Jimmy Hayes joins the Texas rangers. He causes much merriment by introducing to his new friends an ugly horned toad, around the neck of which he has tied a bright ribbon. He has named the horned toad "Muriel," and it is his constant companion, having a domicile within his flannel shirt. Saldar, a Mexican bandit, creates a reign of terror among the settlers, and the Texas rangers go in pursuit. Saldar attacks the camp and Jimmy Hayes rides out to meet the bandits unseen by his companions, who think he has deserted them. Jimmy has a running fight in which he kills Saldar and other members of the band, and is himself killed. The rangers have reported with regret that Jimmy Hayes deserted. A year later, while riding past the scene, the rangers find the skeletons. From the whitened bones of one, an ugly horned toad, wearing a faded bit of ribbon, crawls to meet the visitors. Jimmy Hayes is vindicated.