Broncho Billy, the town good-for-nothing, makes his headquarters at the saloon, where he makes a few cents each day by sweeping out the place. One morning the hotel proprietor, the general store keeper and the chairman of the town board, upon going to their places of business, find that they have been robbed. Immediately a reward of $500 is offered for the bandit's capture. Broncho asks to be made a deputy sheriff but is refused, so goes after the outlaw alone. He goes up into the mountains and takes with him a bandit's equipment, including a "fake" note saying that a reward is offered for his capture. The real bandit comes upon him and finds the note. He takes him to the sheriff, thinking be will get the reward, but instead falls into a trap. Broncho gets the money and buys himself a ranch.