An entry in the series of three-reel (30 minutes or less) western shorts featuring the non-continuity adventures of two cowhands named Bud and Ben, in which neither often had the same last name. Bumbly Ben Corbett was always Ben, but Bud was played, in various entries, by Jack Perrin (the most-used as Bud) and Wally Wales (as Walt Williams), Dennis Moore (as Denny Meadows) and Fred Humes.
This one carried an "Astor Pictures presents" above the title, but Astor was only the distributor, while Bernard B. Ray and Harry S. Webb's Reliable Pictures Corporation was the production company on all but one in the series, and Bernard B. Ray was the nominal producer on that one also. All were distributed by William Steiner, part of the Astor setup also, and by various other state rights distributors, depending on what independent exchange handled the films in various regions of the country.
This one finds Ben (Ben Corbett) and Walrus Face (Harry Meyers) as two tramp cowhands who decide to pair up and become outlaws, but miss out on the stage when it rolls by while they are arguing. Meanwhile, over at Bud's ranch, Sam Jenkins (Jimmy Aubrey, with his usual lack of restraint) has come looking for his niece Marion (Josephine Hill), as he has strong objections to her keeping company with Bud (Wally Wales),the broke and getting-broker fast ranch owner. Slick banker Steve Merrick (Robert Walker), also a suitor for Marion's hand, won't loan Bud the needed money to stock his ranch, but does give him $500 for his horse Starlight.
Ben and Walrus Face are in town, and overhear Merrick telling his henchman Clint(George Chesebro) to go out to Bud's ranch and steal the $500 back. Ben and Walrus Face knock Clint out, and then knock Bud out and steal his wallet. They later decide a life of crime does not suit them (via the only split screen shot ever employed by B.B. Ray, in which each character is playing to himself) and make plans to return Bud's money, but Clint steals it back from them and delivers it to Merrick. Potluck describes the rest of the film.
