- After losing his money and horse in the trail town of Chloride, Arizona, in a crooked faro game run by Wes Prentice, the owner of of the local land company, cowboy Careless Carmody becomes sheriff of Chloride. Unknown to Carmody, Prentice is selling land that has no titles to naive settlers, then reselling the land to other buyers. After saving pretty young Ruth Fellows from the unwanted attentions of a local ruffian, Carmody finds himself more and more attracted to her. However, things take a turn for the worse when Prentice has Carmody serve Ruth with papers throwing her off the land he has just sold her. Complications ensue.—frankfob2@yahoo.com
- Wesley B. Prentice, a land swindler, is President of the Arizona Ranch Lands company. He has rented some land to Ruth Fellows, who lives with her little brother Bobby. "Careless" Carmody rides into Chloride, a town founded by the land company. Prentice gets wind of Carmody's arrival at the hotel, and decides to clean him out. Prentice tells the hotel's proprietor, Farley, to rig a card game. Carmody loses everything he has in the game, including his horse. Prentice then returns Carmody's horse to him, and offers him the job of Sheriff. Carmody accepts, not realizing Prentice will try to use him for his own purposes. When a Mexican stabs the card dealer, Carmody sets off in pursuit. The Mexican hides out on Ruth's property, taking her prisoner. But Carmody tunnels underneath the shack where she is being held hostage and frees her. He then hitches the Mexican to a plow and makes him plow the fields. Ruth tells Carmody that she is suspicious of Prentice, but Carmody assures her that Prentice is reliable. Ruth and Carmody begin a romance.
Then, a rumor starts that Prentice is a land shark and that he has swindled numerous settlers, including Ruth. Ruth and her brother have barricaded themselves in her shack, holding off several strangers with deeds, who claim the ranch is really theirs. Carmody arrives and believes the deed-holders. He tries to break into the shack, not realizing that Ruth is inside. In the confusion, Ruth fires a shot from inside the shack and injures him. Carmody returns fire, and shoots the gun out of her hand. Ruth is angered that Carmody has sided with the strangers. Then Carmody learns from a judge that Prentice has gone to Chicago. Carmody goes to Chicago as a cow hand, finds where Prentice is living, and takes him prisoner.
Prentice's daughter sends for the police, but before they can intercede, Carmody takes Prentice onto a train heading west. Meanwhile, the Vigilance Committee of Chloride hears Ruth's complaint and sentences both Carmody and Prentice to death. When the townspeople hear that Carmody and Prentice are returning to Chloride, they get ropes and prepare to meet the pair. Carmody holds the crowd back until he has a chance to explain.
Prentice make restitution to his victims and is sent back to Chicago. Carmody and Ruth decide they will send a notice of their wedding to Prentice.
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