Speaker 1: A fiery horse, with a speed of light, a cloud
of dust, and a hoty high o silver.
Speaker 2: The Lone Ranger.
Speaker 3: Steps When the West was young.
Speaker 1: The law of might makes right rule the frontier. But
through the length and breadth of seven states, the masked
Rider of the Plains rode his great horse silver in
the cause of justice. History does not record his deeds.
His real name was never known, but his memory still lives.
A man who dedicated his life to the winning of
the West. Now let us return once more to the
thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Ranger rides again.
Speaker 4: Gong several more the problem of silver.
Speaker 5: We're not to be turble.
Speaker 1: Melting, snow and flood waters swept over several communities near
the army post at Northfield.
Speaker 6: After the flood had subsided.
Speaker 1: The government sent food and supplies for distribution to those
in need. Lieutenant Stade Calhoun was in charge of the
post in the absence of Captain Curtis. He saw a
chance to make some money with the aid of a
civilian partner, Squint Merkel. As our story opens, Merkele has
dried his horse is watching the muddy trail of the fort.
When Tanto the faithful Indian companion of the Lone Ranger,
guided his white horse along the trail.
Speaker 6: Squint stopped him.
Speaker 7: Head there, hold on a.
Speaker 8: Second engine, Oh ohh, and I aim.
Speaker 2: To speak with it. You're heading for the fort.
Speaker 9: Why you wan't know.
Speaker 10: Ain'tor to get some of that army food?
Speaker 6: Eh andy, white man need food, so Indian not get him.
Speaker 8: Now that's where you're wrong.
Speaker 11: I'll tell the engine my folks are in bad shape.
We need cash bed and.
Speaker 8: That's why I'm making a proposition to you. What that
The distribution of the is in the hands of Lieutenant Calhoun.
Speaker 11: Of course he does the best he can to serve
everyone in turn. But that'll mean you wait a week
or so for your turn to come.
Speaker 10: You see.
Speaker 11: Oh now me, I've been waiting for some time already.
I'll be getting my vittles in no time at all,
maybe today. M that's good, it ain't you see these things?
My folks need worse than food, So I've got to
have cash.
Speaker 10: Money.
Speaker 11: Now, if you got any cash, I'll let you have
the food that the lieutenant has set aside for me.
Speaker 9: M mean not god cash you ain't well?
Speaker 10: Maybe swap your horse, eh.
Speaker 6: Mean not want food?
Speaker 11: Well, why didn't you say so, Blast Year, I should
have known better than to waste my time with the redskin.
Speaker 2: Get on your way.
Speaker 12: There's somebody else coming.
Speaker 6: Get him up quite stranger, raight enough.
Speaker 2: I want to speak with you. If you're heading for.
Speaker 7: The fought, you better wait and talk to me first.
Speaker 1: Kanto rode directly to the Lone Rangers camp, but all
masked man was waiting for him. He listened, intending to
the news he brought from the fort.
Speaker 13: You saw him take the cash from several others before
he stopped you, That right, But how much food does
he think he's coming to him?
Speaker 9: Tata, M not know, Eddie White.
Speaker 13: When you saw several transactions, you rode past him yourself,
and he stopped you too, Tata. Whenever a community is
stricken like this one, there are men who take advantage
of the situation. Mmm.
Speaker 9: Then heat bad color.
Speaker 13: The worst kind of crooks, men who robbed the homes
of those who were helpless and charge huge prices for
everything they have to sell. Looks to May Tato as
if this man who stopped you.
Speaker 6: Is one of those crooks. That right, he's taking money
from the people who come to the fort. For help.
Speaker 13: He's promising them army food, and he can't possibly keep
his promise.
Speaker 9: That he big trouble. What count see?
Speaker 6: What did you see?
Speaker 9: Color come back from army post with food.
Speaker 13: You mean to say that after they paid this schemer,
they go on to the fort and get the food.
Right in that case, Tata, we're going to the ford ourselves. Hey, Silver,
come on, you, Misabi.
Speaker 10: Right with me.
Speaker 1: While the lone ranger road toward the fort, Squint Merco
went there to report to his friends.
