Riding Through Nevada

Postal inspector Steve Lowrey is riding the stage to Carson City to investigate irregularities in the mail service and devise guidelines for the awarding of new postal contracts to carriers. As Steve and Arkansas, the driver of the stage, approach the Willow's Station relay point, where they are to change teams, they witness outlaw Ed Kendall and his gang preparing to steal a herd of horses. After chasing away the thieves, Steve and Arkansas continue their journey to Carson City. Shortly after arriving in town, Steve discovers an opened letter from government agent Clayton McCord, notifying Bob Holloway and his daughter Gail, the owners of the stage line, that a shipment of gold is to be transported through Carson City on its way from San Francisco to Washington. McCord writes that he is coming to town to make arrangements for the gold's safe passage, but when he arrives, Steve recognizes him as Kendall in disguise. Suspecting that something is wrong, Steve writes to San Francisco, requesting a description of McCord, but his letter is intercepted by Beekman, a postal clerk in Kendall's employ. When Steve fails to get a reply to his letter, he decides to go to San Francisco to investigate. Kendall assigns one of his henchmen, Stiles, to drive Steve's stagecoach and kill him enroute, but while attempting to throw Steve to his death, Stiles plunges beneath the horses' hooves and perishes. After outwitting Kendall's men, who are following the coach, Steve tracks them to a deserted barn, where the real McCord is being held prisoner. Before Steve can free McCord, however, the government agent dies of injuries inflicted by the outlaws. Although he races back to Carson City, Steve arrives too late to intercept the gold shipment, which Kendall has routed through a deserted pass where his men are waiting to ambush the coach. When Steve tells Holloway of Kendall's deception, Holloway and his men join the postal inspector in pursuit of the stagecoach. After catching up to the coach, Holloway's men hide inside and continue on the route outlined by Kendall. Upon reaching the pass, a furious gunfight ensues between the outlaws and Steve and the others, and Holloway and Kendall are both killed. After the bandits are captured, Steve awards the new mail contract to Gail and, having facilitated the delivery of the U.S. mail, rides off with Arkansas.