Shadows of the West

After completing his prison term, reformed outlaw Carl "Bud" Davis looks forward to leading a peaceful life with his father Paul on the ranch near the town of Ridgeway that Paul inherited from his late brother. On the trail to town, Bud and Paul meet Virginia "Ginny" Grayson, the niece of retired sheriff Winks Grayson, who welcomes the newcomers and invites them to her uncle's café. In town, meanwhile, Winks approaches B. Jonathan Ward, the head of the local bank, to discuss the lackluster performance of Tanner, the new sheriff. Ward, who is secretly in league with Tanner to foreclose on a ranch owned by the Mayberry brothers, postpones the meeting with Winks. After Winks leaves his office, Ward intercepts a telegram intended for Bill Mayberry from his brother Ed, who informs Bill that he has raised the money to pay off the mortgage and needs to meet him at Rocky Pass on Tuesday. Ward then instructs two of his henchmen, Gus and Jordon, to ambush Ed, steal the money and hide out at the Davis ranch, which he thinks is still abandoned. Soon after, Marshal Whip Wilson rides into town, intending to spend a peaceful vacation fishing. When Winks tries to enlist his old friend Whip's help in reestablishing law and order in Ridgeway, Whip pleads that he is on vacation. Bill receives his brother's telegram, and Tanner, aware of Ward's plans, offers to escort him to Rocky Pass. They arrive shortly after Gus and Jordon have murdered Ed and ridden out for the Davis ranch with the stolen money. When Tanner learns that Paul and Bud are at the ranch, he decides to frame them for Ed's murder. After shooting Paul, Tanner plants Ed's empty wallet on Bud and then arrests him for murder. Soon after, Whip rides into town and tells Winks about finding the mortally wounded Paul, who with his dying breath, begged him to exonerate his son. Spotting Gus and Jordon, Whip follows them and knocks Jordon off his horse with one well-aimed strike of his bullwhip. The outlaws are unaware that Whip is a marshal, and after Whip confiscates the stolen cash from Jordon, he and Winks decide to set a trap for the man behind the robbery. Tanner, meanwhile, schemes with his deputy Steve to eliminate Bud by letting him escape and then shooting him in the back. After Tanner leaves his office that night, Steve, claiming to believe in Bud's innocence, unlocks his cell. Just then, Whip appears and after accusing Steve of plotting Bud's demise, escapes out the back door with the fugitive. After eluding Tanner and his posse, Whip takes Bud to Wink's old cabin. In town, meanwhile, Ward, who has refused to extend Bill's loan, is astounded when Winks produces the cash and pays off the mortgage. Upon returning to his office, Tanner finds Whip waiting for him. After calmly explaining that he has Bud in custody, Whip tells Tanner to inform his boss that unless Whip is made a partner in his dealings, he will turn Bud over to the marshal. When Jordon identifies the money used to pay off the Mayberry mortgage as the same cash that Whip took from him, Ward becomes furious and orders Jordon and Steve to watch Winks. Observing Ginny riding out of town with a basket of food, Steve and Jordon follow her to the cabin and take both her and Bud prisoner. As Whip meets with Ward in the saloon, Jordon enters, gun drawn, and announces that he has captured Bud. Winks then enters from behind and distracts Jordon, and Whip lashes his gun from his hand and then forces him to divulge where he is holding Bud. Whip rides to the cabin and frees Bud and Ginny, but in the commotion, Steve escapes. Pursuing Steve, Whip lashes him from his horse and arrests him. All ends happily as Winks decides to pin on the sheriff's badge again and Whip offers to go into partnership with Bud, promising to return to the ranch one day when he retires.