Speaker 6: Paid Calhoun.
Speaker 1: The lieutenant was waiting for him in the captain's office.
Speaker 6: Half a dozen men come here with a slip of
paper from you, Squint, and got their food. He meaning,
you got the cash. Here's the orders. Now let's settle
up accounts.
Speaker 10: What a hurry about it?
Speaker 8: Carohun wet, but started on this scheme.
Speaker 6: I'll take my shar as we go along, and I'm
sure i got.
Speaker 10: It shell out now all right?
Speaker 8: Then, seems like you don't want to trust me.
Speaker 6: I'll feel better with my share in my pocket instead
of yours.
Speaker 10: Hey, eh, that's better.
Speaker 11: I'm afraid you're in for some troublecare Loon. I met
a critter named Dell Sturgis on his way here. Sturgis, Yeah,
from Vallely Centerway Vally Center. They need food over that way,
sure they do. That's all of our jurisdiction. Sturgis is
coming here with the idea that the army will deliver
our pilot grub there.
Speaker 6: Where'd you get that notion?
Speaker 8: I don't know. It's a don shame we couldn't get
some cash from him. He'd pay plenty. He wants food
for a whole dog in town.
Speaker 6: I don't reckon we can go much further with the business.
Why not a scout come in bringing a word to
the captain be coming back in a day or so.
Speaker 10: Dog? God, just when we got going good, I.
Speaker 6: Know, but we made a good thing of it while
it lasted.
Speaker 10: This shall be the wind up.
Speaker 6: Then it all depends on how much food cap lined up.
There ain't enough. You may make another trip. If he does,
we can work the same thing all over again.
Speaker 11: He's hoping that's him who Sturgis.
Speaker 8: Let uscoot out the back door. It wouldn't do for
him to see me with.
Speaker 6: You all right, stick around though, unless you know what
he's going, I mean, he is where the food supplies
are being handled here.
Speaker 14: This is the place I want them. Half a valley center.
The name is Turgis Dell's Turgis Valley Center. Yeah, we're
down right up against it there.
Speaker 6: Let me look at this map.
Speaker 8: The sheriff's office is ration and what food is left?
Speaker 6: Sorry Sturgis, Huh, that's out of our territory. It's what
we don't handle food for Valley Center.
Speaker 8: Oh no, hold on, lieutenant, we're starving, we need food.
Speaker 9: Can't be helped.
Speaker 6: There's others in the same fix. We're doing the best
we can. No, just wait a minute.
Speaker 14: I was told that you'd be handling food for Valley Center,
that you'd be able to send men there with a
wagonload of it.
Speaker 6: Who told you that?
Speaker 14: A man that said he was a friend of yours
and said the defied pain he might be able to
fix it up.
Speaker 6: I don't know nothing about that.
Speaker 14: If you can do it for cash, you can do
it for nothing. If you've got food to sell, you've
got food to give.
Speaker 6: I see here, Just who do you think you are
talking like this to me?
Speaker 8: I told you, all right, you told me now, I'll
tell you. I happen to know the rat that stop me.
Speaker 14: Maybe when the captain gets back, he'll be anxious to
hear about you and Squint Merkle.
Speaker 6: You seem to know a lot I do. All right,
go ahead, do what you blame. Please see where I
get you.
Speaker 8: Maybe I will. Maybe I'll find a way to make
Squint Markle tell a captain the truth.
Speaker 6: You don't know the truth.
Speaker 8: I can make a good guess at it, and I
do know enough to put Merkel in jail.
Speaker 9: And they don't squeal the devil. He might make trouble
at that.
Speaker 10: Squint.
Speaker 8: I heard what he said, speed, I do know how
he found out about me.
Speaker 6: There any truth in what he said about making you talk?
Speaker 8: I'd done things that I might be jail for you,
fool gosh?
Speaker 10: Now what do we do? Close his mouth? It's up
to you.
Speaker 9: You got a gun, nature, Yeah.
Speaker 6: All right, follow him and use it? You mean, I mean,
close his mouth once and for all. Alone.
