Law Men

When U.S. Marshals Nevada McKenzie and Sandy Hopkins are assigned to investigate a series of bank robberies that have been plaguing the town of Verdeen, the two decide to split up and work undercover. Henceforth, Sandy rides into town alone, arriving in the midst of a bank holdup. Sandy shoots one of the fleeing robbers, and Bradford, the bank owner, thanks him. Sandy then introduces himself as an itinerant bootmaker, although he has never cobbled a shoe in his life. Nevada, meanwhile, trails the outlaws to their hideout at Bear Paw Draw and later meets Sandy on the outskirts of town. After comparing notes about their findings, the two marshals decide that the gang is working with an informant who has been alerting them to the delivery of gold shipments. Nevada then rides to the outlaws' hideout and, posing as a renegade, demands to join the gang. At the bank, meanwhile, teller Clyde Miller reports the losses to Bradford. After Clyde leaves, saloon owner Slade visits Bradford's office, and the two discuss their plot to defraud the ranchers and mine owners in the territory. By pretending that an Eastern bank is calling in the Verdeen bank's line of credit because of the robberies, the two plan to foreclose on the the ranchers' and mine owners' mortgages, thus appropriating their properties and the stolen bank deposits for themselves. At the bootmaker's shop, meanwhile, Phyllis, Clyde's sweetheart, asks Sandy to repair her dancing shoes. While there, Phyllis suggests that Sandy move into her aunt Mac's boardinghouse. After his discussion with Bradford, Slade rides to the gang's hideout, meets their new member, Nevada, and outlines the plans to rob a gold shipment the next evening. Following Phyllis' suggestion, Sandy decides to rent a room at the boardinghouse and there meets Clyde, who voices his bewilderment about how the outlaws knew that a large sum of money had been deposited in the bank. Later that night, Nevada visits Sandy and, after informing him of the planned robbery, instructs him to make sure that the gold doesn't get loaded onto the stage. Sandy then confides his suspicion that an informant is working inside the bank. The next day, Slade visits Bradford with the news that a stage inspector has been assigned to investigate the robberies. To avert suspicion, Bradford decides to frame Clyde as the informant by planting some securities on him. Later, Sandy calls Clyde into his bootmaker's shop, and after showing him his marshal's badge, asks him to substitute sand for the gold in the strongbox. When Bradford questions Clyde about the sand, Clyde explains that a marshal has infiltrated the outlaws and uncovered their plans for a robbery that night. Bradford warns Slade about the infiltrator, and Slade suspects that Nevada is the marshal and rides to the gang's hideout to eliminate him. Spotting Nevada and Nickelplate, another gang member, on a lookout point above the cabin, Slade mistakes Nickelplate for Nevada and kills him, allowing Nevada to escape. That night, Curley, the stage driver who is in league with the outlaws, loads the strongbox onto the stage. Sandy watches as the coach readies to depart, and sees Bradford hand Clyde a stack of securities to deliver. After the stage pulls out, Nevada visits Sandy and tells him that he has been discovered. Sensing trouble, the two marshals trail the stage, catching up to it just in time to witness the robbery. When Slade discovers sand in the strongbox, he believes that Bradford has double-crossed them and orders Simmons, one of the gang, to take Clyde captive. After instructing Curley to follow them into town, Slade leads the rest of the gang to confront Bradford. Sandy follows the outlaws to town, while Nevada rides to free Clyde. At the saloon, Slade accuses Bradford of betraying him. Soon after, Curley arrives with the stage and claims that Clyde was in league with the outlaws. Just then, Nevada enters the saloon, accompanied by Clyde and announces that he is arresting Bradford for murder and robbery. As Slade, hiding in a back room, aims his pistol at Nevada's back, Sandy fells him with a bullet. Identifying themselves as Marshals, Sandy and Nevada then declare that Clyde is innocent and arrest Bradford and his gang. After the irate townsfolk throw Sandy's ill-fitting boots back at him, he and Nevada say goodbye and ride home down their separate trails.