The Brightest Star | The Lone Ranger (05-17-54)

Old Time Radio Westerns

The episode follows Don Abbott, a disillusioned young man turned outlaw after a traumatic childhood, who is recruited by gambler Steve Nash to rob a stagecoach carrying $10,000

Key takeaways

• Steve Nash recruits Don Abbott and Pedro to stage a $10,000 stagecoach robbery targeting Fred Logan's cash inheritance.
• Don Abbott's backstory reveals a bitter upbringing after his mother's death, leading him to become a hardened outlaw by age 14.

Main topics

• Moral redemption and conscience
• Stagecoach robbery and outlaw gangs

Notable quotes

"Perhaps right now it's one of the smallest and dimmest. But I like to think we each make our stars brighter by the good deeds we perform for our fellow men."

Conclusion

This classic Western delivers a timeless moral parable wrapped in suspenseful

Transcript preview

Speaker 8 (0:01) Bye. Speaker 1 (0:15) 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. Speaker 5 (0:55) The Lone Ranger. Speaker 5 (1:03) Before this exciting adventure, a word from our sponsor. Speaker 5 (1:08) General Mills, makers of Cheerios, the oat cereal that's ready to eat, Betty Crocker mixes, and Wheaties, the breakfast of champions, present by special recording, the Lone Ranger! When the weather's bad, do you and your friends ever hang around the house wondering what to do? I'll bet it happens lots. Well, you know where you can have the most fun? In the kitchen, with a package of the new Betty Crocker Brownie Mix. That's right. It's easy as can be to bake up a big batch of luscious, chocolatey brownies with Betty Crocker Brownie Mix. Everything you need is right in the package. Just add one egg if you like the chewy, fudgy kind of brownies. And two eggs if you want them soft and tender like cake. Add nuts, too, if you like. Either way, Betty Crocker brownies are the gee-I-can't-eat-them-fast-enough kind. Even if you've never baked before, you'll turn out scrumptious, chocolatey, perfect brownies the very first time. And what fun you and your gang will have eating brownies that you baked yourselves. Have Mom get Betty Crocker brownie mix next time she shops. Then invite your friends over for some fun. Speaker 5 (2:31) With his faithful Indian companion Tonto, the daring and resourceful mask 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 on, Speaker 8 (3:00) Silver. Let's go, Bigfoot. I'm Silver. Hooray! Speaker 5 (3:13) Don Abbott, a young man of 20, rode that Pecos River trail from Laredo northward with a tough-looking companion named Pedro. Speaker 8 (3:21) Ah, the night. She's very beautiful, no? Yeah. So many stars cover Speaker 5 (3:27) the sky. There does not seem room for them all. Speaker 8 (3:31) Yeah, I reckon this isn't the first time you've seen them, Pedro. You are tougher than I thought, Senor Don. Yeah, there's more important things to think about than the stars, Pedro. Speaker 5 (3:43) Once again, the two men rode in silence. But Pedro's remark about the stars flooded Don's mind with memories. His parents had come west because of his mother's poor health. Don was born in San Antonio, and after his father's death, his mother had taken in sewing for a living. A sweet and religious woman, she had started a Sunday school class, which she had conducted until her death. Pedro's remarks had brought to Don's mind a summer evening when he was ten years old, just before his mother's death. He remembered vividly what had been said as they sat on the veranda. Speaker 3 (4:22) My, it's a beautiful night. Look at all those stars. Speaker 2 (4:28) Gosh, there must be millions of them. Did God put all those stars up there, Mama? Speaker 3 (4:33) Yes, son. Speaker 2 (4:34) Why? Speaker 3 (4:35) Well, Donnie, I like to think the Heavenly Father put a star up there for each of us here below. Golly, do I have one? I hope so, dear. Perhaps right now it's one of the smallest and dimmest. But I like to think we each make our stars brighter by the good deeds we perform for our fellow men. I hope that someday, Donnie, yours will be one of the brightest. Will I know Speaker 8 (5:05) my star when I see it, Mama? Speaker 3 (5:06) I think so, Donnie. Well, Speaker 8 (5:09) come, Speaker 3 (5:10) dear. It's past your bedtime. Let us go in now. Speaker 5 (5:17) Don Abbott glanced upward a moment. Then, with bitterness in his heart, other memories crowded out those of his mother and the stars. He remembered being taken in after his mother's death by a kind-hearted woman whose husband was hard and domineering. Don clenched his teeth as he remembered the days that followed the death of his foster mother. Hard work interspersed with frequent strappings made the few following years unbearable. At 14, he ran away. Then came six years of drifting, doing odd jobs, struggling to make his way among men who were tough and ruthless. Until disillusion, toughened and bitter, he turned outlaw. Pedro again broke the silence, saying... Speaker 8 (6:00) We are only a few miles from Pecos now, Don. We shall soon reach the hideout. The sooner the better. Senor Steve will meet us there with two men. Who is Steve Nash, Pedro? You haven't told me much about him. He is a gambler from the east. I met him a few months ago in Laredo. Well, let's get a move on. I'm anxious to know what this is all about. Speaker 5 (6:30) Later, Pedro and Don drew rain in front of a cabin in the hills outside of Pecos. Oh, Speaker 8 (6:35) easy, Don. Speaker 7 (6:43) Well, Pedro, we've been waiting for you and your friend. Speaker 8 (6:46) Buenos noches, Senor Steve. This is Don Abbott, the hombre