Tom Meyers and his partner have a little claim near a little western town. When Tom goes to town for supplies, he falls in with Slim Padgett, a bad man, who wagers that he can outride Tom. Tom races Slim and the contest is viewed by Betty Thompson, a ranch girl. Slim angered at being defeated, follows Tom to his mine, and discovers that Tom has found pay dirt.
Grace, daughter of Jim Jordan, a ranch owner, has just returned from school, and Tom, leader of the Lazy S cowboy outfit, and Centiped Pete, leader of a rival cowboy outfit, fall in love with the girl. They both attire themselves in their best bib and tucker, and head for Grace's home. En route, they stop to settle a strenuous argument, and before the argument is ended, the cowboys of the rival ranches become involved in a free-for-all.
Tom Travis, a bad man, comes to New Mexico. He sees Vicky, the sheriff's daughter, playing a part for a motion picture company. The action calls for Vicky to be overcome by the villain and thrown on a horse. Tom, not understanding the action, blazes away at the villain, and the bullet passes through the actor's hat, chasing the horse upon which Vicky is riding. Tom, coming up with Vicky, believes he has saved her. The director and Vicky's father think Tom a great actor. The sheriff, however, discovers that Tom has the reputation of a "bad" man, and orders him to stay away.
Tom Bruce finds a thespian's life is not a happy one, and when the theatrical company goes on the rocks, he lands in a western town where a school master is desired. In order to eat three times a day, Tom teaches school and not the least interesting of his pupils is pretty Vicky Withers. An uncouth rancher known as Bill Stone loves Vicky, and when he sees that Tom Bruce and the girl are mutually attracted, he goes to Vicky's father.
Vicky Weathers arrives home at the B-O Ranch, after a long sojourn in the east. Her father sends Tom and Sid, two cowboys, to the train to meet her. Both boys fall in love with the beautiful girl. Each demands that the other stay in town while Vicky is driven home. Both become fierce rivals in the game of love and en route home each insists on doing his individual share in driving the horses, which very nearly precipitates a runaway.
The sheriff is in love with a beautiful widow. The widow has a brother who is in secret a rascal and a member of a gang of bandits. The sheriff and the widow have arrived at an understanding and she is wearing his ring. One day four masked men ride into the village, loot the bank, terrorize the community and ride away with a big sack of gold. The sheriff goes in pursuit, and after a lot of shooting, fast riding and acrobatic horsemanship, the bank looters are caught. When the masks are removed, the sheriff discovers to his consternation that the brother of the handsome widow is the chief of the band. Duty stares at him with unsmiling face.
Bill Miller, youngest member of the notorious Range Riders, gets job as pony express rider. Indians become dangerous on the war path. Bill forestalls plan of a bandit chief to rob mails while trying to win the love of a girl and the respect of "Uncle Sam."
Two men claiming to be scientists arrive in Arizona looking for Blair, a fellow scientist who disappeared while developing a death ray. The men hire Jim Wilson, who finds Blair living with his daughter on a ranch in an inaccessible valley near the Grand Canyon, where the scientist is testing his ray on birds and wild animals.
Chick Newton's friend, Bill Warner, is arrested for murdering his uncle. However, Bill has been framed by a blackmailer who has plotted with the uncle to have him disappear in order to avoid creditors and collect insurance. Newton unmasks Tom Curtis as the culprit and rescues Warner from a hanging.