During the oil boom of the 1910s, confidence woman Kye Allen
falsely claims that oilman Angelo Colina tried to take advantage
of her while both are traveling by train. Her partner in crime,
Martin "Dude" McNair, then comes to Colina's defense, and the
oilman offers to sell him four prime Carsin oil plots out of
gratitude. Arriving at the oil fields, however, Dude and Kye
discover that they themselves have been swindled, as the wells are
dry. Dude then meets and takes an immediate fancy to Laura Kirby (Anne
Gwynne),
daughter of the local newspaper publisher.
Arriving in Carsin, the
two con artists learn that Laura's father has been murdered and
saloon proprietor Rock Delaney has been accused of the crime. Dude
stops the townspeople, who are led by Wade Crowell, Laura's
fiancé, from lynching the saloon owner. In return for saving his
life, Dude demands that Rock make him a partner and the saloon
owner quickly agrees, making Kye worry. Dude calls a meeting of
the Carsin gambling and saloon proprietors, saying that they must
band together under his leadership.
When he demands protection
money, however, saloon owner Kentucky Jones leaves the meeting,
and later that night, his establishment is blown up. Kye visits
Rock in jail and tells him that she will not let Dude be blamed
for his violent actions. A town meeting is called to rally support
against Rock and Dude, but it quickly breaks up when Dude falsely
reports a giant oil strike.
Later, Dude tries to romance Laura as
the heartbroken Kye secretly watches. When Judge Eustace Vale, an
old friend of Dude and Kye, arrives in town, Dude finances his
purchase of a fifty per cent interest in Laura's failing
newspaper. Meanwhile, Kye offers to bankroll Wade's oil drilling
with her life savings, only to discover that Dude has already
spent the money on Laura's newspaper. The con man then admits that
he has fallen in love with Laura, and the defeated Kye makes plans
to leave town.
Later, Colina returns to Carsin in order to act as
the front for Rock's purchase of a partnership in Wade's well.
After Laura loans Wade her newfound money, however, he turns down
the crooked oilman's offer. Rock then sends his henchman, Dry
Hole, to sabotage Wade's well, knowing that Dude will be blamed
for anything that happens. After Wade's well is blown up, Kentucky
rallies the town against both Rock and Dude. While Kentucky
eavesdrops from his hiding place, Rock sneaks into the saloon and
confesses all to Dude.
The two men fight, and as the townspeople
break through the saloon's barricades, Rock defeats Dude, but is
killed by Kentucky. Dude is saved from a lynching by Kentucky, but
then is ordered to leave town. Meanwhile, Laura and Kye arrive at
Wade's well just in time to see it strike oil. Later, Kye meets
Dude on a train and tells him that she has retrieved their $17,000
from Colina. The two then decide to settle down together in an
honest life.
and rowdy outdoor drama. After being hooked by oil lease promoter Leo
Carrillo, bunko team of Broderick Crawford and Constance Bennett arrive in the
boom town of Carsin. Crawford, with persuasive salesmanship, saves Ward
Bond from a lynching, and mov3es in to take over half interest in the town
gambling layout and bar. 
