Intrigue

Bob Day has been captured by Marlow's gang. When Tim Barton and sidekick Monte come looking for him, Tim is also captured. Escaping, Tim has a plan that will have the outlaws fighting among themselves.

Marshal Bob Day is pursuing three outlaws, Pete, Luke and Brett, but is nearly captured by Pete and only escapes after killing him. Bob then follows Luke and Brett to a cantina and tries to arrest them. Another gang member, Trigger, prepares to kill Bob, but when Marlow, the second-in-command, insists that killing a marshal would bring unwanted attention, they instead take Bob hostage. Bob's partners, Tim Barton and Monty, follow his trail and find a note he left at Pete's grave. Upon arriving at the cantina, Tim asks hostess Rita if she has seen Bob. Rita refuses to answer because her father, expert Mexican engraver Alvarado, is being held hostage by Marlow and forced to make counterfeit money. Marlow now threatens to harm Alvarado unless Rita leads Tim and Monty into a trap. Following Marlow's instructions, Rita takes Tim and Monty to the hideout. Tim goes inside and is knocked unconscious. Monty is about to follow him in when a mysterious voice with a Mexican accent advises him that he can better help his friend by staying outside. When Tim revives, Marlow tells him that he is expecting a Mexican emissary named Castro to bring ransom money for Alvarado's release. Tim is forced to act as a go-between for the gang and demand more money from Castro. Tim behaves as instructed, but secretly warns Castro by writing a note in the dust on a desk. When Brett informs Marlow that Castro is returning with a posse, Marlow admits to his underling that he is really the gang leader, but plans to split the money with them later and escape. Overhearing their conversation, Tim disguises himself with a Mexican blanket and hat and tells the gang that he is their mysterious chief. He then tricks Trigger into thinking that Marlow plans to double-cross the gang and take the money, and the outlaws storm the house, killing Marlow. Tim then frees Alvarado and meets Pancho, a Mexican secret service agent who has been investigating the gang, and was the "voice" that advised Monty. Rita reunites with her father, and warns Tim that Trigger is going to the line shack to kill Bob. Tim catches Trigger and overpowers him in a fistfight, then goes to help his friend, who was badly beaten but will recover.