- A group of outlaws posing as Southern sympathizers and led secretly by freight-line owner Jim Maroon are raiding stagecoaches, and this is a threat to the Union communications. Grif Holbrook (Rod Cameron), a trouble-shooter for the Butterfield Stage Line, and Union man Barney Broderick (Wayne Morris) team up to try and put a stop to the activity, when they aren't fighting over the charms of Kate Crocker (Kay Buckley).—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
- Just before the outbreak of Civil War, John Butterfield, owner of the Butterfield Stage Line, pleads for assistance from President-elect Abraham Lincoln to fight the increasing number of stage thefts on his St. Louis to San Francisco run, but Lincoln encourages Butterfield to defend himself alone. A few days later on the Texas trail, El Paso's sheriff Winters detains Grif Holbrook (Rod Cameron), Butterfield's former partner, and escorts him to Butterfield, who arranged the arrest to stop Grif from resigning. Butterfield pleads for Grif to stay on and help him discover who is behind the stage raids, but Grif refuses until Butterfield makes him head of the Tucson branch. When Grif arrives at the line's Apache Pass branch in Arizona, acting manager Kate Crocker (Kay Buckley) describes the latest stage theft, in which the robbers appeared in a black, apparently driver-less stage. Kate reacts angrily at being replaced by Winters until Grif offers her work at his branch. On the Tucson trail, the black stage ambushes Grif and Kate, but Kate is allowed to continue unharmed. Taken inside the black stage, Grif recognizes Sam Granger, the driver, a former Butterfield employee, who explains the thefts are to support the Southern cause. Grif soon breaks out of the black stage and makes his way to Tucson. The black stage then reports to boss Jim Maroon (Roy Roberts), who berates his men for allowing Grif's escape. Meanwhile, at the Tucson Butterfield office, supervisor Barney Broderick (Wayne Morris), long an admirer of Kate, reacts with dismay over her concern for Grif, who turns up unharmed. While checking into the local hotel, Grif reunites with old flame Annie Benson (Sally Eilers), the proprietor, then in the saloon, tries to get information from an associate of Maroon about the black stage. When Grif follows the man later, another of Maroon's henchmen kills the man and attacks Grif, who escapes. The next day, Kate confesses her concern for Grif's safety and, despite Barney's resentment, accepts Grif's proposal. Barney goes to Annie's and drinks heavily while Maroon questions him about the Butterfield line. The next day, the black stage hijacks another stagecoach, and when Grif and Barney investigate, they are attacked. After they escape, the men quarrel over Grif's engagement, and upon returning to Tucson, Kate chides Grif for fighting Barney. That night after hearing reports that a Mexican stage had been hijacked less than two hours earlier, Grif hastily summons all the townsfolk to the square to note which men are absent. They include Maroon, his half-breed henchman, Gus Heyden, and perennial drunk, Doc Noah Benteen (Carl Benton Reid). Just then, a Union soldier arrives with Lincoln's call for volunteers, sending a surge of excitement through the town. When Barney notices Gus ride away, he follows him to Maroon's ranch and overhears Maroon plan one final stage heist before war is officially declared. Upon discovery, Barney convinces Maroon he has quit working for Butterfield and wishes to join him. Maroon agrees, but when Gus protests, Maroon strikes him and is attacked by Gus's imposing white dog, Billy. Maroon shoots Billy, and Barney uses the distraction to tuck the flower he always wears into Doc's hatband. Seeing Kate fret over Barney's lengthening absence, Grif realizes she is in love with him. Doc arrives in the bar and Annie, noticing the flower, pressures him to reveal Barney's whereabouts. Doc admits Maroon's involvement with the thefts, but insists it is for the "cause" and refuses to believe that Maroon is corrupt. When Annie reveals she is Maroon's wife and knows his long history of illegal activities, Doc discloses Barney's location. Grif rounds up a posse and heads to Maroon's ranch, while Maroon plans to take the last two stolen coaches to Mexico. Barney is assigned to one of the stages, and while driving, hurls the accompanying guard off and tries to make an escape. Gus and Maroon chase him as Grif's posse closes in. Barney unhitches his team and crashes his stage, forcing Gus and Maroon to crash as well. As revenge for killing Billy, Gus kills Maroon just before the posse arrives. Later, in Tucson, Annie and Kate look on as Barney joins the Union Army only to discover that Grif has already been made his commanding officer.
