The Arizona Kid, a notorious outlaw, makes his escape from jail by sawing the bars from the cell window. Next morning this is discovered and reward notices are scattered broadcast offering $1,000 reward for his apprehension and giving his picture for identification. Todd, sheriff of Coyote County, reads one of the notices and locates Arizona in the town saloon. He captures him, then notifies Matthews, sheriff of Gulch County, to come and get his man. Matthews rides across the desert, takes the outlaw, handcuffs him, puts him on a horse and starts back with him to jail. Out in the desert two villainous Mexicans see the sheriff and the prisoner and decide to secure the horses. Stopping Matthews they beg for a drink of water. Matthews hands over his canteen and is murderously struck down with a knife in the hand of one of the rascals Arizona pleads with the men to leave him some water, but they mount their horses and leave him stranded and afoot with the wounded sheriff on his hands. Securing the key from the sheriff's pocket Arizona unlocks the handcuffs, gets Matthews on his back and staggers toward town. After a terrible day's travel he arrives at a prospector's shanty, leaves Matthews, takes his star, borrows a gun and sets out after the Mexicans. He runs them down manacles them and rides back. A week has elapsed and Matthews is on the road to recovery from his wound when Arizona enters with his prisoners. He is about to surrender the star and submit to arrest, when Matthews tells him he is going to make him a deputy, wrings his hand, and hustles the Mexicans out, leaving Arizona to proudly polish the star.