Speaker 1: Ranger and Tonto overtook Dell's Sturgis as he traveled back
towards Valley Center.
Speaker 4: Alone.
Speaker 8: I want to speak to you, and I suppose you're
gonna drill me so as I can't tell.
Speaker 15: What I know?
Speaker 6: What are you talking about? Go on?
Speaker 2: Shoot?
Speaker 14: That's just about what I'd expect from Merkle and the
dirty crook in charge of the forty.
Speaker 10: I'm not going to shoot you.
Speaker 6: Tell her, is this one of the men who talked
to squid Merkle?
Speaker 9: Me?
Speaker 6: Not sure?
Speaker 10: Did you?
Speaker 11: Yes?
Speaker 6: You bet I did, and you paid him money.
Speaker 8: I didn't have none to pay, and I wouldn't have.
Speaker 10: I had good for you.
Speaker 9: Say just who are you?
Speaker 8: Ain't you sent to get me by Lieutenant Calhoun?
Speaker 6: No, but that mess? Just who are you and where
are you from?
Speaker 8: The name is Sturgis from Valley Center.
Speaker 14: I've been looking for a shot from ambush most anytime,
I tell you, I'll find some way to show what
a crooked deal of folks around here are getting from.
Speaker 6: The Wait a minute, is it the fall of the
government or the fall of one man?
Speaker 14: One man, Lieutenant Calhoun, But he's working with a rat
named Squint Merkle. If one of there was some way
I could prove what they're doing, I guess I can't.
Speaker 6: Sergius, you might be the man I'm looking for.
Speaker 9: Huh.
Speaker 13: I came this way to find out just what sort
of crooked scheme is being worked for the government food.
Come on, I'm riding back to Valley Center with you?
Speaker 9: That suits me.
Speaker 6: Donald, you watched the back trailer. Be sure we're not followed.
Speaker 1: Come on, Squint didn't before it back to Spade Calhoun
until the next day. He entered headquarters, cautiously approached the
desk and.
Speaker 8: Said, Lieutenant Calhoun, what ails you?
Speaker 6: What's the idea coming in here?
Speaker 10: This way?
Speaker 8: Is the captain back?
Speaker 6: Now?
Speaker 8: Oh? It's different, then, I guess everything's all right.
Speaker 6: I expect you'll be back sometime today. Did you follow
orders yesterday?
Speaker 9: No? You didn't.
Speaker 6: You mean you let sturge just get back to the Valley Center.
Speaker 10: I couldn't do nothing else.
Speaker 6: Why couldn't you?
Speaker 10: I'll look at the miss worry.
Speaker 8: But we ain'ted, no mess, That's why I'm here.
Speaker 10: Yeah, well look at this. Where'd you get that?
Speaker 2: Valley Center?
Speaker 6: Folks? What yep for food? Listen here, get to the point.
What happened yesterday? Why didn't you get the ell Sturgis?
Speaker 9: Yeah?
Speaker 8: I followed him till I was sure I couldn't shoot without.
Speaker 10: Being overheard by someone.
Speaker 11: Yeah, And just as I was about to close in
on I'm gonna use the rifle rifle, I took a
rifle so I could shoot.
Speaker 10: At longer range.
Speaker 8: On A couple of men rode up to meet him.
Speaker 10: One was an engine, the other was mass Yeah.
Speaker 6: Out laws, I don't know.
Speaker 11: I talked to the engine before and they read off together,
the three of them.
Speaker 6: So you let him go?
Speaker 7: Sure?
Speaker 11: The engine kept watching the back trail. I couldn't get
close enough to get a shot.
Speaker 6: Well where'd this cash come from? That's what I'm getting
at speed.
Speaker 11: I hung around outside a valley center wondering what to do.
I thought maybe I could sneak and get del Sturgis
in the night. Yeah, I was still in the outskirts
of the town when Sturgis started back here again?
Speaker 10: Where's he at now?
Speaker 11: Back in valley center? He came up to meet me,
and first I didn't know what to say. But when
he started talking, he was like a whipped cur with
his tail.
