Raven's Return - The Lone Ranger (11-26-43)

Original Air Date: November 26, 1943
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Show: The Lone Ranger
Phone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739)

Stars:
• Brace Beemer (Lone Ranger)
• John Todd (Tonto)
Writer:
• Fran Striker
Producer:
• George W. Trendle
Music:
• Ben Bonnell

Exit music from: Roundup on the Prairie by Aaron Kenny https://bit.ly/3kTj0kK

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
M h. Welcome to the OldTime Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew
Ryns and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be the
Lone Ranger. Original Ardie is Novembertwenty six, nineteen forty three, and

(00:23):
the title is Raven's Return. Let'sget into it, and I hope you
enjoy A fiery horse with a speedof light, a pot of gust,

(00:50):
and a hardy hio silver a LoneRanger. In the years following the gold

(02:34):
Rush, many men in California roseto fabulous heights of wealth and power.
One of these was Arnold Gerson.Was wealth reached out to develop the vast
resources of the far West. Unlikethe thousands of gold seekers, adventures,
and parasites who sought to grab onlywhat they could hold in their hands,
Arnold Gerson was in the far Westto state. Gerson saw the growing influx

(02:55):
of the disreputable element and knew thatthey could and would destroy what he and
others like him had wrested from thisland of promise. He decided to strike
at the heart the infamous Barbary Coastin an effort to stamp out the viciousness.
Gearson sought for and found the LoneRanger. This masked rider of mystery,
though reluctant to leave the plains andmountains of the Cattle country, answered

(03:17):
the call and soon found himself fightinga new type of criminal and the Barbary
Coast return with us. Nowl thosethrilling days of yesteryear, I'm out of
the past. From the thundering hoofbeatsof the great horse Silver, the Lone
Ranger rides again Silver. Bob Geersoncame home from school to spend a few

(03:51):
days with his father. It wasabout a week after Drey Gregan met his
end in the waters off the coast. Gearson and Bob were discussing it in
the library. Just as well hewent that way. A man liked Greg
Raven lived by violence. Oh,he'd seemed to be dead than spend the
rest of his life in prison.But Dan, are the authority? Sure
he's dead. Well, it's fairlywell established. Sure it was great the

(04:13):
way the Lone Ranger smashed those crooks. Jolly, I wish I could have
been here to see it. Howdo you like the Lone Ranger's friend,
Dan read? Oh? I likedhim alive? Yes, I too,
I thought he had the right stuffin him from the first time I saw
him. How's he doing in school? He was doing great until he had
to leave. Leave. I didn'tknow he'd left. What was the trouble,
Oh, no trouble at all.The Lone Ranger finished his job here

(04:35):
and planned to return to the plane, so he took Dan with him.
And this is news to me.I thought Dan was to remain in school,
and that's what Dan and I thoughtuntil the man came with a message.
What man? What message? Itwas nearly a week ago, came
for Dan, and Dan left.Youn't have time to say goodbye. He
left a note for me. Doyou still have the note? Yes,

(04:56):
sir, here it is I've hadin my pocket ever since. When was
this nearly a week ago? Iexpected to hear from Dan again, and
after a lot of us things atschool, I expected him to send for
them. I saw the Lone Rangeryesterday. You did. Seems to me
that he'd have mentioned it if he'dtaken Dan from school, or should think
so, Bob. I'm going tohave the tower lamp lighted. That's a

(05:18):
signal to the Lone Ranger. Hesees it, he'll come here. I
want to tell him about this.Meanwhile, as night gathered in the hills
across the bay, Dan Reid madea snug camp, employing those things he'd

(05:40):
learned from the Lone Ranger in tunnel. The man who watched him at work
had a mean face in a surlymanner, yet he showed approval. I
guess I knew what I was doingwhen I brought you along. You sure
are a handy kid to have around. It's nothing to make an a
camp if you know how to goat it. Me, I don't know
how. Never camped in the woodsin my life. Is that the only

(06:00):
reason you got me? Yes?Or don't worry, kid, If you
behave and don't make me no trouble, I'll let you go soon as I'm
through with him. Look here,mister, well, just who are you?
And needn't concern you? Well?You won't get away with this.
Sooner or later the Lone Range you'llfind out about it. Then, I
guess you know what will happen.Or whatever happens, kid, you'll be
the first to be hurt. Rememberthat it's mask pal of yours. Better

