Blazing Frontier

Ranchers in Red Rock County are losing their property leases to a railroad company, whose agent, Luther Sharp, is selling the deeds for more than originally stipulated in the ranchers' contracts. Sharp has secretly inserted clauses in the ranchers' contracts allowing him to raise the asking price for the land, and he is supported by Tragg, the chief of the railroad detectives. After a judge upholds the contracts in a court trial, the ranchers' lawyer, Lem Barstow, sends for the maligned outlaw Billy the Kid to investigate the railroad's involvement in the swindle. When the now homeless settlers turn into an angry mob, Tragg's gang drives them out of town, and Tragg writes out warrants for their arrest. As soon as Billy arrives in Red Rock, he heads for the saloon and gets in a fight with Tragg when he catches him cheating at cards. When Tragg learns of Billy's identity, however, he offers to deputize him in exchange for his help in permanently driving out the settlers, whom he claims are in breach of contract. Billy declines his offer, but sends for his friend, Fuzzy Q. Jones, who he claims is a ruthless killer. In order to convince Tragg and Sharp of Fuzzy's nefarious nature, Billy insists that Fuzzy rob the stagecoach carrying Sharp's payments from the settlers. Fuzzy refuses to return the money to Sharp, as he has secretly given it to the settlers, but agrees to work for Tragg. In order to check the deeds, Billy convinces the settlers to buy a ranch from Sharp. Despite Barstow's protests, the settlers rustle their own herds, and use the earnings from their sale to purchase a ranch. Billy and Barstow then realize that the deed has been altered to reflect a higher sale price, thereby confirming that Sharp is behind the swindling. Barstow requests that the railroad send a representative to investigate, but Tragg intercepts the railroad's response and warns Sharp that the vice-president will soon arrive. Tragg then orders his men to blow up Barstow's house, but Fuzzy sends a warning message to Billy and Billy arrests Barstow for his own safety. After Tragg's gang incites a lynch mob, Billy forces the sheriff to release Barstow so that he can escape from jail. Billy and Barstow outwit the pursuing posse in time to save the vice-president from capture by Tragg and Sharp. Several of Tragg's gang are killed in the ensuing gunfight, and Fuzzy and Billy bring Tragg and Sharp to justice. Later, the settlers break camp and return to their ranches, which the railroad now agrees to sell at a fair price.