Speaker 8: Between his legs.
Speaker 6: Go on.
Speaker 11: Sturges brought his horse to a stop as soon as
he's seen me and yelled out that he wanted to talk.
Speaker 8: Say there, Squint, wait a minute, doc, I want to
talk to you.
Speaker 10: How do you want?
Speaker 9: Look here?
Speaker 8: I reckon I was wrong yesterday?
Speaker 10: Oh what do you mean?
Speaker 8: Look here?
Speaker 10: Squint?
Speaker 14: The folks in Valley Center have got to have food.
Women and children are starving there. We've gotta do something. Well,
I shot off my mouth to the lieutenant.
Speaker 8: I reckon he must have told you, But it was
just a bluff. Squint. You don't know nothing about me
after all shocks.
Speaker 14: No look, will you let bygones be bygones? What do
you get, nat Sturges? I talked to the folks this morning.
We need food, and we're willing to pay for it.
I brought all the cash the folks could get together.
Speaker 10: What am I supposed to do about that?
Speaker 14: Take it back to the lieutenant and send us some food.
You've gotta do it, Squint. There's women and children starvin.
You gotta do this for the sake of the folks
in Valley Center.
Speaker 8: I'm telling you a spade. He almost got down on
his knees and begged me to take the cash.
Speaker 6: We can't send him food. Valley centers out of our jurisdiction.
Speaker 7: That's all right.
Speaker 8: We can handle it the same as we did the rest.
Speaker 11: Split the money and I'll pull steaks and they won't
never find me.
Speaker 6: And they can't prove a thing on me. Squint, you've
done all right, give me my share and then you
clear out. Put lanesome miles between us before the Captain
gets back. This is a swell haul to finish up
our game.
Speaker 1: With 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. The government
had sent food to the Army Post to be distributed
to the starving people of a flood stricken community. Lieutenant Calhoun,
in the absence of the common end of the fort,
forced the town's people to pay for their food. The
Lone Ranger in Tanto planned to defeat the scheme. Dell Sturgis,
from Valley Center, a community out of the jurisdiction of
the Army Post, paid the Lieutenant's partner, Squint Merkel, for
food for the whole town. Merkell took the money and
divided it with Lieutenant Calhoun. Our next scene opened in
a small camp outside the town of Valley Center, where
the Lone Ranger in Tanto review their plans.
Speaker 13: We've staked everything on your Indian friends, Tao Tonto, go
see him. Del Sturgis trusted us to the extent of
taking every penny he had.
Speaker 9: In the world that right, Honto get Indian help.
Speaker 6: We've got to count on some letting else.
Speaker 13: We figured there'd be more supplies brought to the fort,
and right that's what the captain left for.
Speaker 6: He hasn't secured them. Valley Center and Sturgis will suffer
Tonto go now, I'm little Beaver crime.
Speaker 10: You know what to tell them?
Speaker 6: Mm hmmm, I'll send you a smoke signal from Pine Hill.
Speaker 9: Tonto watch is white Fall.
Speaker 6: They'll keep marking where he can be found when he's needed.
Speaker 16: Until we meet Ka hit him once again.
Speaker 1: The lone ranger raced toward the fort with a daring
plan in mind. He questioned several people near the army
post and learned that Squint Merkle had left the community.
Speaker 10: The masked man.
Speaker 1: Started out to follow the trail, knowing that Squint played
an important.
Speaker 6: Part in his scheme.
Speaker 2: Come on sail.
Speaker 1: Meanwhile, Captain Curtis returned to the army post and received
the report of Lieutenant Calhoun.
Speaker 6: So we don't have the food as best we could, sir,
that's there.
Speaker 15: Very well, Lieutenant. I managed to secure more food at
Red Bluff. We'll have to send a detachment of men
there to get it. Yes, sir, enough food to help
everyone through this crisis.
Speaker 9: Good.
Speaker 15: You'll take five wagons and mules. Very good, sir, and
get the red Bluff as quickly as possible. Leaving right now, sir, immediately.
I think you can be back here tomorrow with the
urgent need for food. Delay will cost lie.
