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By 1877, cattle rustling in Southwest Texas has
driven away many cattle ranchers. One who has stayed behind to fight the
rustlers is Charlie Bell of San Antonio. When Charlie learns that his
friend, Clay Hardin, is planning to return to Texas from his hideaway in Mexico,
he crosses the border to warn him that his life has been threatened by the
rustlers. Clay responds that he has acquired proof against Roy Stuart, the
head of the rustlers, and plans to use it to put Stuart in jail.
Despite the efforts of Stuart's men, Clay safely
crosses the border and rides into San Antonio in a private coach, which is also
carrying singer Jeanne Starr, who has a job singing in Stuart's saloon.
Clay attempts to present his evidence, a tally book that records the sale of
stolen cattle, to the soldiers at a nearby garrison. In the absence of the
commanding officer, however, no action can be taken, and Clay decides to hold on
to the tally book for the moment.
When Legare, Stuart's partner, learns about Clay's
evidence, he wants to obtain the book and use it against Stuart for his own
purposes. One night, Jeanne invites Clay to visit her backstage, and
Charlie, worried that Jeanne may be involved in a plot against Clay, keeps the
tally book. Legare witnesses the exchange and, later when Stuart tries
unsuccessfully to kill Clay, he shoots Charlie and steals the tally book.
The murder is witnessed by Sacha Bozic, Jeanne's manager, who fearfully denies
that he has seen anything.
During the inquiry into Charlie's death, Sacha
reveals nothing, but Stuart quickly discovers that Legare committed the murder
when he demands that Stuart share his cattle business with him in return for
suppressing the evidence.
When the cavalry leaves town, Clay is temporarily
appointed to be marshal. Stuart then summons all his men to town, and this
action convinces Clay that he does not have the tally book himself. Clay
tells Stuart that he believes him to be innocent, but refuses to make a deal
with him. Clay then arrests Legare, but when they try to leave the saloon,
a gunfight ensues and Legare escapes. Stuart chases Legare into the ruins
of the Alamo and kills him, and then rides out of town, pursued by Clay.
Clay finally catches Stuart, who is killed during the ensuing struggle.
Clay returns to San Antonio with the tally book to
find that Jeanne is leaving town. He swings aboard her coach and tries to
talk her into staying with him. Jeanne inadvertently reveals that she,
too, is a Texan and does not protest when Clay orders the coach to return to San
Antonio.
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