Silver Trails

Jimmy Wakely and his pal "Cannonball" are on their way to work for California settler John Chambers when they discover the body of Don Manuel, a member of an old Californian family. Don Manuel has been killed by Ramsay and Sturgis, two men on the payroll of crooked county surveyor Willard Jackson. They have taken land grant documents that Manuel was carrying so that Jackson can make copies and claim the land for himself. José, a young Mexican land owner, accuses Jimmy of killing Manuel and challenges him to a gunfight, but Jimmy beats him to the draw. Just then, José's uncle, Don Esteban, an old friend of Jimmy's, arrives on the scene and vouches for Jimmy, but José still regards him as a land grabber. At Don Esteban's hacienda, where Jimmy and Cannonball meet ranch hand Whip, Esteban tells Jimmy that José's father was killed by unidentified settlers who took over his ranch. Although José suspects that John may have been involved in the killing, Jimmy is convinced of his friend's innocence. John and his daughter Diane, meanwhile, visit Jackson's office to collect a survey of land he has bought via a deed. When Johnny and Cannonball show up, they are welcomed by John and Jackson, but Jimmy becomes involved in a fistfight with Jackson's men. Afterward, Jackson explains to Jimmy that the native Californians whose land has been confiscated by settlers could not prove title to their land and had not established property lines. After Jimmy and Cannonball head out to John's ranch, Jackson sends another gunman, Dirk, to shoot them but they return fire and kill him. When Jimmy learns that José used to court Diane, he suggests to John that he and Esteban should meet to try to discuss their differences. On their way to church the next day, the two families meet up and attend the service, for which Jimmy has asked the padre to preach a particular sermon. After church, José and Diane reunite, and John and Esteban plan a meeting involving the other settlers. Later, John informs Jackson that Esteban is about to receive a court decision as to the validity of records contained in family bibles as proof of land ownership. As John and José talk in John's ranch house, Ramsay shoots John through an open window, and José is accused of the crime but escapes. Jimmy catches José and turns him over to the sheriff, but on his death bed, John tells Jimmy that José did not shoot him. John's death incites the settlers against the Californians, and Jackson adds more acreage to his holdings. When Jimmy, Cannonball and Whip learn that José is about to be lynched, they ride to his rescue, free him and escape. Later, Diane hires Jackson's men to hunt for José, whom she believes to be guilty, and follows Whip to where Jimmy is hiding José, who was wounded in the escape. Diane draws a gun on them but Whip lashes it out of her hand. Esteban, meanwhile, has decided to sell his hacienda and has gone to Santa Cruz to collect the documents. He is ambushed, however, and robbed of the papers. Later, Jimmy arrives at Jackson's office just in time to prevent him from burning Esteban's land grant. Diane draws her gun on Jimmy, but he is able to prove to her that Jackson has been behind all the trouble and hands him over to the sheriff. Diane and José plan to marry and with peace restored, Jimmy and Cannonball head off to another adventure.