Hoby returns home to Crawford to help his sister Nora after she sends him a telegram that somebody has been threatening her and because he gets a telegram from town drunk Fred Sales to come home quick because his sister is going to die.
Hoby shows a wanted poster for Frank Wilson to the Sheriff of Blanton who lies and says he never heard of him (because he knows his daughter is in love with Frank).
Chad Winter, the owner of the general store, finds an old woman in his store after closing then two men walk in and shoot him. Hoby has to find out who killed him.
Henrietta Porter receives a letter from Harry Keller who was just released from prison warning the town of Porter to stay away from Hoby because Harry is coming to kill Hoby in revenge for killing his brother. Making things worse, Hoby doesn't even know what Keller looks like.
Sheriff Alvin Fremont and a mob take prisoner Char Lopez out of jail and threaten to lynch him unless he confesses. The horse bolts and Lopez is hanged. Hoby is sent in to investigate who was responsible.
Hoby tracks down Mal Cody after his twin brother Wes steals Hoby's badge, identification, gun, money and horse and poses as Hoby to break Mal out of jail.
Hoby investigates the murder of a former mayor the whole town despised yet who kept gold coins in his cabin. Hoby suspects plain old robbery and not personal revenge.