Jim Hardie is sent to Oak Flats, a small town near the Great American Desert, which has a few mining claims nearby. Hardie is undercover as the replacement agent for the one killed by "lead poisoning" plus the stage coach was robbed. So far there has been no clues to the killer but Jim takes an interest when a young man, Tim Farland, who was working for the circus as a horse trainer asks the general store and stable owner, Binks, for a job. He is trying to earn cash to pay off a loan on his ranch. Supposedly hard hearted Binks has no job but Jim suggests Tim try the Gopher Hole ranch who has horses to break/train. Tim tries them but is severely hurt when they force him to try breaking a wild horse fast. Binks, who is really a softy, gives Tim a job in his stable where Tim comes to help Hardie.
—Anonymous