Tonto: Tales of the Lone Ranger

Originally Aired: September 2, 1938
The Lone Ranger #874, "Border Dope Smuggling," the masked rider and his faithful companion Tonto arrive at a border ranch seeking information about the local sheriff, only to be held at gunpoint by Betty Sanders. She mistakes the Lone Ranger for one of the dope smugglers who have been tormenting her father, Sheriff Pigleg Sanders, for six weeks. The smugglers have been cleverly planting false leads that send the sheriff on wild goose chases, keeping him occupied while they continue their illegal operations across the Mexican border. After the misunderstanding is cleared up and Tonto intervenes when ranch hand Buck Wilson attempts to ambush them, the Lone Ranger and Tonto head toward town to investigate.
Sheriff Sanders returns home frustrated and demoralized, having followed yet another false lead that turned out to be legitimate government agents. The smugglers' tactics have been so effective that Sanders fears he may have to resign his position after twelve years of distinguished service. When Buck Wilson reveals he found a paper dropped by the masked man containing what appear to be smuggling plans, the situation takes an unexpected turn that may finally provide the break the sheriff desperately needs.

Originally Aired: August 31, 1938
The Lone Ranger #873, "Land For The Railroad,"
Old Zeke Hackett, once a prosperous cattle rancher, has fallen on hard times. Now reduced to owning only Cedar Valley and a small strip of land, he watches helplessly as his remaining cattle die from poisoned water holes. His neighbor Duke Bradley arrives with a suspiciously low offer of two thousand dollars for the valley, claiming underground seepage has contaminated the springs. Despite Zeke's fierce suspicions that Duke is somehow responsible for the poisoning and his wife Martha's reluctance to sell so cheaply, the desperate couple has little choice but to accept Bradley's offer.
Meanwhile, the Lone Ranger and Tonto encounter a railroad surveying crew led by Jerry Duncan. The masked rider reveals his knowledge that the railroad plans to extend westward through Cedar Valley to Hinsdale, information he learned from superintendent Stanley. As Jerry grows suspicious of how much the Lone Ranger knows about the railroad's confidential plans, it becomes clear that someone stands to profit enormously if they can acquire land cheaply before news of the railroad's route becomes public. The Lone Ranger takes special interest in ensuring the railroad passes through Cedar Valley, hinting at a connection between Duke Bradley's land grab and the mysterious poisoned water.

Originally Aired: August 29, 1938
The Lone Ranger #872, "Stolen Diamond," the Lone Ranger and Tonto discover signs of violence on the trail to Baker City—torn grass, blood, and black horse hairs caught in tree bark. Their concerns prove well-founded when they learn that Jason York, a prominent San Francisco jeweler visiting Baker City with a valuable diamond, has been murdered in his hotel room. Three local rivals—rancher Mort Prentice, banker Clem Sawyer, and gambler Phil Tracy—had all been competing to purchase the precious stone and were waiting to meet with York when his bodyguard, Dick Leonard, led them to the room.
The group discovers York's body and the diamond missing from its chamois bag. Suspicion immediately falls on Dick when Phil Tracy finds a dying note apparently written by York that reads, "I was shot by my bodyguard." Dick protests his innocence, claiming it's a frame-up, but Sheriff Beck arrives to find him held at gunpoint by the others. With circumstantial evidence mounting against the young bodyguard, the Lone Ranger and Tonto must unravel the truth behind the murder and the stolen diamond.

Originally Aired: August 26, 1938
The Lone Ranger #871, "Jailed For Rustling," finds the masked rider and Tonto investigating a mysterious cattle rustling operation in Crow Valley. For three years, ranchers like Bill Owens and his foreman Utah Simpson have been losing cattle, yet no one can figure out how the rustlers are moving the stolen herds. All suspicion falls on Nate Finch, owner of the Circle G ranch, since he's the only rancher in the valley who hasn't lost any cattle. The Lone Ranger learns that Soaplike Pass is the only practical route out of the valley, and it's been carefully watched, yet cattle continue to disappear without a trace.
When Bill Owens and the other ranchers join the sheriff for a systematic search of Nate's property, they find nothing suspicious—no blotted brands, no hidden cattle, no evidence of wrongdoing. The frustrated ranchers begin to wonder if one of their own might be the real culprit, using Nate as a convenient scapegoat. As tensions rise and Nate himself arrives to confront the searchers on his land, the Lone Ranger must solve a seemingly impossible puzzle before an innocent man is accused or the real rustlers escape justice.

Originally Aired: August 24, 1938
The Lone Ranger #870, "Siege Of Fort Mason," tension mounts as Fort Mason finds itself under siege by Chief Little Bear and his warriors. The attack comes at the worst possible time: half the fort's garrison is away with Captain Stewart, searching for the rebellious chief in the Cottonwood River country. Major Carson, commanding the undermanned fort, faces dwindling supplies and suspects a traitor within his ranks has been feeding information to the Indians. Meanwhile, the Lone Ranger and Tonto encounter Captain Stewart in the field and offer their scouting expertise to help find Little Bear, unaware that the chief has already struck at the fort itself.
As the siege enters its third day, Major Carson makes a desperate decision. With ammunition and food supplies running dangerously low, he must get word to Captain Stewart to return immediately. Sergeant Morton volunteers for the perilous mission to ride through enemy lines and reach the captain. The Major insists on immediate departure to prevent the suspected spy from learning of the plan, but Lieutenant Price protests the hasty action. As Sergeant Morton prepares to make his dangerous dash for freedom, the fate of Fort Mason hangs in the balance.

