The Whispering Skull

Texas Ranger Dave Wyatt unites with Tex Haines, an attorney and champion of the law, to defeat "The Whispering Skull," a masked renegade who rides by night on a horse that makes no sound and leaves no trail. The two then ride to meet Dave's partner, ranger Panhandle Perkins. In town, meanwhile, Duke Walters, the proprietor of the local saloon, receives a threat from The Skull, warning him to leave town or face the consequences. Outraged, Duke rallies a group of riders to search for The Skull. When Duke and his men find Panhandle camping in a cabin on the outskirts of town, they accuse him of being The Skull and are about to hang the hapless Panhandle when Dave and Tex arrive and save him from the noose. Deciding to work undercover, Dave conceals his identity as a lawmen from Duke and introduces himself as Reno Carson. Upon returning to town, Duke, who has been committing crimes in the name of The Skull, convenes his gang and outlines a plot to kill Sheriff Marvin Jackson and frame The Skull for murder. Afterward, the sheriff presses a reluctant Judge Polk to issue a warrant for the arrest of The Skull. Armed with the warrant, the sheriff goes to accomplish his mission. Soon after, the rangers hear gunshots coming from Duke's office, and when they investigate, they find the sheriff's lifeless body lying on the floor. When the sheriff's daughter Ellen arrives on the next stagecoach, Tex informs her that her father is dead. Ellen then produces a letter written by her father, asserting that he has discovered the identity of The Skull. While examining the sheriff's body, Dave discovers that the lawman is still breathing and enlists the aid of Doc Humphrey to keep him alive. Hoping that the Jackson can identify his attacker upon gaining consciousness, the two keep his condition secret and conceal him in the cellar beneath the general store. While riding along a stream one day, Panhandle finds some strange-looking rocks and shows them to Duke. Later that evening, Ellen watches as first Tex and then Dave ride out of town. Meeting clandestinely, Dave tells Tex that the sheriff is still alive. Meanwhile, Duke instructs one of his gang to don the mask of The Skull and rob the incoming stagecoach. With the stolen money, Duke plans to buy range lands bearing the strange rocks, which he assumes are diamonds. Witnessing the attack on the stage, Dave and Tex shoot the robber, and when they pull off his mask, they recognize him as being one of Duke's men. Upon returning to town, Tex escorts Ellen to the cellar to see her father, who has regained consciousness. While Jackson identifies his assailant as Duke, the real Skull sneaks into Duke's office. Outside the back door of the saloon, Dave finds a horse with padded feet, and realizing that the animal belongs to The Skull, breaks down the door and overpowers The Skull. Dave pulls the mask off the renegade, revealing Arkansas Mike Corom. When Duke gallops off, Tex follows and after capturing him, explains that Arkansas Mike also discovered the strange rocks, and believing them to be valuable, decided to don the disguise of The Skull and scare the ranchers into selling their land cheaply. Tex concludes that Duke used The Skull's activities to conceal his own crimes, and that the rocks are really worthless. Their mission accomplished, the lawmen mount up and ride off.