Plot

Chapter One MURDER ON THE SANTA FE TRAIL - Mesquite banker Calvin Drake (Harry Worth) plans to profit from the Santa Fe Railroad's acquisition of right-of-way by gaining control of the land in the territory. In the ensuing war of intimidation against the ranchers, Ira Withers (Edward Cassidy) is killed and Red Ryder (Don 'Red' Barry) and his father, Colonel Tom Ryder (William Farnum), form an organization to drive the gunmen and outlaws out of the territory. Colonel Ryder is killed by One-Eye Chapin (Bob Kortman) and Red vows vengeance. Sheriff Dade (Carleton Young) is in league with the Drake faction, including Ace Hanlon (Noah Barry). The Duchess (Maude Pierce Allen), Red's aunt, is about to lose her ranch. Red learns of a plan to dynamite a dam providing the water supply, and saves Beth Andrews (Vivian Austin), daughter of the former sheriff, Luke Andrews (Lloyd Ingrahan) who was also murdered by Drake's men.—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Chapter Two HORSEMEN OF DEATH - The stagecoach hits the water and drifts close to shore. Red carries Beth to shore and lasso's Shark (Ray Teal). Unaware of the fact that Drake and Sheriff Dade are crooks, and that Shark is one of their henchmen, Red sends word he is bringing a prisoner to town. Dade instructs his henchman, Ace Hanlon to intercept them. Red and Little Beaver (Tommy Cook) manage to escape with their prisoner and turn him over to Dade and Cherkee Sims (Hal Taliaferro), who are amazed at the hitch in their plans. Hanlon orders Pecos Bates (Bud Geary to make sure that Shaark does not talk. Just as he is about to divulge his relationship with Hanlon, Shark is shot down by Bates, who fires through the jail window. Red is hot on Bate's trail The two grapple right in the path of the oncoming posse, and it looks as though Red and Bates are certain to be trampled. To Be Continued.—-Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Chapter Three TRAIL'S END - Cherokee, riding with the oncoming posse, picks up Red,saving him from death. Bates is trampled to death. Back in Mesquite, Drake convinces the ranchers that the raids are all over, and Red and the other ranchers arrange for a large sum of money to be brought in via stagecoach, to help the ranchers repair the damage to their property. Draake and Hanlon. to prevent the money from reaching Mesquite, orders a couple of henchmen to rob the stagecoach, with Sheriff Dade putting up a half-hearted defense for appearances' sake. Red and Cherokee ride to the rescue, tie up the would-be bandits and order the stagecoach to continue to Mesquite.. There Drkes henchmen strike gain and escape with the money, while Red and Cherokk are busy fighting two of their number. In the ensuing pursuit, Red is threatened by death as the heavies send an ore-car zooming down on him. To Be Continued.—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Chapter Four WATER RUSTLERS - Red derails the ore-car with a heavy piece of timber before it can crush him. Meanwhile the henchmen escape with the rancher's money. Back ate the Circle-R Ranch, the Duchess mortgages her ranch in order to help her fellow ranchers. Banker Calvin Drake advances her the money; then craftily orders Ace Hanlontosee that arrangements are made so that the Duchess is not in a position to pay off the mortgage. Hanlon's men sabotage the ranch, concentrating on the water supply. They dynamite a small dam, poison a creek and finally set fire to the reserve water tank. Red learns of these attacks and rushes in to save water tank before it burns down. Tge fire is too far gone, however, and the huge tank comes crashing down, seemingly directly upon Red. To Be continued.—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Chapter Five AVALANCHE - Red escapes from the water tank hazard and, realizing that the cattle herd is in danger, orders the cowhands to start moving the cattle over a pass to the Lazy-W Ranch, where there is plenty of water. Hanlon learns of this plan and prepares to dynamite the pass. His henchmen kidnap Little Beaver to prevent him from warning Red. With the help of Little Beaver's pinto pony, Red rescues Little Beaver and his mall aide tells him of the dynamite plan. Red rushes to the pass because he knows Beth is due to ride through at that very moment and that she is threatened by the impending avalanche. Thinking Red is one of the outlaws, Beth fires on him until an overhanging tree branch knocks her unconscious. The explosion is set off and Red and Beth are directly in the path of the avalanche. To Be Continued.—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>