(06:24):
not press me too hard. Youcan't get away with it. Mister,
let me put you straight. Ihave gotten away with so much already that
I ain't worried. There was acook named Raven. He thought he was
too strong to be trapped, buthe wasn't tell me more about him.
The lone ranger got him. Hedrowned on a bay trying to escape.
What if he hadn't drowned in thebay. He'd been caught and there's enough

(06:46):
proof against him to hang him.I understood that Raven had to run because
a pack of seamen were after him. That's right, But the law didn't
have anything on him. There's plentyon him now. A lot of evidence
turned up after he was dead.That's interest. I don't see what there
is to laugh about. And I'lltell you Raven ain't dead. No,

(07:09):
someone else has dragged out of thewater, not Raven. Oh, I
begin to understand. I'm Greg Raven. That accounts for a lot of things.
Yeah, I'm Greg Raven. Andthey can't hang me more than once.
If anyone comes pressing me too close, you know what'll happen, don't
you. I can guess you willbe the first one to stop a bullet.

(07:31):
I finish up with this camp andthen I'll put the ropes on you
for the night. Look here,Raven, I know you have to time
you so I won't escape, Butyou need to rope my horse are tightly.
Victor won't leave without me. Itake no chances. How long do
you expect me to travel with you. I get far enough away so I
don't worry about being trailed, andmaybe I'll let you go. Maybe yeah,
maybe, and maybe not. Itall depends. He won't let me

(07:55):
go. You don't dare you knowwhat I'll do. I'm the only one
who knows you're still alive. Imight get soft hearted. No, I
don't count on that. I guessI've made enough camps in the last few
days. Now you can make yourown camp. Figure it out for yourself.
Just out live in the woods.Oh so you're going to mutiny?
Eh, call it that. Iknow how to stop that. See this

(08:20):
stick, Go ahead, lay iton me and see how much good it'll
get you on you? Oh no, that ain't my plan. I lay
it on your horse. What No, I'll put that down. How about
it you follow my orders? Ordo I beat your horse? Don't hit
Victor? All right, get towork, don't try and make it any

(08:41):
more threats of mutiny. As theevening advanced, Bob and his father remained
in the library of the Gearson home, discussing the manner in which Dan Reid
had left school and wondering if thelone ranger would see the signal light the
signal. Bob opened that window.Our friend has arrived. I saw the

(09:03):
signal years to ask me come in. Please come in, it's urgent.
There a letter from Dan Reid.No, but I have a note to
show you. What is it?Let me explain, Bob. Yes,
sir, A few days ago myson received this note from your young friend.
Dan left the school. This isDan riding. He thought he was

(09:24):
being taken to meet you. Whendid you receive this It was last Monday,
two days after raven disappearance, afterhe was taken from the bay.
Yes, the day after we thoughthe was taken from the bay. Yes,
the identification was none too complete.I know it. A lot had
to be assumed. Do you thinkRaven is still alive? If he is,
do you think Dreg Raven is onewho came to the school for Dan

(09:46):
Reid. I don't know, Bob. Dan take all of his things with
him, no, sir, buthe took Victor his horse. Did you
see the man who called for him? No? And you have no idea
what he looks like. No,sir, did Dan leave any other messages?
Not with me. I don't thinkhe said anything to anyone else.
You can see where he asked meto explain it to the head of the
school. In view of the factthat I saw you yesterday and you said

(10:09):
nothing about Dan, I thought thismight be a surprise to you. It
is what are you going to do? Yrs and Raven know that he could
reach me through you. Yes,he knows the way we worked together.
There's been no word from him,no threats, no propositions, nothing,
And he didn't take Dan to helphim make a deal for his freedom.
Why did he kidnap him? Idon't know, Bob. You said that
Dan took Victor with him, Yes, Sir, I talked to the stable

(10:31):
boy. He said that Dan toldhim to saddle Victor. He said he
saw a man waiting for Dan,but he didn't remember what he looked like.
He didn't see him close. Didhe say whether or not the man
had a horse? He did have? What kind o pink he was like?
Tonnel's that's all I could find outfrom him. He might have stolen
the horse from somewhere nearby. Hemight have he planned to travel by a

(10:52):
horse. He must have been planningto head inland away from the coast.
That's right, which means the hills. If Tonnel and I started at once,
we can be at school by sunrise. Try and find a clue when
we get there. If there's anythingI can do, I can have the
whole police department at your disposal thetime being. You can help most by
saying nothing to anyone about this.Whatever you say, Hatto, we're traveling

(11:13):
a long, hard trail, saidhe mc fell up. Are you ready?
Come on? Silver? Sunrise foundthe lone ranger in Totto at a
small stream near the town where Dan'sschool was located. While the horses rested
and drank from the cool mop andfed brook, the masked man expressed many

(11:37):
of the things that have been runningthrough his mind during the night ride.
On one side of us as acoast raven wouldn't have gone in that direction.
No, in not got boat,and they wouldn't have taken horses north
of here. They'd get to SanFrancisco. The one place Raven wants to
avoid that right, if you weregoing to try to hide from the law
Totto, which of the remaining directionwould you take? You go that way?

