Gangsters of the Frontier

In the Red Rock saloon, mine owner Frank Merritt reminsces about the time, five years earlier, when Tex Haines, then sheriff of Red Rock, arrested the Kern brothers and sent them to prison, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity. To commemorate the occasion, the Kerns's guns were mounted on the wall, along with a plaque reading, "So long as these two guns hang here, peace and prosperity will reign in Red Rock Valley." As Merritt finishes speaking, Rad and Bart Kern, who have just escaped from prison, ride into town, followed by Texas Ranger Dave Wyatt. Brazenly striding into the saloon, the brothers reclaim their pistols and announce their intention to take control of the town and its gold-rich mines. When Dave enters and challenges their claim, a shootout ensues, sending Tex, Merritt and Dave scurrying for cover at the telegraph office, which is owned by Jane Deering. There, they meet Panhandle Perkins, Jane's telegraph operator, and his homing pigeon Homer, who join the fray. When the Kern gang storms the office, the foursome take refuge in a barn. As the outlaws search for them, Dave explains that he has been sent to apprehend the Kern brothers, leading Tex to propose joining forces. Meanwhile, Jane, who is sitting in her living room, plays a phonograph record of Tex singing, and when the renegades hear his voice, they go to Jane's house and discover the phonograph. Formulating a plot to decoy the outlaws, Tex sneaks out of the barn and into Jane's house, straps on his guitar and begins to sing, drawing the gang away from the barn. While their pursuers are diverted, Panhandle and Dave saddle up and gallop out of the barn. Merritt is too slow, however, and is taken hostage by the gang. While attempting to escape, he is shot and killed and his death is witnessed by his wife. Tex, Jane and Dave then take cover at the Red Rock telegraph relay station, and when the Kerns coerce a group of townsmen to work in the mines, Panhandle rides to the station with the news. Soon after, Mrs. Merritt, determined to avenge her husband's death, arrives at the station accompanied by a group of townsfolk who offer her support, and Dave deputizes them as Territorial Rangers. Realizing that the lawmen will use the telegraph lines to summon the ranchers, Rad decides to seize control of the line and kidnap Jane. That night, Tex dispatches a group of rangers to sabotage the mines that the outlaws have seized. The next morning, Jane is working at the relay station when she sees a band of renegades approach. She tries to telegraph for help, but Panhandle has disconnected the receiver and as a result, her message is not received. Soon after, Tex and Dave meet Panhandle along the trail, and when he expresses puzzlement over Jane's silence, they ride to the relay station to investigate and discover that Jane is missing. Rad and Bart imprison Jane in a cabin in town, knowing that Tex and the others will follow. As the Kerns ride to assemble their gang for an ambush, Jane improvises a telegraph from some loose wires and warns Panhandle that a trap is being set for them. As Panhandle is about to notify the others, an outlaw shoots down the wires. When Panhandle sends Homer for help, one of the gang shoots him down and Panhandle suggests frying him for dinner. While washing his frying pan in the creek, Panhandle sees the downed telegraph wire and surreptiously sends a message to Dave and Tex about the trap. Deciding to trick the renegades into believing that their plan is working, Dave and Tex assemble the Rangers and ride toward town. Panhandle, meanwhile, overpowers his captors and tells Homer that he can stop pretending to be dead. After the pigeon takes wing, Panhandle joins the others as they converge in town for a blazing gunfight with the outlaws. While Panhandle frees Jane, Tex and Dave shoot down Rad and Bart. Dave then removes their guns and hands them to Tex, who hangs them back on the wall, reinstituting an era of peace and prosperity.