Jack Sanders and Ed Wrangel, the latter being a well known felon, fight by a stream resulting in Sanders drowning Wrangel. He floats down river and is caught on a #7 hook and bacon rind by Owny O'Reilly, a young misfit in Laramie. Owny recognizes Wrangel and turns the body in for a reward of $250. Johnny has to take the body to another town to collect the reward and suggests Owny fill in as a special deputy. Owny continues his investigation of who killed Wrangel and determines through various clues it is Sanders who he arrests. However, some of the evidence is destroyed so Troop releases Sanders. As Sanders leaves town, Owny confronts Sanders forcing Troop to stop Sanders from shooting Owny. A search of his saddlebags turns up the stolen money.
—Anonymous