Overland Riders

Bandits attack a stagecoach in which Fuzzy Jones and Jean Barkley are passengers and kill the driver, but the robbery is interrupted by the timely arrival of Fuzzy's friend, Billy Carson. After Fuzzy and Billy capture two of the robbers, Fuzzy, who is on a secret errand, accuses Billy of trying to learn about his business deal. Billy is surprised by his friend's unexpected accusation, but turns his attention to the grateful Jean, who tells him that her father is rancher Jeff Barkley. Billy and Fuzzy turn the bandits over to the sheriff and are witnessed by two of the bandits' confederates, who worry that their association with the arrested men will be revealed. Meanwhile, in pursuit of his mysterious business deal, Fuzzy unwittingly visits the local land office, which, unknown to him, is the gang's headquarters, and asks to buy some land near the Barkley ranch. Vic Landreau, who is regarded as a respectable citizen but is actually the head of the gang, tells him that the land is not for sale. After Fuzzy leaves, Landreau reveals that he is interested in the same land and orders his men to rob the stagecoach to prevent Jeff from getting the money that he needs to pay a mortgage held by Landreau. At the Barkley ranch, Billy meets with Jeff, who is selling his cattle in an effort to recoup losses sustained from rustlers. While they speak, Landreau arrives with his men and offers to buy the ranch from Jeff, rather than foreclosing on the mortgage. To his surprise, Jeff shows him the money he has just received for his cattle. After Landreau leaves, Fuzzy arrives and also asks to buy some land. When Jeff refuses to sell, Fuzzy again angrily accuses Billy of interfering in his business and rides away. Concerned, Billy follows his friend. As Fuzzy rides down the road, he is almost killed in an ambush by Landreau. Billy hears the shots and rides to Fuzzy's rescue. Later, in town, Billy tries to hire a trail crew to drive Jeff's cattle, but all the cowhands refuse, saying that all the men who worked for Jeff have been killed. The next day, Jeff drives into town to pay his mortgage and is killed by Landreau, who also steals the money. Fuzzy finds the body and is arrested for Jeff's murder. When Billy hears about the arrest, he asks if Fuzzy has any money on him, and hearing that he does not, knows that Fuzzy is innocent. Later, as he and Jean discuss the murder, Billy realizes that only he and Landreau knew about the money, but Jean refuses to believe that Landreau would have killed her father. Billy remembers that the money he used to pay for the cattle had been spattered with blood during the stagecoach robbery. Meanwhile, Landreau breaks his accomplices out of jail, but Billy sees them riding away and summons the sheriff. A shootout ensues and the men are re-captured. Fuzzy then tells Billy about plans to build a railroad near the Barkley ranch and explains that he hoped to get rich by buying land that would be in the railroad's right of way. This information convinces Billy that Landreau is behind the Barkleys' problems. Upon learning that Jean is offering to sell the ranch to Landreau, Billy intervenes and manages to examine the money in Landreau's safe. Fuzzy, who has escaped from jail, then helps Billy identify the blood-stained money stolen from Jeff. The sheriff arrests Landreau and his men, and with matters are straightened out, Fuzzy and Billy drive the cattle to their new owner.