The mission of Santa Maria stood at the edge of the desert. Clustered around the main building were the house of the padre Phillipe, the cabins of a few servants and Indians, and a tower - the bells of which could be heard even farther than the tower could be seen. It was the hour of the vespers when the Lone Ranger and Tonto turned their horses into the mission courtyard, and seeing no-one around, they reined up near the bell tower. Padre Phillipe soon approached, and the Lone Ranger introduced himself via a letter sent from the Padre whom they both shared as a good friend. They were there to help the Padre locate the missing journal of the padre who had started the mission, which had been recently stolen.