Sunset Trail

Jim Brandon and his sidekick, Taterbug, are working as office clerks for a mining company so Jim can fulfill his promise to a dying friend to take care of his son Buddy. The life of a cowhand calls to Taterbug, however, and he applies for a job at the Circle J ranch, near the town of Dusty Bend, in the lawless Sunset Trail area. Jim refuses to take Buddy out of school in order to join Tater. When Tater writes to Jim for help because unidentified assailants are trying to drive his boss, Molly, off of her ranch, however, Jim is unable to refuse his request. He immediately encounters trouble in Dusty Bend when a gang of cowboys led by One Shot refuse to give him directions to the Circle J. Jim is forced to draw his guns on the group in order to leave town safely and later saves Tater from three gunmen. Jim takes an immediate liking to Molly, who explains that she does not know who is perpetrating the repeated attacks on her ranch. Jim and Tater go into town in order to identify Tater's assailants. Although One Shot and his gang are waiting to ambush Jim and Tater, on the orders of banker Weller, Jim and Tater outwit them and take them hostage. Unknown to them, however, Weller is watching through his office door and shoots Tater in the back. The gang flees, and Tater dies on the way back to the ranch. Buddy and Molly are distraught over Tater's death, and Jim resolves to bring the killers to justice. Suspecting that Weller is behind all the trouble, Jim plants one of the ranch hands in his bank and then confronts Weller. Weller denies any involvement, but Jim later overhears him talking with One Shot about the killing. Jim tries to take them hostage, but escapes after cries of "bank robbery" bring the gang. Jim hides in the hills and sends his horse, Tarzan, to Molly's ranch for supplies. Buddy accompanies Tarzan on the return trip but is captured and shot by Weller and One Shot after he refuses to reveal Jim's location. One Shot and Weller return to Molly's ranch where they intend to torture the injured Buddy to get information about Jim, but Jim returns and knocks both One Shot and Weller unconscious and takes Buddy to the doctor. Jim's spy brings him a letter written by Weller in which he states that he now owns all the ranches in the area and soon intends to own Molly's ranch, at which point he will control the area's "cattle empire." Jim and his spy take Weller and his gang hostage, but Weller escapes. Jim chases Weller on horseback and finally beats him into submission. After taking Weller to the county seat to be arrested, Jim is made sheriff of Dusty Bend and marries Molly, much to the pleasure of the recovered Buddy.