After a gang of rustlers kill a sheriff and his deputies during a cattle raid, aging café proprietor Fuzzy Jones, whom the sheriff once swore in as a deputy, is forced to take over as sheriff. When the rustlers ride into town, Fuzzy mistakes the gang's leader, a surly outlaw named Jim, for his friend Billy Carson and is slugged by Jim. Unknown to Fuzzy, Jim is Billy's look-alike cousin and is convinced that Billy once betrayed him and had him sent to jail. Billy, who is unaware that his cousin is in the area, then arrives in town, further confusing Fuzzy. Billy assures Fuzzy of his identity, then pledges to help him in the fight against the rustlers. Moments later, rancher Helen Foster shows up in Fuzzy's café, searching for a trail boss to oversee her father Dan's upcoming cattle drive. Fuzzy suggests Billy for the job, but Billy refuses. Two of Jim's men, Vic and Matt, overhear Helen's offer and, seeing an opportunity, approach her. Fuzzy and Billy resent the intrusion, however, and a fight breaks out. After using pepper flakes to get the better of Vic, Fuzzy stops the brawl by firing his gun and orders Vic and Matt to leave. Matt nonetheless convinces Helen to consider him for the job and arranges to meet Dan. Later, after Fuzzy wins a bicycle in a raffle, Vic and Bart, another rustler, try to coerce Billy into meeting their boss. Billy, who has deduced the boss's identity, resists and becomes embroiled in another fight, which Fuzzy again breaks up. At the Foster ranch, meanwhile, Matt impresses Dan and Helen with his herding skills and wins the trail boss job. When Billy happens by and threatens Matt, Helen, still angry over Billy's rejection, orders him off her property. Matt then rides to Jim's hideout, unaware that Billy is following him. After Matt informs Jim about Billy's threat and leaves, Billy sneaks up to the hideout and surprises his cousin. Although Billy condemns Jim as "no good," he denies that he ever betrayed him, and the two men fight. Billy knocks out Jim and, hearing horses approach, dons Jim's hat and tricks Vic and Bart into thinking he is their boss long enough to escape. Later, in town, Billy cajoles Fuzzy into talking to Helen about Matt. Helen is unimpressed by Fuzzy's warnings, however, and accuses Billy of trying to exact revenge on Matt. The next night, as Billy entertains the town with his newly acquired bike riding skills, Matt, Vic and Bart ambush Billy and drag him away. As the Foster cattle drive begins the next morning, Fuzzy again tries to warn Dan and Helen about Matt, who has ordered the Foster cowhands to round up stray cattle so that Jim, Vic and Bart can rustle the main herd. Wearing Billy's clothes, Jim then begins firing at the Fosters and wounds Dan. Jim races to his hideout, where he is holding Billy prisoner, and forces his cousin to switch clothes with him. When Matt, supported by Helen, turns Billy over to Fuzzy for arrest, Fuzzy defends his friend and helps him to flee. Billy returns to Jim's hideout and, at gunpoint, demands that Jim switch clothes again. Just after he has donned Billy's shirt, Jim overwhelms Billy and dashes outside, only to be shot by Matt, who mistakes him for Billy. Billy then shoots Matt, ending the rustlers' reign. Later, Fuzzy tricks Billy into swearing himself in as sheriff and happily gives up his badge.