Git Along Little Dogies

Gene initially opposes the oil drilling because he fears it will ruin the territory's water supply. However, he learns that the railroad will only come through town if the oil boom succeeds. Recognizing that the railroad will benefit the entire community, he publicly backs the drilling despite his earlier objections.

When Gene learns that bank president Maxwell embezzled $25,000 to fund Doris's drilling operation, he stages the crime as a robbery to protect Maxwell from embezzlement charges. Gene does this because he discovers Maxwell has attempted suicide upon learning a bank examiner is coming, and Gene wants to prevent the family's complete ruin while also keeping the community stable.

Gene shoots out Doris's car tires to stop her from reaching the drilling site. He opposes the oil drilling because he believes it will contaminate the territory's water supply, which is essential for the ranching community. The tire-shooting is his direct attempt to physically prevent the drilling operation from proceeding.

George Wilkins, the drilling foreman, is secretly plotting to swindle the Maxwells. He tells Doris the well is dry to get more money from her father while actually stalling the drill and pocketing funds for equipment. His plan is to take over the profitable lease once the bank's agreement expires, essentially stealing the entire operation from under them.

After Gene escapes and exposes Wilkins' crooked dealings, Wilkins retaliates by spreading rumors that Gene swindled his friends by selling them worthless oil stock. Wilkins then accuses Gene of being behind the bank robbery. These false accusations stir up the townspeople, and a mob forms believing Gene is a criminal, forcing him to flee for his safety.

Sam Brown is an oil worker who discovers that the well only needs dynamiting to start producing oil. When he tries to reveal this information, George Wilkins shoots him to keep the scheme going and prevent the truth from coming out. Gene later finds the wounded Sam and gets a doctor to treat him.

Earlier, Wilkins is established as stalling the drill while embezzling funds, hinting at his willingness to eliminate anyone who threatens his scheme.

Gene learns from Sam Brown that the well isn't actually dry, it just needs to be dynamited to break through and start producing oil. Despite opposition from Wilkins and the skeptical crowd, Gene and Frog Millhouse use dynamite to blast the well. The resulting explosion brings in the oil, proving the well was viable all along.

Doris and Gene start as bitter enemies, she's pursuing oil drilling while he's strongly opposed to it. Their conflict escalates when he shoots her tires and she steals his horse. However, when Gene rescues her during a holdup and later helps her family through the crisis, grudging respect develops between them, leading to a warmer relationship by the film's end.

Doris runs a radio station above Sing Low's cafe and allows the oil company to sponsor a program that targets Gene, broadcasting content designed to smear his reputation. She does this to help the oil company and get rid of Gene's opposition to the drilling. When Gene discovers this trick, he becomes furious and sets out to confront her.

During a holdup of the payroll delivery, two thieves, who are actually Wilkins' henchmen, attack Wilkins and Doris. Gene arrives to rescue them and manages to return the stolen money to Doris. He does this because he's a principled cowboy who won't profit from a crime, even against someone he opposes. He then lets her continue to the drilling site.