Broncho Billy and his pals hold up a stagecoach. In rifling the mail bag, Broncho discovers a letter from his mother in which she begs him to come back home, as she is dying. Before he can comply, he and his band are captured. He is placed in charge of a young man, who hopes to get enough money from the reward for the capture of the bandits to marry his sweetheart. Broncho shows him the letter. He is touched and lets Broncho go on his word of honor that he will return. Broncho is detained longer at the bedside of his mother than he expected. Finally she dies and he returns. His capturer in the meantime, has been stripped of his badge and disgraced for letting his prisoner go. When Broncho returns he is restored to his rank.