Broncho Billy and his pal are in love with the same girl. They argue one night as to which one she really loves. Broncho suggests that they go to her home and settle the matter. They arrive just in time to see the girl marrying a gambler who is known to be a low-down good-for-nothing by both Broncho and his pal. The two heartbroken suitors decide to leave the country together. One morning Broncho awakes to find a note from his pal saying that he fears the girl living with that man and intends to devote his life to watching over her. Ten years later the gambler is killed in a saloon by an unknown man. Broncho is now sheriff and sets out to find the criminal. He finds his man in the gambler's home, and discovers him to be his old time pal. He tells Broncho that he trailed the victim to the saloon after he had beaten his wife and shot him. Broncho takes off his star rather than arrest his pal for defending their old time sweetheart.