(12:01):
Why? Well? Cost laugh?They give me go to hills.
Raven wouldn't figure as you're not awoodsman, you're not an outdoor man.
He'd think the best place to hidewould be found there. Maybe that right,
and he has Dan with him.Dan's learned enough would craft to make
a comfortable place to live in thewilderness. That right. Dan wouldn't have

(12:24):
to travel very far before he foundthat Raven wasn't taking him to meet us.
In that case, Dan would knowthat he'd been abducted. To do
something about it, Ah, himtrying plenty hard, leave trail for us
to follow. We can just getstarted on that trail. Wait, what
is it he put here to ground? You think me? Here? Host
of horses? Are you? Ah? Several horse? Come this way?

(12:48):
Come trop It's earlier for men tobe in the saddle around here and old
ranches or look that way? Ohyes, one, two, three,
six? Men? Uh and seeus and stop there. I look at
him with the binoculars. What yousee? Strange? One of them is

(13:09):
looking at us with binoculars. Ohfella, you know him. Can't quite
make out. They're coming this way. They have guns in their hands.
I know one of them wears asheriff's badge. Lomon. Maybe pass,
don't get your gun. They'll beready for a fast getaway. But I'm
not, uh be ready. Ravensjust smart enough to have made plans.

(13:30):
It would hinder our search for him. Want him do? That's a sheriff?
What do you want on us?This is another county that sheriff doesn't
know us? Right here you wishleave me here? I am, And

(13:52):
there's my horse. Pleasures do youmy good paint horse? Will you find
it's not your horse? You take? I mean she was youthfully a one
minute shout keeping covered bulls. That'smy paint horse. Had engine stole it
from here with limbs. But it'snot true. Cheers had a horse was

(14:13):
stolen by a week ago. We'vebeen scournies Hills ever since. This horse
name Scout him my horse. ThisMount Stevie's big business. We see when
it's don bay miss meaning the rich. You say this is your horse,
hat's ride, then mount up andprove it. If you want the mask
off. Good turgo and ready wheels. They watch yourself. Shure if don't

(14:37):
get close to him till he's disarmed. I've seen some of the tricks.
Men like that can pull their horse. You'll mount him. Watch me there
there, suref see how this horselets me mount up? This is the
one who stole from me. I'lltake those horse thieves to jail. The

(15:03):
curtain falls on the first act ofour Long Ranger story. Before the next
exciting scenes, please prominister pause forjust a few moments now to continue our

(16:10):
story. When the Long Arrangement,Totto paused near the school from which dreg
Graven had taken Dan. A sheriff'sfossey approached with the surprising accusation that Toto
was riding a stolen horse. Theman who claimed the horse climbed with the
saddle while Toto held Scout's head.See, Cheff, see how this paint.
Let's me sit and stride him,Cheff. That horse is called Scout.

(16:32):
He belonged to Tunno for a longtime. Either this man is mistaken
or is willing to identify any horseso he can replace the one that was
stolen from him. He Blue Teamhe don let him out because Totto held
him. Totto releases him. Lambor nobody else can stay in a saddle
that ain't, so let him go. Tutto first dr shoe of bees a

(17:03):
rich he You know how a redskin can train a horse, Sheriff.
The time he's had this paint,the engine's taught him new tricks. That's
why he tries to throw me.We stayed here long enough. It would
be simple to prove that tunna wason that horse for a long time.
But we can't stay here. Hey, sis, you're going to see hell.
Boys disarm him, take off atme, Sheriff, Remember the evidence
we found in the stable, thatengine belt. I said the time that

(17:26):
i'd better red skin was a thief. Where were you waiting for? Boys?
Desharging me? Hang it all,Sheriff. The first man that gets
close will be in a pack oftrouble. Sheriff, you've been searching for
a week. It's in that direction. Yep. Did you search the hills
over there? Loop? We figuredif a thieven cutty went this week could
go on three. Neither be nouse going this. We We found you

(17:48):
right here with a horse who stoolyou're ready. M I'm sorry you lost
a horse. Maybe we'll find itfor you. Let me go, Sheriff
catching heading into the hills the lonerangement. Totto soon put the shafts posse

