Three Partners

Originally Aired: December 23, 1938 The Lone Ranger #922, "Three Partners," the masked rider and Tonto investigate a suspicious death at a remote gold claim along the Frazier River. Red Smiley claims his partner Cliff Noble was murdered by a band of four Indians who attacked their cabin while Cliff nursed a sprained ankle. Red insists he chased the raiders but they escaped, and he tries to recruit the Lone Ranger as a witness to his pursuit. However, the stranger's story quickly falls apart when Tonto reveals he saw no Indians in the area—and more damning, he observed Red sitting idly on the trail before suddenly spurring his horse into a false chase when he spotted someone approaching. The Lone Ranger suspects Red is establishing a fake alibi for his partner's murder, possibly motivated by greed over their gold claim or tensions that had been building during the long winter. When the third partner, Clem Peterson, returns from town with supplies, he finds Cliff dead and Red spinning his tale of Indian raiders. The masked man and Tonto must uncover the truth before Red can deceive Clem and get away with murder.