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Audio is a little short. The prospector wakes up in the morning, and in high spirits as he is optimistic and in anticipation at the assayers reports. His wife is more practical, and tries to soften the blow for old Caleb, in case things won’t be so rosey. Tonto observes as Caleb Bixby is teased by the other men in town for his past ailed attempts. Will today’s finding be any different? Will the old timer have to worry about claim jumpers? Will the assayer have good advice along with good news about the gold?
Caleb’s excitement is hard to hide, and soon Lone Ranger is warned about shady characters who look to steal the miner’s success. Will he be in time to prevent bloodshed?
With Lone Ranger’s help Sara Bixby sets out to file the claim on the gold mine? At the same time Tonto tends to Caleb’s wounds, and the shooter is identified. Can they make Bixby and his wife understand their most trusted friend is the one who did the shooting? Just as a critical moment arrives, the audio cuts out, and all we can do is imagine that a betrayal was interupted, or that somehow Lone Ranger was able to reverse the trouble that was sure to befall the old couple.
PS: You know there can’t be a sad ending. Here’s my prediction at the point the audio cuts out, and Sara is about to turn over their claim to their false friend.
He takes it, making it all the more urgent for Lone Ranger to have to defeat him. Poor old Sara and Caleb are helpless, but together and with Tontos help, Caleb is nursed back to health.
Meanwhile, Lone Ranger races on Silver to apprehend the friend. Or a trap is set to make the bad guy confess, give up the claim, or panic, only to fall into a trap of his own doing, or come to death at his own doing.
Hey, Lone Ranger is never seen shooting people, especially in killing them. Those silver bullets are only used as calling cards, or to expertly shoot the gun out of the hands of evil doers.
There’s only one episode I can think of where Lone Ranger killed someone. But when I listened closely to it again, he really didn’t. The shooting only resulted in the bad guy dieing due to his own plan backfiring, and the Lone Ranger’s pistol handles remained notchless.
