The Cyclone Kid

As Dr. Bill Dawson rides through the Dakota territory on his way to a small town, settler John Sullivan stops his stagecoach to ask for help. Sullivan's young daughter is ill, and although Bill fears diptheria from poisoned water, he is able to stabilize the child. Sullivan and Slim, the stagecoach driver, explain that the water must have been poisoned by cattle baron Big Jim Johnson, who is attempting to force the ranchers to sell their land to him. Johnson's terror campaign is carried out by his men, led by Ben Rankin, and hired gun Johnny Dawson, who is also known as "The Cyclone Kid." Johnson's plan is also furthered by the local sheriff and Federal court Judge Phillips, who have done nothing because they, too, work for him. After Sullivan accompanies Bill and Slim to town, he is shot in the back by Rankin when he confronts Johnson. Bill demands that Rankin be brought to trial, but Phillips dismisses the case. Johnson orders Johnny to run Bill out of town, not knowing the secret that Johnny and Bill are brothers. Johnny sent Bill through medical school and intended for him to open a practice back East. Bill is disgusted to learn how his brother earned the money to pay for his education and vows to stay in town. Bill organizes a meeting of the ranchers so that they can band together to fight off Johnson. Johnny and another henchman, Ames, are sent to break up the meeting, but when Bill talks to Johnny, he tells him that this is not simply another range war, for more children are ill due to the poisoned water. Realizing that Johnson's tactics have become too dirty, Johnny switches sides and organizes the homesteaders. During one encounter with the gang, however, Phillips' daughter Mary is seriously wounded. Overwhelmed by guilt, Phillips promises to tell the territorial governor in Fargo all that he knows about Johnson, even though it will mean his own ruin. Phillips and Johnny organize a petition to install martial law, and after Mary recovers, set off for Fargo. On the way they meet settlers Sam Purvis and Jim Rivers, then are set upon by the gang. Phillips is shot by Ames, while Johnny is knocked out and one shot fired from his gun, as if he had shot Phillips. When Johnny regains consciousness, the dying Phillips urges him to continue to Fargo, but when he arrives, Johnny is arrested by the marshal, who received a telegram from Johnson stating that Johnny killed the judge. Johnny is arrested and held back in town, where he and the marshal deduce that the telegram was sent before Purvis and Rivers saw Johnny with Phillips. Johnson has his men incite the settlers into a lynch mob, and as they storm the jail, Ames wounds the marshal, then tells the crowd that Johnny is responsible. The mob grabs Johnny just as Bill arrives with Purvis and Rivers, who clear Johnny of any wrongdoing. Soon after, a new judge convicts Johnson and the sheriff, and the job of sheriff is offered to Johnny. Slim then shows his friends that he is now a justice of the peace by marrying Mary and Bill.