Dan Rides Hard | The Lone Ranger (03-15-43)

Old Time Radio Westerns

In this classic Old Time Radio Western episode, 'Dan Rides Hard,' the Lone Ranger's young nephew Dan discovers a bounty poster offering $5,000 for the capture of the Lone Ranger dead or alive. Suspecting foul play, the

Key takeaways

The Lone Ranger's reputation is weaponized by criminals to manipulate public fear and eliminate opposition.

Main topics

Framing of an innocent hero
Criminal conspiracy and corruption

Notable quotes

"There was more than one killer. There were at least six of them."

Conclusion

The Lone Ranger exposes the conspiracy behind the false bounty, apprehends the

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) For many of us, going further isn't a choice. It's a feeling we can't ignore. Because ambition has a way of outgrowing where it began. Turning dreams into direction. Every journey brings us closer to the life we imagine. So, where will your journey take you? Etihad. Beyond Borders. Speaker 1 (0:45) Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. You can find more Western shows at our website by going to otrwesterns.com. Now, let's get into this episode. A Speaker 5 (1:24) fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-yo silver, the Lone Ranger. Speaker 2 (2:57) For many of us, going further isn't a choice. It's a feeling we can't ignore. Because ambition has a way of outgrowing where it began. Turning dreams into direction. Every journey brings us closer to the life we imagine. So, where will your journey take you? Etihad. Beyond Borders. Speaker 5 (3:37) With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the mask rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations. And 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. Speaker 5 (4:08) The nephew of the Lone Ranger was riding the Son of Silver when he saw a handbill tacked to the trunk of a tree. He reined up, read the notice, then... Great Speaker 3 (4:27) day, another reward poster. Almost the same as the one we saw a couple weeks ago. Victor, this is something the Lone Ranger's got to know in a hurry. Come on, Victor. Come on, get along, boy. Faster, Victor. Get those hoofs going. Come on, Victor. Speaker 5 (4:47) The 14-year-old lad had become an expert horseman under the careful coaching of the Lone Ranger. The young white stallion he rode was filled with willing strength and untried power. For the first time, Dan urged the colt to the fullest speed, racing across the plains, leaping over narrow streams, dodging around big rocks. Come on, Victor! Those hooves were shot with silver, the same as the horse of the Lone Ranger. They hammered the ground with ever-increasing speed until... Speaker 3 (5:11) There he is! There he is, Victor! Oh, boy! Hold it! Speaker 6 (5:15) Dan, I saw you coming. Speaker 3 (5:16) I had to hurry. Instead of waiting for you and Tonto to join me when I got to the gap, I had to come back. Here, look. Look what I found. Speaker 7 (5:22) A handbill? Speaker 3 (5:23) Another reward notice. You're being hunted again. Speaker 7 (5:25) Oh, and Dan, find another poster for capture of Lone Ranger? Not heaps strange. Speaker 6 (5:32) Yes. Take a look, Tonto. $5,000 reward, dead or alive. Speaker 3 (5:37) There's something mighty wrong. You haven't been around this part of the country for months, have you? Speaker 6 (5:41) No, Dan. Tonto. The town ahead is called Billsgate, isn't it? Not right. Maybe we can find Jim Jackson there. Speaker 3 (5:48) Who's Jim Jackson? Speaker 6 (5:49) The last time we were through here, Jim Jackson published a little newspaper, Billsgate Herald. If anyone knows what's behind this notice, Jim Jackson does. Come on, Silver. Speaker 7 (5:59) Get him up the scoundrel. Speaker 5 (6:05) As the trio reached the top of a hill overlooking the town, they knew that something was wrong. There was no sign of life on the dusty street. The buildings appeared deserted. Closer inspection showed that the doors of the cafe were broken down and the windows smashed. Speaker 3 (6:18) I still don't see any signs of life. Speaker 5 (6:20) Do Speaker 3 (6:21) you suppose everyone's left the town? Speaker 6 (6:22) It begins to look that way. We look inside buildings. Who's got a full color? Oh, silver. Steady, big fella. Dan, stay here with the horses. Yes, sir. We'll look in the cafe, Taro. If there's anyone in town, we'll know it by the condition of things there. Speaker 7 (6:40) Dust, mighty thick on the porch. No one walk here for some time. We'll have to step over the remains of the door. Speaker 7 (6:49) The place is deserted. Then not leave in hurry. All stock taken away. Yes. Speaker 6 (6:55) Whoever owned the place is moved. We look next door. That's where Jackson's printing office was. No sign gone Speaker 7 (7:02) from door of office. Speaker 6 (7:04) Everything of value was taken from the cafe. Building seemed to have been abandoned. Not right. Stand back, Tulloch. Me look inside. Nothing Speaker 7 (7:18) left here. Speaker 6 (7:20) Jackson's gone too. Speaker 6 (7:23) There's some old copies of the Herald here. Maybe they'll have something to tell us. Speaker 6 (7:29) What's your plan? Here, Tullo. The last issue of the paper. Oh? An article by Jim explaining that this will be the last issue of the paper while crime runs rampant and unpunished in the town of Billsgate. This is Jim's own style of writing. He says he's going to his ranch at Three Pines and live there in peace and quiet until law and order comes to town. Speaker 7 (7:49) Jim Jackson at Three Pines. That's where we'll find him. Speaker 6 (8:04) I had a camp nearby, Jim. I came here to see you alone. Speaker 4 (8:07) You're a sight for sore eyes. We've had bad times in this part of the country. I did what I could to whip up some law and order through my newspaper, but it was no use. You knew, of course, that I was blamed for everything. I saw the handbills. I have one with me. I knew you weren't the killer, but what I said was like rain on the ocean. Didn't mean a thing. Speaker 6 (8:27) Who is the killer? Speaker 4 (8:28) I wish I knew. How'd he work? The truth is, there was more than one killer. There were at least six of them. Speaker 6 (8:35) How do you know? Speaker 4 (8:36) The sheriff knew it, too. We could tell by the footprints. But the sheriff seemed downright anxious to keep what he knew to himself. One after another, the folks in Billsgate were threatened, robbed, shot at, and pestered until they moved out. Don't ask me why. I don't know why. Speaker 6 (8:52) By these six men? Six at least. Yet everything was blamed on one man. The Lone Ranger. It Speaker 4 (8:58) was Sam Slotkin that caused that. It wasn't his fault, though. Speaker 6 (9:01) Who's he? Speaker 4 (9:02) Sam Slotkin? Yes. He ran the cafe. Oh, yeah. He was one of the first that got shot. He was creased in the arm by a bullet. He said the man that did it came into his living quarters back at the cafe late at night and told them to clear out. To back up what he said, this armory fired once. Well, Sam didn't take it seriously, so the critter sent him a bullet with another warning. Then Sam packed his liquor and moved out. Why did Sam blame me? He just said the critter that shot him wore a mask and called himself the Lone Ranger. Speaker 6 (9:32) Everyone else left town, Speaker 4 (9:33) too. Yeah. I was one of the last to go. Nothing to stay around for. Speaker 6 (9:38) Were you threatened? Speaker 4 (9:39) No. But plenty of the others were. I have been thinking on