Guns of the Law

As Jed Wilkins and his granddaughter Lillian prepare to leave their home of many years, Joe Hyslop and his henchmen, Dan Tyndall and Tom Binns, arrive to hurry them. When elderly Jed protests the eviction as unfair, the men beat him and inflict a head injury that makes him think he is once again a Confederate soldier. The thugs leave but vow to return if the Wilkinses do not vacate quickly. After they depart, Texas Ranger Panhandle Perkins, a distant Wilkins relative, arrives. Lillian explains that she sent for him because a new land survey has resulted in the eviction of many local ranchers. Jed, the former surveyor, was forced to retire from his position, and the new surveyor, Sam Brisco, is providing reports stating that the Flint Land Co. is the rightful owner of the ranches. Lillian convinces Panhandle to don a Confederate uniform and pretend to have a message from Jed's former general, asking him to leave the ranch and go to friend Henry McCloud's cabin for safety. Although determined to defend his home, Jed acquieses, but Tyndall and Binns return as Jed and Lillian are leaving in their wagon. Tyndall causes the horses pulling the wagon to run wild, but Jim Steele, Panhandle's fellow ranger, arrives in time to rescue Lillian and Jed. Panhandle explains the situation to Jim, who then accompanies them to the cabin. Meanwhile, ranger Tex Wyatt, who is investigating the murder of three other ranchers who were being evicted, goes to the Wilkins home, where he was supposed to meet Panhandle and Jim. After besting the belligerant Tyndall in a fight, Tex visits surveyor Brisco, whose nervous behavior makes Tex suspicious. In town, Jed, Lillian and the others ask for help from lawyer Kendall Lowther, who, unknown to the trusting ranchers, is the head of the Flint Land Co. and the instigator of the crooked survey and evictions. Lowther agrees to investigate the situation, but while they are discussing the case, Hyslop, Tyndall and Binns show up, and the addled Jed shoots Tyndall in self-defense when the thug makes threatening remarks. The group retreats to the cabin, but Tex arrives shortly thereafter, stating that he must arrest Jed, as Hyslop has asserted that Jed murdered Tyndall in cold blood. Panhandle and Jim explain the circumstances to Tex and show him that Jed is not in his right mind. Jed does remember that his original survey maps were stolen from his office, and Tex promises to investigate before arresting Jed. That night, Tex returns to Lowther's office, and as Lowther, Brisco, Hyslop and Binns fight over money, Tex retrieves Jed's original maps, which Lowther had stolen. The next morning, the three rangers check the survey boundaries, and discover that the markers have been moved. Brisco shoots at them as they conduct their search, but Tex captures him and the rangers persuade him to admit that Lowther is behind the plan to force out the ranchers and take over the valley. Lowther and his men arrive at McCloud's cabin, where the rangers have taken Brisco for questioning, and a shootout begins. During the fracas, McCloud is killed and Jed is hit on the head by Brisco. Jed is not seriously injured, and the blow restores his memory. Tex captures Lowther while the others round up the rest of the gang, and Tex assures Lowther that there is enough evidence to convict him. Soon after, Jed and Lillian are back in possession of their ranch, and they bid a grateful farewell to the departing rangers.