Gene comes to visit an old friend, Jud Grant, at Black Rock. When he gets there he finds that Jud has shot himself. He goes to the ranch to see Jud's wife Mary and finds that Judge Hanly, Doctor Jones, and Jack Wilson are trying to talk her into selling the ranch to Wilson. Gene is convinced that Jud didn't shoot himself and decides to stay as Mary's ranch foreman while he investigates.; Gene is stopped on the road by a little boy whose uncle has been shot and killed. Gene takes the boy to town where he finds that the boy's father is in prison and his mother is dead. Gene takes the boy to a carnival, where the boy recognizes the man in the strong man act as the one who killed his uncle.