Texas cattlemen Steve Logan and Jim Caldwell bring their herd into
the boom town of
Abilene, Texas. Steve immediately falls for
gambler Claire, even though she attempts to cheat him at cards.
Steve then learns that, while cattle sells for twenty-three
dollars a head in Kansas City, it sells for only eleven dollars a
head in Abilene, as an unknown middle man controls the city's
cattle market. When an Eastern cattle buyer complains about the
situation, he is immediately killed.
In an attempt to flush out
the murderous combine leader, Steve agrees to buy trail boss Courtwright's herd at a higher price over Jim's objections. After
Courtwright is killed in an ambush, Steve and Jim ride out to his
camp and meet his boss, cattlewoman Chris Prentise (Anne Gwynne). Jim
immediately falls in love with Chris, and asks the handsome Steve
to stay away from her.
The next morning, the sheriff orders Steve
and Jim to move their new herd off rancher Lindsay's land, so they
bring the cattle into town. Steve then auctions off the cattle for
eighteen dollars a head, and announces that he has a lead to the
identity of the head of the combine. Saloon owner Ballard, who is
the combine leader, realizes that Steve and Jim have connected him
to Lindsay, so he orders the rancher to leave town. Cowboys Slim, Chinito and Cherokee capture the escaping rancher, who then
confesses that Ballard is his boss. Lindsay is killed, however, by
Ballard's henchman Chango before the cattlemen can take him to the
sheriff.
Ballard later admits to being the head of the combine,
but points out that there is no proof of any criminal involvement
on his part. Steve and Jim then set up a cattlemen's association
in Abilene. The quick success of the association soon goes to
Steve's head, much to the dismay of Chris, who has fallen in love
with him. Steve tells Claire, however, that he sees Chris as Jim's
girl, as they "were made for each other."
The heartbroken Chris
prepares to leave town, but Jim stops her by confessing his love,
while agreeing to get Steve for her. Jim then tells Steve that he
wants him to return to Texas with Chris and him. Steve refuses,
and the two break up their partnership. When Steve learns that
Ballard's men plan to ambush Jim, however, he rushes to his old
friend's aid. While Steve saves Jim from the ambush, their herd is
destroyed by a fire set by Ballard's men. Steve then goes into the
cattlemen's association and forces Ballard to pay for the dead
cattle.
A shootout ensues, and the sheriff arrests Steve as the
instigator. Claire warns Chris that Ballard is organizing a lynch
party, so Chris rides off to tell Jim. To save Steve, Jim
stampedes a second herd through the town. In the ensuing
shootouts, both Ballard and Chango are killed by Jim, and Claire
is wounded while handing Jim a gun. Afterward, Jim and Chris are
united, as are Steve and Claire, and the four decide to return
home to Texas.
cast. Robert Paige, Anne
Gwynne, Diana Barrymore and Lon Chaney join
up with western vets Noah Beery, Jr., Andy Devine, Leo Carrillo and William
Farnum to provide good cast mounting.