Speaker 6: I'll start at once, sir. Is there anything else?
Speaker 12: Nothing further at the present time.
Speaker 5: Make those mules get along. You've got along that food,
and start back at daybreak. We'll turn in town.
Speaker 2: Well, who is this squinny eyed galoot? Was hanging around
in the past few days.
Speaker 6: I don't know much about him. I wanted to join
the army, but I totally couldn't use his time.
Speaker 2: He spent a lot of time around the fort. What
about it?
Speaker 6: Drive them, mused? I want the wagons loaded tonight so
we have no delay in starting back.
Speaker 2: Thanking. This is gonna be food out for everyone. I
come despair, Stop.
Speaker 5: Talking and load, and you can sleep here and start
back at daybreak.
Speaker 6: Snap them mules lively, will be back by evening.
Speaker 2: Mess put it up. Time here up much more stubborn
than an iron than you?
Speaker 6: Who's that coming to us.
Speaker 2: One of the scuffs who looks to me. He's riding hard,
too held. What's the matter? And Indians a head? How
many of them? Too many to play? I hear them.
Speaker 5: They're coming this way past. They know we got food there.
They are coming over that ryse.
Speaker 2: He's awaken town.
Speaker 5: I full the west.
Speaker 2: It closing in from nothing. He's the only way to
go is least hold over. We can't stop to fight him.
How many of them we get to the next time?
Rest of here, they'll be bed enough to help the
fight them.
Speaker 4: Come on, put it.
Speaker 1: Half a hundred Indians for through the wagons. But the
mule skinner has lashed the small, strong.
Speaker 6: Beats of Frannick speed.
Speaker 1: The heavily loaded wagons bounced wildly along the uneven ground.
Speaker 2: Heat cooler. Keep them mules caught.
Speaker 9: You're holding our own.
Speaker 5: I got them redskins crows up. They can travel fast
or not? Say we may abandon the wagons.
Speaker 2: I get up.
Speaker 5: How far home that's ahead right across the bridge? Had
polly center, it's pluck, Polly center? Why my trumpet? Why
didn't you say hoop? What's foreproo? There's mores crowding outside of.
Speaker 2: The bridge to meet him. I see you're just chasing us,
Holly Shimmer, you have dance glong.
Speaker 1: When the army wagons stopped at Valley Center, the townsmen
crowded around, and the Indians retreated. The scout and the
muleskinn has congratulated themselves on their escape.
Speaker 2: They've gone, They've seen they couldn't fight the town. Now
we're all right, we can ride back to the foot
for a guy to get the food in. All right, boys,
unload the wagon.
Speaker 6: Hold up, what are you doing?
Speaker 2: You get away from them wagon? What do you mean,
Surgis you again? Sure it's me.
Speaker 14: It was darn nice of you to fetch this food
so quick, lieutenant, But I tell you I reckon. I
went at getting the food in the wrong way, didn't they?
Speaker 2: This ain't your food, Balicentda, don't get this food.
Speaker 8: Vally Centner's got it.
Speaker 6: Soldier, you can't have it.
Speaker 17: Now get back while order my men to shoot. Hold on, Lieutenant,
I'm the sheriff around here. I don't care who you are.
Keep a wife met food. He was chased by Indians
and brought the food here, so to be men to help.
Speaker 2: Us fight them.
Speaker 7: You mean to see this heat food.
Speaker 6: No, it ain't valley centers out of our jurisdiction.
Speaker 7: That's curious. We bought and paid for this food.
Speaker 6: I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 2: Oh, yes you do, Calhoun.
Speaker 8: I gave Merkle the cash yesterday, agreed to have you
bring food here.
Speaker 2: You're crazy and everyone is counting on it.
Speaker 7: I wouldn't take the chance of trying to get it
away from here.
Speaker 9: Soldier.
Speaker 17: I'm the law, but I couldn't keep the men from
killing if need be to get food for the folks
to home.
Speaker 8: But I tell you there, we paid for the food
and we're gonna have it.
Speaker 6: Hey, look, mighty determined, lieutenant.
