Justice Department investigator Jim Galloway arrives in Yuba City, Texas, to investigate Louis Rankin, whose company has been involved in questionable horse buying and apparent military training of ex-convicts, a violation of the Neutrality Act. Posing as rancher Matt Rathburn's new foreman, Jim visits Rankin's operation and meets attractive Rita Browning. Rita, whom Rankin introduces as his sister but is actually his girl friend, has seduced Leslie Holden, a senator's son, into selling Rankin the senator's horses and allowing him to use the Holden property. After Jim impresses Smoky, Rankin's foreman, with his shooting and fighting ability, Rankin offers him a job. Jim feigns interest in the deal, which makes Betty Holden, Leslie's sister and Rathburn's niece, suspicious. At a dance at the Holdens' the next night, Rita, at Rankin's request, flirts openly with Jim. After Jim agrees to sell Rathburn's horses and oversee Rankin's operation, Leslie sees Rita kissing Jim and confronts her. Rita coldly reminds Leslie that he signed a contract with Rankin, which, if revealed, could ruin his father's career. Still playing his part, Jim arranges with Rathburn to sell his horses to Rankin and then start a stampede. While Rankin's cowhands chase after the runaway horses, Jim sneaks into a guarded barn and discovers guns and ammunition. With the evidence that he needs, he tells Rathburn to notify the sheriff, while he tricks Rita into handing him Leslie's contract. Surprised at gunpoint by Smoky, Jim, Betty and Leslie are tied up and taken to a cove where Rankin and his shipment are about to leave. After a heated gun battle, Jim, who has broken free, stops the illegal shipment and arrests the smugglers.