(18:22):
out of sight. Then they raineddown. Raven did his work well,
Totto. He left an Indian beltto make sure the lawman would suspect the
first in in they found a strida paint horse on that night. Sheriff
said he'd already searched in the otherdirection. If Raven and Dan had gone
that way, he'd have found somesign of them. Raven not know how
to hide tracks him not woodsman,and Dan wouldn't show him. I'm sure

(18:47):
Dan would do all they can toleave a trail. We'll ride a straight
line between the school and the foothills. Somewhere on that line were across the
route that Dan took. Come on, slate him up his scout. It
was a short time after sunrise inthe woods drag. Raven had awakened at

(19:08):
the first faint gray light of dawnand had made sure Dan Reid was well
tied before leaving the camp for ashort tour of inspection of the land surrounding
the clearing, he broke through denseunderbrush, cheerful not to go too far
from camp. Then he came upona scene that at first puzzibly what do
you make of this? Someone surehas been here? He studied the place.

(19:33):
Then his eyes glowed with suppressed rage. Boy, that little double crosser,
jerked out a clasp knife and openedthe blade with clean slices. He
cut through the ropes that bound Dan'sarms and legs. The boy stirred,
opened his eyes and saw the cruelface of drag Raven looking down at him.
Yeah, I want to talk toyou. Get on your feet,

(19:55):
all right, I'm up, Raven. What's the matter? Come over here.
I want to show you someth what'sthe matter. You'll find out soon
enough. What's the matter? I'veoutwitted some of the smartest men in California,
and I don't figure on being fooledby a kid like you. Where
are we going? Right over here? It ain't far, I foundered when
I was looking around here at daybreak, waiting for the sun to come up,
Sos, I could see what directionit was in. You go very
far, you lose our camp.He ain't going far enough for that.

(20:18):
I just stepped through that of thatclear and you'll see what I mean very
well. I'll take a look there. Look to you like someone's made a
camp there. Yeah, yeah,there was a camp here. Don't it
look familiar to you? What doyou mean? You know what I mean?
Listen read you've been leading me inour circle. This here is one
of our own camps. There's whereyou made a lean to sheller. Here's

(20:41):
where you set up stones for afireplace. Now, ain't it? It's
pretty hard to avoid circling in thewoods. Why I brought you along?
You're traveled with that mask man anIndian. You know how to travel through
the woods without circling, don't you. If you don't like the way I'm
guying you, why don't you setyour own course. I'll do no more
that lippy talk. You figure onleading me in circles. Someone catches up
to us, you better think again. You know why? Yeah? Oh

(21:02):
you do know why? Eh?Well, and you tell me if someone
catches up to us, you makesure that I'm the first one to be
shot. That's it exactly, That'sjust right. I'll get back to the
camp we're starting out right now.The fact that you tried to be smart
with me, meals you'd start withouthaving time to eat breakfast. I won't
put up with none of your smartelectrics to understand. I understand one thing

(21:22):
more. Maybe you think it'd bereal smart if you'll risk your own neck
to turn me over to the law. Maybe you wouldn't mind it so much
if I did shoot you, ifyou thought I'd get caught. My wife
doesn't mean much, but you getthat idea out of your head. Let
me tell you what'll happen if someoneovertakes us. What will happen to you?
And your horse will make a firstclass shield. I figure the lone
ranger won't try to shoot me ifhe's got to shoot through you to get
me. The lone rangers always taughtme that our lives aren't important when I

(21:47):
compared to bigger things. I'll stakemy freedom on the fact that the lone
ranger won't shoot you to get me. I'll break camp and get started.
Greg Raven Grove d hard all morning, but the boy's courage never faltered.
He took every opportunity to leave tracksthat could be clearly followed. He used
all the lore, the totto andthe lone ranger had taught him to make

(22:10):
the course devious without letting the outlawknow what he was doing. The sun
reached his inn. It then thisafternoon progressed. The two pushed through the
woods. In late afternoon, Ravensuddenly called, oh wait, hold on
there, this is to be alittle double crosser. What's the matter.
We're gonna have a showdown right now. I've stood all I'm gonna stand from
you. You've took me for afool. Anytime you don't like the way

(22:33):
I break, I can do somethingabout it. Yes, and that's what
I'm doing right now. I've learneda lot in these past days, and
maybe I don't need anymore. Lookat that sun, Well, what about
it? It's on my face whenwe started out this morning. Well,
and that's on my face now,and it should be in back of me.
You've took me in another circle,now, ain't Yeah it seems that
way. Yeah, it does seemthat way. Come here, Raven,

