Prairie Law

In this RKO western George O'Brien stars as a cattleman bringing a herd home and when he gets there he finds a bunch of homesteaders on what was public land. It's been sold to them by agent Paul Everton who's a real sharp sort.

This is an argument used in westerns like the Sea Of Grass and McLintock where land used for buffalo and cattle does not have the rich soil deep enough to support agricultural crops. Everton knows it, O'Brien knows it, and soon the suckers who bought the land will. And Everton's also the town judge.

In any event the herds are stalled ripe for a little nickel and dime rustling another of Everton's schemes. The steers are butchered and the meat sold to town butcher Cy Kendall who really operates with a low overhead and a wide profit margin.

When the sheriff J. Farrell MacDonald investigates he's killed by Kendall and that spurs George O'Brien into action as MacDonald was his uncle.

I have to say that Everton was a truly crafty villain. Takes a lot to bring him down.

Enough gunplay to satisfy any western fan.