Tucson Raiders

In the late 1800s, the citizens of Painted Valley rebel against the tyranny of territorial governor York by preparing a petition asking the President to admit them to the Union. York's thugs attempt to break up the meeting at which citizen Gabby Hayes is discussing the petition, but they are chased away by Red Ryder. Red, a well-known law-and-order man, has been summoned to Painted Valley by his aunt, The Duchess, who is a respected rancher. Gabby accompanies Red to the Duchess' ranch, where Red introduces her to his Indian ward, Little Beaver, who was rescued by Red when a dam burst and drowned his tribe. Also visiting the ranch are Jeff Stark, the president of the territorial bank, Hannah Rogers and her niece Beth, who is in love with Tom Hamilton, the Duchess' foreman. Unknown to the townspeople, Stark is in league with York, who has misappropriated public funds from Stark's bank in order to buy a monopoly on all transportation lines. Hannah, a weak-willed woman who covets her niece's ranch, is under Stark's control. The Duchess explains to Red that she has requested help from an old friend, James Wayne, who is an influential judge. Fearing that Wayne's investigation will uncover his wrongdoing, Stark orders Sheriff Kirk and Deputy Logan to kill whoever is on the next incoming stage. Logan and another deputy attack the stage and wound the passenger, then are chased off by Red. Believing the passenger to be Wayne, Red takes him to the town doctor, but after the man dies, discovers that he is Reverend George Allen. The sheriff then arrests Red for Allen's murder and claims that the stage driver saw him do it. Stark is not sure that Red will be convicted though, so he orders Hannah to visit Red in jail and slip him a gun loaded with blanks, after which Kirk will shoot Red while he tries to escape. Little Beaver finds the blanks, however, and switches the doctored gun with the sheriff's. Red escapes from Kirk and Logan, but Stark decides to use the jailbreak to his advantage by robbing the stage coming from Tucson and blaming it on Red. Stark gives Hannah a coded message to pass to the sheriff, who is searching for Red at the Duchess' ranch. Gabby and Red grow suspicious when Hannah gives the note to Kirk and blinks three times. Gabby steals the note, and by reading every third word, Red learns of Stark's plan. Red then rides to nearby Rockland, where the stage carrying the mine company's payroll is to change horses. Red stops the coach, which is carrying Judge Wayne, and explains the situation. Wayne agrees to Red's plan, which is to switch the payroll box with one filled with explosives. Red and the judge watch as the gang robs the coach, but Red's plan is derailed when Little Beaver, who followed him, arrives and is captured by the gang. Afraid that Little Beaver will be harmed, the Duchess beats Hannah until she admits that Stark and York are the leaders of the gang, and reveals the location of their hideout. Red, Gabby and Tom ride to the hideout to rescue Little Beaver, and both Kirk and Stark are killed during the ensuing shootout. Stark drops the doctored box as he falls, and a huge explosion kills the rest of the gang. Later, after watching Judge Wayne officiate at Beth and Tom's wedding, Red, Little Beaver and Gabby ride off in search of more adventures.