Gold Mine Boundary

Originally Aired: September 26, 1938 In The Lone Ranger #884, "Gold Mine Boundary," a bitter dispute over mining claims leads to deception and danger in the gold country near Oak Falls. Bull and Jake, two dishonest prospectors, secretly tunnel from their worthless claim into the mine of Steve Gardner, where they discover a rich vein of gold ore on his property. When they attempt to buy Steve's claim at a low price, he angrily refuses, remembering how they previously cheated him on a fraudulent sale. Steve is caring for his ailing father and desperately needs money, but his stubborn pride and justified distrust won't allow him to do business with the two swindlers again. Rebuffed in their attempt at a buyout, Bull hints at a sinister alternative plan involving Big Stone Canyon. Two weeks later, Bull intercepts Tonto on a mountain trail with a suspicious story about a lame horse and a lucrative gold discovery. He offers Tonto over a hundred dollars in gold to deliver a message to Steve Gardner, claiming Steve won't listen to him directly because of past bad blood between them. The setup suggests a dangerous trap is being laid for the unsuspecting prospector.