Tony Perez, a Mexican cowpuncher, is driven from the ranch where he is employed for some misdemeanor or other, and after vainly endeavoring to find work, tries the gate of Dan Farman's ranch, "The Mosquito," and applies for a job. His hard luck story rings true and old Dan, who is of a charitable turn, puts the Mexican to work.
The scene is laid in the West and presents a French count, in immaculate attire, suddenly dropped among the cowboys. Following an altercation he offers to fight a duel, but when the results of a scheme arranged by the cowboys to show his opponent killing duelists by wholesale are seen, he breaks away and barely succeeds in catching the stage on his way back to the effete East, while the cowboys make merry over their successful joke.
The story is of an old man and his daughter, he so addicted to gambling that they are penniless. Because of her beauty and her pleadings the gambler gives back the money the old man has lost and thenceforth refuses to allow him to play in his place. Later he assists in preventing the old man from gambling elsewhere.
Broncho Billy is in love with Marguerite Clayton, who is devotedly fond of him. Broncho asks her to go to a dance with him, but when he meets Elsa Larimer, who is on a visit from the East, he forgets his promise to Marguerite and takes Elsa to the dance. Marguerite's heart is broken, and Elsa finding her weeping, discovers that she is the cause of Marguerite's sorrow
Silas Kendall, a prospector, and his daughter Nell, so the story goes, are prospecting in the mountains, a few miles above Canyon City, a little western town, and the basis of supplies for the hundreds of more or less successful gold prospectors. Kendall has built him a cabin and he and his daughter, a robust little woman, have managed to eke out a living, always hopeful some day of making the "big strike."
Broncho Billy and his pal, Carl Stockdale, are in love with Peggy Adams. The two men receive a letter from the girl to the effect that the one who reaches her first shall be her husband. Broncho and Carl cut cards to see who will go, and the former wins. On the way, Broncho Billy is shot by a half-breed who has a grudge against him.
Jason Watkins, a real estate and loan agent, enters his office in the little Arizona town of Navajo, to find that during the night robbers have visited the place and broken into his safe, taking with them a large sum of money and other valuables. Watkins immediately notifies the sheriff, a posse is hurriedly organized and a search made for the culprits.
"Pony" O'Brien, or Number 3 of the relay between two desert-bound western cities, draws his horse before his sweetheart's house and lingers somewhat longer with his packet of mail as he tells her the good news of a raise in salary which means they will soon be ready to marry.
Silver Bell, the winsome daughter of old Gray Wolf, is sought by Fleetfoot, a likely young man of the tribe and a good huntsman. Gray Wolf sees no reason why his obstinate daughter should not become the squaw of Fleetfoot and despite her pleadings to be permitted to stay in her father's tepee she is sold to Fleetfoot for the consideration of Tu-tu, the horse, and a red blanket.
Marjorie Wayne, the new school-teacher, comes to town and boards at the same ranch where Broncho Billy is foreman. Broncho Billy falls in love with her winsome ways and proposes to her. She tells him she does not love him, but expresses a wish that they be good friends. Her sweetheart from the city comes to the ranch and she marries him, much to the chagrin of Broncho Billy.
Bob Dean, the deputy sheriff of Tonopah County, has fallen in love with Nance O'Brien, a bewitching little western maid, whose brother, as he supposes, works a claim on a neighboring hillside.
Jack Hartley, the foreman of the Triple X Ranch, is engaged to Nellie Monroe, the ranch owner's daughter. A quarrel starts between Jack and "Red" Williams, a cow-puncher, when the latter first makes advances to Nellie, and second, when Williams abuses a faithful Indian ranch hand. On this latter occasion Jack is unable to restrain his temper.
The girl gives herself to one of the men to escape a worse fate, though she separates from another lover to do it. Later she discovers in a dramatic way that her lover was a poltroon and turns to her husband for protection.