Pistol Harvest

In the California desert, two small children, Felice and Johnny, who have become separated from their parents, wander aimlessly through the dusty terrain until Felice collapses from exhaustion. Johnny pushes on, pledging to return for his sister, but after a blinding dust storm, Felice is found by Terry Moran, a passing cowboy. Fifteen years later, Felice and Terry, who has become Felice's foster father, are about to celebrate the anniversary of her rescue when a man named Prouty arrives at Terry's ranch. Terry arranges with Prouty, a representative of Elias Norton's shipping company, to send his two ranchhands, Tim Holt and Chito Rafferty, to town that afternoon to collect $30,000 that Norton owes him for a cattle shipment. Before Chito and Tim, who is Felice's sweetheart, can leave, however, two rustlers attempt to steal some of Terry's cattle. At gunpoint, Tim confronts the thieves, Jack Green and Andy Baylor, who claim that they stole out of desperation and plead for mercy. Tim gives the men some money and advises them to check at Norton's shipping office for jobs and passage north. At the shipping office, the financially troubled Norton is about to use Terry's $30,000 to buy a valuable steamboat, when Tim shows up to collect Terry's money. Norton is obligated to give Tim the cash, but soon after, Jack and Andy show up, looking for work. Norton hires them to steal Tim's saddlebags and draws a map indicating where they should ambush Tim. Tim spots Jack and Andy in time to thwart the attack, however, and the would-be thieves return to Norton's office empty-handed. Armed with Norton's incriminating map, Andy blackmails the businessman into paying them the agreed-upon sum as well as passage to Canada. Andy and Jack then go drinking at the saloon, while Norton and Prouty head out to Terry's ranch. There, Norton asks Terry, an old friend, for a loan, but Terry explains that he needs the $30,000 to buy a neighboring ranch as a wedding present for Felice and Tim. Determined, Norton draws his gun on Terry, demanding the cash. After Terry tries to jump Norton, a struggle ensues, and Terry is shot and killed. Sometime later, Tim and Felice burst into the ranch house, eager to announce officially their engagement, and find Terry's body. Noticing that the safe has been emptied, Tim concludes that Jack and Andy are responsible, and he and Chito ride off in search of the robbers. Although Andy eludes Chito, Tim captures Jack and brings him back to the ranch house. Jack protests his innocence, but when Tim empties Jack's pockets and finds Norton's payoff money, Tim and Felice feel sure of his guilt. Having sent Chito to town for the sheriff, Tim ties Jack up in the bunkhouse, but Andy sneaks back and frees him just as the sheriff and his posse arrive. During the ensuing gunfight, Jack is shot and Felice is struck by flying glass. Chito and the posse pursue Andy and Jack, while Tim tends to Felice's wound. Among Jack's belongings, Felice notices a gold piece similar to one of her own, which is engraved with the name Johnny, and realizes that Jack is her long-lost brother. Felice asks Tim to protect Jack, and after riding all night, Tim catches up to Chito on the range. Andy and the wounded Jack, meanwhile, are huddled at their campsite, and Andy declares he is going to town to force Norton to get Jack a doctor. After Andy leaves, Tim locates Jack and delivers him to Felice. Cajoled by Felice, Jack reveals Andy's mission and Norton's involvement in the ambush. Tim and Chito race to town, while Norton, having murdered Andy, sets fire to his office and heads for the harbor with Prouty, where he plans sail off in his new steamer. Tim and Chito are close behind, however, and after a frantic chase, Tim captures Norton, while Chito lassoes Prouty. Later, a recuperated Jack says goodbye to his sister, then heads off with Tim and Chito to testify against Norton and Prouty.