The Utah Kid

Cowboy Bob Roberts is in town looking for a job when several desperadoes, with their guns ablaze, run into the street. After Bob helps apprehend the troublemakers, marshal H. R. Higgins appoints him deputy marshal. The marshal then shows Bob a notice about the upcoming Dalton Rodeo and explains that a syndicate of outlaws has been dogging the rodeo circuit, insuring that its riders will win the prize money by poisoning their competitors. Higgins proposes that Bob join the rodeo circuit as a rider while he proceeds to Dalton to investigate. Meanwhile, at the Dalton saloon, Barton, the leader of the gang, learns of the impending investigation and plans to rob the stage and then leave town. He instructs his gang that Dolores, their accomplice, will be riding as a passenger on the next stage and signal the attack. On the trail to Dalton, Bob notices Dolores' signal, interrupts the robbery and disperses the gang. The grateful driver offers Bob a ride to town, and inside the stage, he meets Dolores and Marjorie Carter, the daughter of Judge Carter, the president of the Cattlemen's Bank. After the stage arrives in town, Marjorie introduces Bob to her father, who invites him to the bank. Dolores, meanwhile, reports to Barton that Bob foiled the robbery and plans to enter the rodeo. At the bank, Carter explains that the community's money is invested in the rodeo and asks Bob to accept the post of deputy sheriff and keep the rodeo honest, but Bob refuses his offer. The next day, after Bob wins the first five events at the rodeo, Barton tells Dolores to lure him into a trap that night. The marshal, who has been observing the competition, becomes suspicious of Dolores and assigns Bob to pump her for information and then meet him at the saloon that evening. Consequently, when Dolores asks Bob to meet her "brother" Cheyenne, a rodeo star, at their cabin, he accompanies her there and is overpowered and tied up by Slim and several other gang members. Slim then rides Bob's horse into town to report to Barton. Upon noticing Slim mount Bob's horse, Higgins tricks Dolores into revealing the location of the cabin. By the time he arrives there, however, Bob has broken his bonds, and together, the two lawmen fend off their assailants and escape. The next day, Barton, foiled in his attempts to thwart Bob, approaches the cowboy and offers him a bribe to throw the bronco busting contest. Although Bob pretends to accept his terms, Barton orders his gang to "fix" Bob's saddle to insure that he loses. Before mounting his steed for the bronco busting contest, Bob inspects his saddle and finds a concealed hypodermic needle filled with poison. Upon learning that Bob has discovered the poison, Barton instructs his men to rob the bank of the rodeo receipts. When Barton and the others leave Dolores behind, she warns Bob about the robbery and he gallops to the bank. As Bob captures two of the bandits, the town's ineffectual sheriff appears and, mistaking Bob for one of the robbers, arrests him. Just then, however, the marshal arrives and identifies Bob as his deputy. Leaping onto his horse, Bob pursues Barton. After apprehending Barton, Bob turns the needle over to the marshal, and his mission completed, Bob accepts Carter's offer to become the town's deputy sheriff.