Tom Shelby and Broncho Billy, partners on a small cattle ranch, and life-long pals, are stalwart young fellows and true sons of the west. Tom falls in love with Vedah Craig, daughter of the county sheriff, proudly tells Broncho of her, shows him the ring, goes to the Craig house, and puts the ring on Vedah's finger with the consent of her father. Rushing back to the ranch house Tom tells Broncho the good news and Broncho congratulates him warmly. That night a dance is held in the town hall. At the height of the merriment Quick-Draw Kelly, a notorious gun-man, and all-around ruffian, enters the hall with leveled gun and boisterously orders them all out. Fearing his deadly gun the hall is quickly cleared, then the enraged punchers summon Sheriff Craig, who is severely wounded in the arm by Kelly. The ruffian escapes and Craig now endeavors to send deputies after him, but all are afraid of Kelly's quick shooting and refuse to go in pursuit. Suddenly Vedah takes her father's badge, goes to the ranch house, calls out her sweetheart, Tom, pins the badge on his shirt and tells him to bring back the man who shot her father. Tom is a coward at heart, weakly agrees and Vedah leaves. Sick with fear, Tom goes to Broncho, confesses be has not the courage to bring back Kelly, and begs Broncho to aid him. Realizing for the first time the true nature of his pal, Broncho takes the badge, gets his saddle and, without a word, leaves. In the early dawn of the next morning Broncho thrusts the captured Kelly into a cell in the town jail, returns to the ranch house, tosses the badge on the table before Tom and tells him to inform Sheriff Craig that he has made the capture. Weakly Tom tries to thank Broncho, but the grim-visaged young ranchman waves him from the room. In the Craig parlor Vedah and her father are talking over the mending arm when Tom enters and, with a gulp in his throat, weakly tells of Kelly's capture. With heart torn to shreds by Vedah's fond caresses and Craig's order that he wear the badge as a special deputy, Tom stands with features twisted into a mask of dumb pain, too weak to confess his abject terror. Meanwhile, Broncho, sealed outside the ranch house door, lights his pipe, and smiles grimly as he gazes toward the Craig ranch, just visible down the white trail.