going to shoot you, Chandler. Have this gun ready. Merely to make sure you don't shoot me. Sol Chandler, wetting his lips, seemed unable to speak for a moment. At the same time, June Fannin began to act as instructed by the masked man. Mr. Chandler, tell him not to kill me, please. He's going to kill me and dad. You. You stinger, you. You're going to kill them? Well, that's what you planned, isn't it? Well, not at first, but I've been planning to do it. Now, you see, I'll have to. They know all about me. You'd go on killing one after the other because they learned you were behind all that's been going on. There's nothing else I can do. Siemens tried. Only located that money with it. What am I saying? Only what I know. Chandler. Too bad you had them kill Tom Fannin for nothing. Chuck said. Where? Where is Chucky? He was supposed to be. I mean, he. He was supposed to be looking after Ms. Fannon while the others looked for Jim Fannin's money. According to your plan, Chuck should be with Slimming Scar now. I took over, though. I don't understand. This year. You took over? Yes. Here, take a look at this. What's in it? Money. Tom Fannon's money we've been trying to find so Jim Fannon couldn't pay off the note you hold. Take the packet. Look at it. Yes, I can see it. Why do you give it to me? I want half of it. I also want half of the Fannin ranch when you add it to your own. That's your game. I think I see it now. But you forget those strangers is a dime in so deep that one murder can't be enough to hide my veil. You'll become involved in. Who's that standing in the doorway? I am Kettler. Sheriff Brady. You've Been listening. You heard this was a trick. You tricked me, but you'll never arrest me. Oh, no. Take him up, Sheriff. He's all yours. The money's there beside him. Then put the handcuffs on camera. All right, Sheriff. Brandon, you all right? Yes, Sheriff. It was horrible, but. Oh, you found him, Chuck. The man who was looking after you. Yes. He was in the cabin at the end of the ranch. Masked man's Indian friend told me where he was. He found my deputy Alvarez, too. Yeah, Nelson Alvarez. Here. Keep them in here with the other two. Yes, we'll have them face each other and get everything straight before we take them into the jail. Oh, I'm so, so grateful. First, there was that boy, Sheriff. Where is Dane Reed? Well, isn't he here? He brought us out here at the request of a masked man. He's gone, Sheriff. He went with the mask man in the Indians. The mask man's the one that did this to us. He one of your men, Sheriff? No, Nelson. He's more important than all my men and I put together. 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 Beamer. 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 Facebook 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 our most recent ranch hands, Steve and Ron W. 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 copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.