Originally Aired: August 22, 1938
The Lone Ranger #869, "Medicine Man S Treachery,"
A treacherous plot threatens to ignite war between two friendly Indian tribes when Nokomas, daughter of Chief Lame Bear, is kidnapped in a nighttime raid. Black Fox, the jealous medicine man of Running Cloud's tribe, has hired outlaw Max Yeager and his gang to disguise themselves as Running Cloud's braves and seize the girl. The scheme is designed to provoke Lame Bear into attacking his longtime ally, allowing Black Fox to claim Lame Bear's considerable wealth after his defeat. While war drums beat ominously and Lame Bear prepares his warriors for revenge, Swift Eagle remains unconvinced that genuine braves committed the crime.
The Lone Ranger and Tonto encounter Swift Eagle, who suspects that white men painted as Indians are responsible for the abduction. With Nokomas now hidden in Black Fox's teepee and the outlaws waiting for their payment, time runs short to prevent a devastating conflict. The masked rider and his companions must race to expose the medicine man's treachery before Lame Bear launches his attack on the unsuspecting Running Cloud.

Originally Aired: August 19, 1938
The Lone Ranger #868, "Crooked Sheriff," finds the Bar X trail herd from Texas approaching the halfway point of its long journey when an Indian named Tondo warns trail boss Walt Benson to avoid Bighorn County. Tondo explains that a new sheriff named Chuck Barker has replaced the honest Jake Carter and is running a crooked operation, but the confident Benson dismisses the warning and continues on. Sure enough, Sheriff Barker and county cattle inspector Martin Weaver soon arrive at the herd with a scheme to extort money from the drovers.
Barker and Weaver claim they must inspect the Texas cattle for fever before allowing them to pass through the county, threatening delays of a month or more that would devastate the Bar X outfit's schedule and profits. As the trail crew faces this corrupt shakedown, the situation grows increasingly tense. The masked rider and his faithful companion Tonto must find a way to expose the crooked sheriff's operation and help the honest cattlemen complete their journey without paying tribute to these fraudulent lawmen.

Originally Aired: August 17, 1938
The Lone Ranger #867, "Election At Buffalo Point," the small frontier town of Buffalo Point faces a crucial election that could determine its future. Pete Sampson, a former rancher, challenges the corrupt Sheriff Charlie Wilson, who takes his orders from the ruthless land grabber Ace Dolan. Ace has been systematically stealing cattle and forcing honest ranchers to sell their spreads for almost nothing, using his hired gunmen to intimidate anyone who opposes him. When Pete and his supporters, including the elderly town doctor Gideon Wells, gather at the local cafe to rally support, Ace and Sheriff Wilson burst in with their gang to terrorize the voters into submission, making it clear that those who want to stay healthy better vote the right way.
After the violent confrontation, Pete and Doc Wells ride out of town, discouraged by how fear prevents honest citizens from standing up to Ace's criminal operation. Their prospects suddenly change when they encounter Tonto, who rides up on his paint horse with urgent news. The faithful Indian companion reveals that his white friend has a plan to help Pete win the election, and he asks them to follow him to learn how they can finally defeat the corrupt sheriff and his boss.

Originally Aired: August 15, 1938
The Lone Ranger #866, "Red Stevens Held For Ransom,"
Limpy Davis and his ruthless band of outlaws stage a daring train robbery near the newly opened railroad line, placing logs on the tracks to force the train to stop. Their target isn't gold or valuables, but a specific passenger: Ridge Stevens, a young man traveling west to meet his wealthy uncle and aunt, Jake and Martha Stevens, for the first time. The outlaws know that Jake Stevens, having no other kin, plans to leave his entire fortune to his nephew, making Ridge worth a hefty ten thousand dollar ransom. When Ridge resists capture, a struggle ensues and he suffers a serious head injury, falling unconscious.
Four days pass with no word from the kidnappers, leaving the sheriff baffled and Jake Stevens furious. When Tonto arrives at the sheriff's office seeking information about the train robbery, the lawman mistakenly believes the Indian is working with the outlaws. As tensions escalate and the sheriff threatens to jail Tonto, the Lone Ranger intervenes through a well-placed shot. Meanwhile, at the outlaws' camp, Ridge Stevens finally begins to stir from his unconscious state, and Limpy Davis watches anxiously, waiting to discover if his valuable hostage will survive.

Originally Aired: August 12, 1938
The Lone Ranger #865, "The Treasure Trove Mine," old Ben Battle, known as one of the unluckiest prospectors in the West, stuns the citizens of Five Corners when he rides into town clutching a piece of smelted gold stamped with the initials "T.T." - proof he's discovered part of the legendary Treasure Trove mine shipment that vanished fifty years ago. The excited prospector quickly realizes his mistake in announcing his find so publicly. As Sheriff warns him, every fortune hunter in the territory will now follow his every move to locate the rest of the lost gold.
Ben's careless revelation attracts dangerous attention when outlaw Smoky Joe and his gang ambush the old prospector on the trail outside town. After wounding Ben and taking him prisoner, they plan to force him to reveal the exact location of his discovery at their hidden forest cabin. The Lone Ranger and Tonto, having heard reports of Ben's find, are already riding toward Five Corners to help the deserving prospector, but they may arrive too late to prevent the outlaws from extracting Ben's secret through violence.