Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. The local dialog has been retained including the following: page 54: "Take's more thinkin'," -- possible typo for "Takes more thinkin'," page 114: strong, stanch friend -- possible typo for strong, staunch friend The author's use of both addleheaded and addle-headed has been retained. THE LONE RANGER RIDES By FRAN STRIKER Illustrated by W. A. SMITH G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK Copyright, 1941, by The Lone Ranger, Inc. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. Manufactured in the United States of America VAN REES PRESS, NEW YORK TO GEORGE W. TRENDLE CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Basin 3 II. The Gap 8 III. The Cave 16 IV. Gray Dawn 22 V. Tonto 33 VI. Silver 42 VII. Yuma 50 VIII. A Matter of Murder 61 IX. Bryant Talks 69 X. The Lone Ranger 83 XI. The Lone Ranger Rides 90 XII. A Legal Paper 96 XIII. Help Wears a Mask 102 XIV. The Trail Leads Down 111 XV. Intrigue Comes Closer 119 XVI. One-Eye Sees Death 132 XVII. Penelope Signs Her Name 140 XVIII. A Gambler Talks 151 XIX. Announcement Extraordinary 162 XX. Red Oak 173 XXI. An Admission from Bryant Cavendish 182 XXII. Stalemate 191 XXIII. Yuma Rides Behind a Masked Man 201 XXIV. Bryant Goes Home 207 XXV. Who Is Andrew Munson? 219 XXVI. Disaster Gets Organized 225 XXVII. Guns Talk Back 235 XXVIII. Wallie Leads an Ace 243 XXIX. An Ace Is Trumped 252 XXX. The Badge of a Ranger 261 THE LONE RANGER RIDES Chapter I THE BASIN In a remote basin in the western part of Texas, the Cavendish clan raised cattle. From the vast level acreage, where longhorns grew fat on lush grass, the surrounding hills looked verdant and hospitable; but this was pure deceit on Nature's part. Those hills were treacherous, and Bryant Cavendish loved them for that selfsame treachery.