Cheyenne rides into Twin Forks with the bandit Durango Kid to turn him over to his friend Sheriff Sam Townley for a $500. The town erupts in celebration that night with lots of drinking. Bill Jenkins urges the party on with the idea of lynching the Kid, and a mob led by him and Ted Curtis go to the Sheriff's office. The Sheriff confronts the crowd with a shotgun telling them to go home. Someone pushes Ted Curtis into the Sheriff causing the gun to fire and kill Ted. Jenkins (who is Crowley's friend and a strong force in urging the mob) and Crowley (Red Jenkin's cousin)blame the Sheriff resulting in him being jailed and Jenkins being named temporary sheriff by the mayor.
Ted's dad Jed owns the bank as well as a large ranch so he has control over what happens. Cheyenne decides to stay in town for the trial plus he wants to help Sam, and It soon becomes clear that there is foul play when the Durango Kid is killed escaping by Bob Crowley who appears to move in to take his cousin Ted's spot with Jed Curtis.
In order to prove that Crowley killed his cousin and the Durango kid, Cheyenne has to put himself in danger to resolve the murder, and that means getting close to the line of fire ...
What an intricate plot, which is teemed with tension, schemes, intrigue and murder - a great idea is excellently executed. Husky-voiced Kathleen Crowley is brilliant as the widow of Ted Curtis who is hounded by the creepy Crowley who tells her that she could lose her footing on the ranch if she doesn't play his game. She cleverly acts as if she will comply but she just runs to Cheyenne and they concoct a scheme to prove that Crowley is involved in the murder.