Speaker 2: There's quint Markle. You're gonna ask here?
Speaker 4: Let me go.
Speaker 2: Yes, he's got our cash.
Speaker 7: We all chipped in for this food. You your togun food.
Speaker 2: Couldn't help it.
Speaker 6: That mass man got me surch him and see if
he has some of the money bags.
Speaker 7: I'll handle that.
Speaker 2: Who's the mass man? What's sut on this? If we
got into, say Calhoun, maybe these folks are right. What's
this bag that's mine? That's mine?
Speaker 7: That can in with the letters DS on it.
Speaker 2: That's one of the bags.
Speaker 8: I gave you a dirty crook.
Speaker 7: So you took cash and promised food. And now they
say the hoop food ain't for us.
Speaker 2: Listen, give me a chance to talk. I will tell it.
Speaker 7: There ain't but half of what he paid us.
Speaker 6: Here.
Speaker 7: Where's the rest of the cash?
Speaker 6: I don't know, buy's on the Calhoun?
Speaker 2: You look as guilty as sin.
Speaker 7: Where did you put the rest of his tail?
Speaker 2: Let me alone, Leave me be the truth.
Speaker 6: Michle turt it your roal house.
Speaker 2: So that's quite fast enough. Spaine, my hems man, you
can't suit money.
Speaker 13: All I did was to shoot away your officer's gun
before he murdered the man who.
Speaker 2: Could tell the truth. He was gonna shoot me.
Speaker 6: Your hand wasn't touched by that bullet.
Speaker 10: Now, will you talk?
Speaker 6: Merkle, merkle stool these folks, he took money you had
no right to.
Speaker 2: That's why I was gonna throw gil I and crook
tried to kill me.
Speaker 6: When you who keeps to it still you try to
murder me, ask on, I'll tell him the truth.
Speaker 7: You didn't get half the cash.
Speaker 2: He got half the cash them everyone sheriff. I'll talk.
That's God's going to jail with me. You gotta keep
their sous. He won't kill me.
Speaker 12: He'll be taken care of.
Speaker 2: Captain Curtis a cab you here.
Speaker 12: I've been here for some time, Calhoun, long enough to
hear all of us, said Captain, I hand over that money.
Speaker 2: But he's got it. He's got it, all right, search
him handed over.
Speaker 10: I got it.
Speaker 2: Nah, you see, that's what I got. That's all I got.
I don't know how much he got.
Speaker 12: Carry You will see if this money is returned.
Speaker 7: To those who paid him. I sure will. It's your
Sturgist and the town Owes. You were plenty for what
you've done.
Speaker 9: It wasn't me, Sheriff.
Speaker 6: The suggestion come from the mask man, Captain Curtis.
Speaker 13: These two men have taken money from everyone who has
been issued food since you left Calhoun in charge.
Speaker 12: You explained that when you brought me from the fort
he brought you.
Speaker 15: I wouldn't believe you, sir, but thank the Lord you
compelled me to come and hear the truth about a
man who was trusted by the government. Should I jail him,
cap he'll face court martial. He'll be dealt with. I
only hope the two feet Michael, with equal severity.
Speaker 7: He'll get all it's coming to him.
Speaker 8: All right enough, But Captain, I are you gonna take
the grub away now?
Speaker 15: After you've taken what you need, there'll be enough to
supply the other communities. We leave one wagon load here, Captain, Yes,
one of us.
Speaker 6: Will have to ride to the port for troops to
get the other wagons back.
Speaker 2: They'll need garden, sir, add Indians out yonder.
Speaker 6: Those Indians won't trouble you.
Speaker 15: Indians are friendly. They were summoned by the mask Man's friends,
and they were only following instructions when they forced the
wagons to come here.
Speaker 6: And it was all of frame up.
Speaker 15: It was the only way Calhoun to bring proof against you,
thanks to that man who wears the mask.
Speaker 2: A Lone Ranger.
Speaker 5: Trouble super Boy Fellow was worming for us.
Speaker 4: US and
Speaker 1: The story you've just heard is a copyrighted feature of
The Lone Ranger Incorporated.