Cyclone on Horseback

Stan Bradford delivers a herd of pack horses to Valley City for Jeff Corbin's contract to lay a telephone line. Upon delivery, he is told Jeff's payment check is worthless, creating immediate trouble. The bad check sets off a chain of trouble that involves Wayne and the bonds.

Cobb Wayne arrives and offers to cover Jeff's bad check, telling Stan to deliver the horses to him instead. He hints that control over the horses will be tied to Jeff's still-pending obligations. This marks the first step in Wayne's plan to influence the project.

Mary Corbin, Jeff's sister, promises to make Jeff's payment good using negotiable bonds she holds for him. She heads toward the ranch to bring the bonds under Jeff's control. Her involvement introduces a potential path to resolve the payment problem.

Stan spots Mary being pursued by Wayne's men who want to steal the bonds. He gathers Smokey and Whopper and drives off the attackers. They escort Mary to Jeff's work camp, hoping to safeguard the bonds.

At the work camp, Jeff confronts the line workers over unpaid wages, and tensions flare. Mary hands Jeff the negotiable bonds, and Jeff promises to cash them to pay the workers. Stan lends Jeff 2,400 dollars to cover expenses, with the bonds held as security.

Stan attempts to cash the bonds, but Mr. Williams, the local banker, calls the sheriff to arrest him over rumors of stolen bonds. Stan is taken into custody while Smokey and Whopper are left to figure out a way to proceed. The arrest interrupts the effort to secure the workers' pay.

Smokey and Whopper head to a local diner and, through Smokey's singing, draw contributions from patrons to pay for the meal. They unwittingly shortchange the owner, setting up tension for later.

Mary visits the jail and says she is awaiting a telegram proving the bonds are legitimate. She jokes that she may have stolen the bonds, highlighting the precarious situation. The sheriff releases Stan but arrests Mary.

Stan returns to the jail with Mr. Williams, who confirms that Jeff's bonds are not stolen and exonerates Jeff and Mary. The immediate danger passes as the truth comes to light. Stan and his allies prepare for the next step.

Wayne's men ambush the work camp and gunfire erupts; Jeff is injured and must leave the job to recuperate. Investors threaten to pull the contract, forcing Stan to reluctantly step in for Jeff. The project hangs in the balance as leadership changes hands.

Stan and Mary drive wagon loads of dynamite toward the work site to outmaneuver Wayne's men who pursue them. They drop lit sticks to deter the attackers, buying time for the crew. The confrontation intensifies as the project remains at risk.

Wayne leads another assault toward dynamiting the project, and a gunfight erupts as Stan uses a harness and horse team to reel in and string the wire. He rolls the spool downhill to finish the last connection and beat the deadline, while Wayne's men retreat.

Stan subdues Wayne, secures the final connection, and completes the contract on time. Wayne is taken away to jail as the immediate threat ends. Smokey and Whopper are run out of the diner, and Stan joins them as they head out of town.