The Fighting Ranger

Ranger Johnny Brown has been pursuing rancher Sinclair for killing a ranger, and when Sinclair is mortally wounded after falling down a cliff, he tells Johnny that he was framed by his cousin Hack, who wants to inherit his uncle Ward Henderson's ranch. Sinclair also asks Johnny to take his young son Dave to a safe place, as he knows it would be dangerous for the boy to return to the ranch where he has been living with Sinclair and his wife Julia. Johnny locates Dave and leaves him at Ranger headquarters, then goes to meet Dave's friend Banty to see if he can get him a job at the Henderson ranch so that he can investigate Hack, the foreman. Soon after Johnny arrives, Gill, one of Hack's henchmen, picks a fight with him, but Johnny beats him. Later, Banty tells Johnny that the ranch has not been doing well and that Ward has been thinking of moving into town and turning everything over to his nephew Hack, now his only heir. Johnny figures that if he can prove that Hack is a criminal, Dave will inherit the ranch. After Johnny catches Gill cutting down a section of fence as part of a rustling operation he and Hack are involved in, he takes him to Ward, who locks him in a shed until they can take him to the sheriff the next day. That night, however, Hack secretly frees Gill, and Ward accuses him of not being diligent in guarding Gill and of not realizing that a substantial amount of cattle have been rustled. Ward intends to restock the herd by buying from a neighboring ranch and, after he says he will have the cash ready for the purchase the next day, Hack arranges for Gill and Adams to rob him. When Ward and Hack leave in a buckboard to make their deal, Johnny decides to follow them. Gill and Adams, wearing masks, hold up Ward and Hack and are about to take the money when Johnny rides up and shoots Adams. With Johnny in pursuit, Gill escapes in the buckboard and throws the money satchel off, but is shot by Johnny as soon as he returns to recover it. Later, when Ward reveals to Johnny that he is suspicious of Hack, Johnny tells him about Sinclair and Dave, prompting Ward to decide to keep a very close eye on his nephew. Banty is concerned that Ward may meet with an "accident," and as feared, Hack's men ambush Ward and mortally wound him. On his death bed, Ward tells Johnny that he has made a new will naming Dave as his heir and asks Johnny to be the boy's guardian. After the funeral, Hack tries to fire Johnny, who tells him that Ward changed his will. When Hack tries to find the will in Ward's safe, he is surprised by Banty and starts to beat him up, but Johnny intervenes and eventually routs Hack with his fists. After Johnny tells Hack that the will has already been filed and that he should leave, Hack attempts to persuade Julia to let Johnny go and hints that she should have been made the official guardian. Julia inadvertently tells Hack that Dave is being looked after by the rangers and that she is going to bring Dave back to the ranch. Johnny discovers that Julia has gone for Dave and intercepts them just before Hack tries to kill the boy. Johnny then sends Julia, Dave and their buckboard into a canyon to hide while he faces Hack and his henchmen. Hack sends Bender, one of his men, after Johnny, who is pretending to be wounded, while he follows the buckboard tracks. Johnny lassos Bender and returns in time to rescue Julia and Dave. Bender tells Johnny that Hack killed the ranger and Johnny takes them both into custody. Later, Julia thanks Johnny for helping her and her son.