Mysterious cowboy Bill Patton (as Bob Norton) arrives, "in the land of the West - on the banks of the Rio Grande," at the "Bar-V" ranch. Ostensibly seeking employment, Mr. Patton is revealed, as the plot unravels, an undercover Texas Ranger. Patton wants to get a job at the "Bar-V", and round-up evidence against newly appointed foreman, and all-around snake-in-the-grass, Jack House (as "Buck" Bailey).
Also working undercover, Mr. House is part of a scheme to steal cattle from square-shooting owner William Bertram (as Jack Barton). After Patton saves daughters in distress Alma and Adrian Rayford (as Bonita and Flora Barton), Mr. Bertram hires him to help around the ranch. House plots to kill, while Patton and Ms. Alma fall in love
A fairly nondescript western. Notably, the "real" Rayford sisters play the "fictional" Barton sisters - and co-star Bertram also directed. There are a lot of good location long-shots. The scenes introducing the sisters, at the beach and by a busy 1924 highway, are too brief. A little more than halfway in, the film is badly damaged, but it recovers quickly, and plays well until The End.
*** Smoking Trails (1924) William Bertram ~ Bill Patton, Alma Rayford, Jack House
