Sixty miles of hard riding lay behind Jim Quigley when at last he and his weary brown gelding reach Elkhorn Basin. Along with his sack of tobacco and cigarette papers, he carries in his shirt pocket an urgent telegram from his former partner, Nels Anderson. It is night and, not knowing the exact location of his friend s ranch or what kind of trouble might be brewing, Quigley rides the dark trails cautiously. Following a road he hopes will lead him to a ranch, he comes upon some horsemen who immediately start throwing lead in his direction. Pursued and shot at, Quigley narrowly escapes, but his horse does not and Quigley is left afoot."