Carl Stockdale, the sheriff of Boise County, is given a case of valuable jewels to deliver, but determines to keep them for himself. To make sure that his deputy, Broncho Billy, will not interfere, he removes the lead from the cartridges in his gun. That afternoon Broncho meets with a rattler, tries to kill it, but discovers that his shells are harmless. He quickly reloads and sends the snake to the happy hunting grounds. The sheriff tries to kill his deputy, but Broncho returns the shot and wounds him. The deputy is finally made sheriff of the county and the would-be thief repents for having tried to steal and kill.