(22:56):
you might as well get it throughyour head. Nothing you can do scare
me, I said, come here, Get off that horse. You can't
get away, Raven. No matterhow far you go the long range,
you will find you that's the onereason why I don't shoot you and leave
you for him. He will findyou, whether you shoot me or not.
And if he comes you in myshield. You're savvy. We had
that out before then. Still,and I'll let you wear ropes all the

(23:18):
time instead of just at night now, and I'll decide where we're going.
Gave you the chance to help meout, to save your life. For
doing it, she didn't appreciate it. Maybe that rope's tight enough to hurt
u. You can't hurt me.I'll make it tight enough so as you
don't get out of it and hurry. You can't hurt me. Oh,
I'll decide where we go, sendup my back in the morning, and

(23:38):
face all afternoon. Raven, It'sabout time you learn something. Yeah,
you're the one to teach me.You've been traveling for a week. How
far do you think you've gone?I go a lot further doing the next
week. You'd be surprised if youknew how near the school you are right
now. You confounded. You don'tbelieve anything I say. You don't know
the wood, you don't know whichway to travel. Well, you might
start out and run right into thehands of the male are looking for you.

(24:00):
You keep on and you're running.I've led you in a great,
big circle. So the schools inan entirely different direction, and you think
why you might break out of thewoods at almost any point. All of
a sudden, what was that,victor? Did you hear that? Here?
That's a friend of yours? Hereare you shut your teeth? I

(24:22):
know that horse? It's over here. Let him come. This is a
showdown. Come only get me.Come on, let's see what's your fine?
This way, this way, we'llhave a showdown right now. Struggled
to get free, and I'll knockyou out. Show you. Come on,
come on and get me. Ravenstood with his back against a giant

(24:47):
tree, but one army held DanReid as a shield. Tired as he
was, the boy was unable tostruggle. Raven held one gun on his
hand. Another was in a holsterwith additional cartridges, a lone ranger and
Tato quickly saw the situation. Coverdown here, Todd, crook him,
get back a Dan, come andwe can't risk kill hi Dan. Oh,
why don't you come and get it? That's four shots, Tuddo.

(25:11):
He has two more in that gunat right. Then he's got the reloaded
change guns. Make give him target. Maybe you shoot his hand when he
fires. It's too risky for them. If Dan would only do one thing,
damn plenty smart him. Lead Ravenin big circle, then did all
he could. Hallo, what areYou're right? I'll move to my left.
We'll come in on him from twosides. Not good, listen,

(25:33):
tell me that's the best man.You stand up and lift your hand.
All right, skin too, renderbefore I can't free this tickets at him?
Got us he can do. Wecan't let him shoot. Then I
come on, don't show yourself.You are a run the first opportunity.

(25:56):
Oh all right, Raven, Iam. I've got a pretty side lone
ranger with his hands up. Where'sthe redskin? Me here? Raven?
This is the showdown, isn't it? Sure? I'm in joying it.

(26:18):
I'm gonna take my time putting thebullet into the man that turned the hole
of the Bambary coats against me.You overlooked one thing. I don't overlook
anything. You stole a horse,you've been riding the sheriff, and I
pass your hunting for you fixed him. You got his go ahead, gotch.

(26:41):
Come here, Sheriff. Here's ahorse and the thief. You cut
rope and it quick? Now,lah, damn crooks your head. I'm
tight. Hey, there's my painthorse. That's one. Are you sure
which horse is him? You confounded? Foo? You call every horse you

(27:03):
miss one? Here shirffyff. Thisman has wanted in San Francisco. I
think you've got some rewards when youturn him in. You keep you didn't.
They shaved the whole thing. Now, I should have known sooner,
but it wasn't for you left thatyou called your horse you be lemmy did
keep peting the pulleys. Yeah,I'm sure, sorry, he should reward.

(27:26):
You had these crety who are here? Hit him? Not me.
The reward and the prisoner are bothyours, Sherriff. I don't I just
one day? Sure, I'm gladyou came. I tried to keep him
circling. You did great work.Then you kept him within a few hours
of his starting point, not ofNow you're going back to school. School,

(27:48):
be swell after these last few days, Come on, victor, get
him up. The story you havejust heard is a copyrighted feature of the

(29:32):
Lone Ranger Incorporated. This has beena presentation of OTR Westerns dot com and

(29:55):
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(30:18):
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