Plot

Bret isn't so eager to spring into action, after he hears that Bart was murdered.

A fellow's got to kill the fellow who kills a fellow's brother. At least, that's the Code of the West. At first mistaken for the fellow who killed a fellow's brother, Bret sends the brother off in search of brother Bart as the alleged killer. When word comes back that Bart has been killed, the locals expect Bret to seek his own revenge. But Bret seems nonchalant about the news and has other plans. If only the idolizing Smoky would stay out of the way.—graymatters

Smoky Vaughn rides down the street and splashes mud on George Henry Arnett. George takes offense, grabs Smoky when he dismounts, and says that he needs to teach him a lesson. He throws Smoky into a puddle, and the spectators laugh. Smoky challenges George to a gunfight, and George says that he isn't going to draw because Smoky is just a kid. When Smoky calls him a coward, George accepts and they back off. Smoky's sister Holly comes down the street and tells Smoky to back down rather than risk getting killed. She says that it is George but Smoky refuses to back down because of the Code of the West.

Holly asks George to listen to reason, and George says that he's not going to run from a fight. A man comes out and says that Bret came to town and is looking for George. George quickly mounts up, says that he has business out of town, and rides off. Smoky figures that Bret must be a fast gun, and Holly wishes that he wasn't so impressed by gunfighter.

Bret rides up, splashing the Vaughns. He apologizes and asks for George, and Smoky realizes who Bret is. They go into the saloon and Smoky starts collecting the money Bret is winning at poker. Bret walks away from the table, saying he'll be back the next day if they want a crack at him, and Smoky accompanies Bret out. Smoky invites Bret to dinner, and is thrilled when Bret calls him "pal". Bret figures that Holly doesn't like him, and Smoky explains that she just doesn't like gunfighters.

When he has dinner with the Vaughns, Bret assures Holly that he's no gunfighter. He explains that he's a poker player, and he tries to avoid fighting and gambling. Bret insists that poker is a science, not a gamble, and Holly doesn't believe him because of George's terrified face when he heard Bret's face. The gambler explains that he came to collect a debt from George to raise poker for a stake. Smoky figures that Bret was scared of Bret, and doesn't believe Bret's denials.

Later, Bret and Holly go shopping. Smoky waits outside and a bounty hunter, Burgess, asks where Bret is. Smoky directs him to the store and Burgess says that Bret is a killer. When Smoky tries to go into the store, Burgess assumes he is trying to warn Bret and draws a gun on him. Bret and Holly come out, and the man says Bret is a killer. He shows Bret a dead or alive wanted poster with Bret's name on it, for the murder of Elsworth Haines, and Burgess takes Bret to jail. The sheriff notes that Burgess should take Bret to Red Rock where the reward is offered, and Burgess doesn't want to travel by night and risk Bret escaping. The sheriff is interested in the missing money that Bret supposedly stole and goes with Burgess to steal Bret's room. The lawman refuses to let Burgess search Bret's room without legal authority, and points out that he's the legal authority. He agrees in return for half of twice the rewards, for Bret and the money.

Once Burgess and the sheriff leave, Smoky sneaks in, grabs the keys, and tells Bret that he's going to get him out. He refuses to desert a "pal", but Smoky says that the dead man in Red Rock was shot in the back and Bret wouldn't shoot anyone in the place. He uses a rope and his horse to try and pull the bars out of the window, but ends up falling off his horse.

Holy enters the sheriff's office, and Bret says that the sheriff left with Burgess. Bret figures that the sheriff is doing some private business to get part of the reward, and the two men are ransacking his room. The gambler assures Holly that they won't find the missing $50,000, but Holly doesn't believe him. Bret insists that he's not a notorious gunman, and Holly serves him some good. Holly says that she's worried about Smoky because he didn't come for supper, and Bret tells her that Smoky is a little stiff but okay.

Smoky files at the bars, assuring Bret that they can't miss. Holly goes out to talk to him, and Bret tells Smoky to go. Holly yanks Smoky down, grabs him by the ear, and drags him home, and Bret figures that Smoky will try dynamite next.

Later, the sheriff gets a telegraph from Red Rock confirming Bret's innocence. Bret asks why he was framed with his name on the wanted poster, and the sheriff offers to investigate but Bret would rather leave. Once Bret goes, the sheriff calls Burgess in and says that he let Bret take his gun so he wouldn't be suspicious.

As Bret walks down the street, Marvin Dilbey is getting onto a stagecoach and falls back into Bret when he struggles with the driver over his bag. Bret goes into his hotel's dining room, and the sheriff and Burgess go in and hide. They wait behind a potted plant, and impatiently wait for him to do something. Bret finally goes up to his room, and the sheriff and Burgess follow him up.

Once in his room, Bret checks under the mattress but finds nothing. The sheriff and Burgess watch through the keyhole, and then hide when Bret comes back out. He goes to the front desk and talks to the clerk, then leaves. His two followers question the clerk, who says that Bret was looking for a carpetbag. The clerk says that he told Bret that Dilbey had it, and Dilbey left town with the carpetbag. He then gave Bret directions to the local livery, Donovan's. The two men argue over which one will go after the stagecoach and which will go to the livery stable. They both decide to ride off after the stagecoach, and Bret calmly watches them go and then walks off.

Later, Bret is playing poker when Smoky comes into the saloon. Bret tells the young man that he let the sheriff believe he was leading him to the money. While the sheriff is out of town, Bret figures he'll have plenty of time to win poker.

A cowboy comes in and asks for Bret, and Smoky helpfully points Bret out. The cowboy says that Elsworth was a friend of his and Jed Haines is there to kill Bret. Bret is unimpressed, and the cowboy tells him that Jed is looking for revenge on Bret for killing his brother. An onlooker goes out and starts telling people there'll be a gunfight between Bret and Jed.

One townsman rides out of town and finds Jed and his two friends riding into town. The trio continue to town, and Bret plays poker. The townsman rides into town and yells that Jed is almost there, and the townspeople take cover. Bret's opponents hear, fold, and run. One player remains and Bret continues playing poker. Holly comes in and Bret says that he needs to raise money by playing preliminary games. She says that Bret is selfish not caring for the women who are left behind, and wonders why Bret is staying to face Jed. Bret tells her that he isn't staying, collects his money, and goes out the back.

Back at the Vaughn house, Bret figures that no one saw him came there so they shouldn't look for him there. Bret explains that he was collecting money from Elsworth and someone shot him after Bret left. Smoky comes in and tells Bret that he figured Bret was at the house so brought Jed there. Bret peers out the window and confirms that Jed and his men are there, and sarcastically thanks Smoky.

The cowboy calls Bret out for Jed, saying that they'll burn the house down if Bret doesn't come out. Smoky calls back, saying that Bret will be out in a minute. Holly asks Bret what he's going to do, and Bret figures there's nothing he can do but face Jed.

Bret steps out and offers to talk things over. The cowboy says that a brother has to avenge his brother's life, and Smoky tells Bret that he tried and Jed is looking for trouble. Jed hesitantly steps forward... then says that Bret isn't the man who shot Elsworth. He apologizes to Bret, and tells the cowboy that he got a good look at the killer and it wasn't Bret. One man has heard that Bret has a brother, and the cowboy says that they'll find Bart and leave with the others.

Smoky points out that Bret said earlier that he was talking to Elsworth, and now they'll go after Bart. Bret figures that it's Bart's problem and he's well out of it, Smoky suggests that he warn Bart, and Bret takes him to the telegraph office to warn Bart in Canyon City that Jed is looking for him. A townsman overhears him and tells Jed that Bart is in Canyon City, and Jed rides there.

The sheriff and Burgess stop the stage and get the carpetbag from Dibley. There are suspenders inside, and Dibley insists that there is no money. The sheriff realizes that Bret set them up, and he and Burgess ride back to town.

Bret is playing poker when Burgess comes in, aims a gun at his neck, and tells him not to move. Bret tells Burgess that he's not the one the bounty hunter is looking for, and says that there's a mistake. He says that they're looking for Bart, but Burgess doesn't believe him. Everyone confirms what Bret is saying, and the sheriff comes in and tells Burgess to put away the gun. Disappointed, burgess puts away his gun and complains that it isn't fair.

The next morning, the townsman tells Bret that they found Bart and the empty money pouches in his room. There's no sign of the money, and Jed claims he saw Bart. The two of them shot it out and the townsman tells Bret that Bart is dead. Bret thanks the townsman for telling him, and goes to get breakfast.

Later, Bret goes to the Vaughn house and meets with Holly to say he's leaving town. She figures Bret could teach Smoky cowardness and selfishness, but calls it wisdom and modesty. Bret asks her to tell Smoky goodbye for him, and kisses her before going. When Bret goes on the street, he finds Smoky waiting for him with a saddled horse. Smoky insists on going with Bret, refusing to let a pal down. Bret suggests that Holly needs Smoky, and Smoky says that he asked the sheriff to keep on Holly while he was gone.

The two men ride out of town, and Bret tries to head away from Canyon City. Smoky figures that Bret should kill Jed and avenge Bart. Bret isn't interested, saying art must be a killer and a thief, takes out the $5,000 reward for the money, and starts to ride off. Smoky figures Bret was joking about Bart being a killer and a thief, but Smoky insists a pal wouldn't talk like that. He says that he'll never lose faith in Bret because he's a pal, and they ride to Red Rock together.

In Red Rock, Bret and Smoky ride in and find the sheriff there. The sheriff says that Bart is dead and wonders why Bret came there, and Bret points out that they Jed didn't find the stolen cash. The sheriff asks Bret what he has for ideas, and then arrests Bret and Smoky as accessories. Bret insists he doesn't know where the money is, and points out that he wouldn't settle for a $5,000 reward if he stole $50,000. He offers to bring the money in and split the reward with the sheriff, and the sheriff finally agrees.

Bret and Smoky go to a grocery store and buy a shovel, then go to dick up Elsworth's grave. Bret figures that the grave has already been dug up once, and Smoky insists on digging. He refuses to answer Smoky's questions, and Smoky finds the money pouches with the $50,000. Bret explains that he doesn't know who killed Jed, but he knows Bart wasn't near Canyon City. He doesn't know who killed Jed, and Smoky figures Bret would have eventually avenged Bart's death if Bart had been killed. Smoky wonders how Bret knew the money was in the grave, and Jed comes up and holds them at gunpoint. He has them take off their gun belts, and Bret says that Jed killed Elsworth and took the money. Jed doesn't know who he killed, and made a show of hunting the murderer. He hoped he'd never catch up to Bret. Smoky figures Elsworth backed out of the gunfight with Jed, and Elsworth admits that he was scared. He picked out a drunk in Canyon City and killed him.

Smoky jumps Jed and gets punched, and Bret jumps Jed. The two men fight and Smoky joins in when he recovers. Jed finally grabs his gun and captures both of them, and tells them to turn around. Another man arrives behind Jed and tells him to holster his gun so they can see who is fastest. Jed tries to shoot him, and the newcomer kills him. Bret wonders who the newcomer is, and the man says that he's the brother of the drunk Jed killed.

Later, Bret and Smoky gets the reward money. Burgess brings Bart in, and Bret says that Burgess is too smart for him and quickly leaves.