- John Butterfield, owner of Butterfield Overland Mail, visits newly elected President Abraham Lincoln two months before his inauguration to complain about the loss of ten of his stagecoaches between Apache Pass and Tucson. Lincoln wants to ensure that Butterfield's coaches continue to bring the gold from California to help finance any possible conflict with the southern states, but cannot provide any assistance to Butterfield. Grif Holbrook (Rod Cameron) is on a stage which is stopped by apparent bandits who are in fact a posse led by sheriff Winters. Winters has a warrant for Holbrook for the theft of $2200. Grif, who had jumped from the stage before it stopped, turns the tables on Winters and his men but when he finds out who Winters is and why he stopped the stage, he gives himself up. Winters takes Holbrook to Butterfield who has arranged for the warrant as a ruse to get to speak to his ex-partner Grif so he can ask for help to stop the theft of his stages. Grif declines saying he is heading to California to buy a farm and retire. Grif, having finally been convinced by Butterfield to take over his Tucson office, takes a stagecoach which stops at a stage post where Kate Crocker (Kay Buckley) is to be relieved of her position at the post by one of Grif's fellow passengers. Kate is upset at losing her job but Grif says she can do the books at the Tucson office to which she agrees. On their way to Tucson they are held up by men, led by Ira Prentiss, in a black coach covered in steel. One of the men is to take the stage close enough to Tucson to drop the passengers off before stealing the coach. The other men are going to take Grif back to their base, after stealing his money. They imply to Grif that they are taking the coaches to help the southern cause. On their way to their base, Maroon ranch, Grif escapes after shooting the driver, former Butterfield employee and friend Sam. When Jim Maroon (Roy Roberts), leader of the gang and Maroon Wagon Trains, finds out that Grif was kidnapped instead of being killed as instructed is very angry. Grif eventually makes it to the Tucson office where he is welcomed by Kate with a kiss, leading to a fight with Barney Broderick (Wayne Morris), who also fancies Kate and doesn't realize who Grif is. When he does, the fight stops and Barney tells Grif that he is to be Grif's assistant at the office. Grif takes a room at the hotel which is owned by former flame Annie Benson (Sally Eilers). Annie tells Grif that Sam is upstairs. Sam's has been shot in the leg and it is going gangrenous. Sam tries to shoot Holbrook and soon after Jim Maroon enters. Grif suspects that Sam tried to shoot him on Maroon's orders. Southern sympathizer Doc Banteen (Carl Benton Reid) arrives and tells Sam his leg will have to come off. Downstairs Grif meets Prentiss and takes back the money previously stolen from him. Prentiss is getting cold feet about the stage thefts but is afraid to tell Grif who the leader is, though Grif suspects it's Maroon. Doc arrives and tells everyone that Sam is dead and it is Grif's fault. Just as a fight is about to start between Sam's friends and Grif and Barney, Annie arrives and explains what really happened leading to Sam's death and announces drinks will be on the house. Prentiss leaves followed by Grif who is followed by two of Maroon's gang. Before Prentiss can confirm who the leader of the gang is he is shot dead and there is a brief shootout between Grif and Barney and the two gangsters. One of the gangsters is killed and Barney identifies him as working for Maroon's stage company. When Grif and Barney investigate another stage theft they are ambushed by Maroon's men but escape. They have another fight about whether Kate actually loves Grif even though she has accepted his proposal of marriage. After the next stage theft Grif sets off the local militia's cannon which is supposed to bring all the militia to town. He has a list of the militia members and tells Barney anyone who doesn't show up was probably in the gang that stole the stage. Just as the militia gathers a soldier arrives telling everyone war has been declared. Barney trails Gus Hayden, one of Maroon's gang, back to Maroon Farm where he sees Doc Banteen with Maroon but is then caught. Barney says he has quit Butterfield and wants to take up Maroon's previous job offer. Hayden doesn't believe him and argues with Maroon who hits him. Hayden's dog attacks Maroon who shoots it. Doc Banteen has to go to town for medicine to treat the dog bite on Maroon's arm. Maroon tells Doc to check whether Barney is telling the truth. Before he leaves Barney takes a flower he always wears in his hat and puts it in Doc's hat. Kate is worried about Barney's absence and Grif realizes she love Barney more than him. At her hotel, Annie sees the feather in Doc's hat and realizes Barney is in trouble. She tells Doc he is being used by Maroon. Grif arrives and Doc tells him Barney is being held captive at Maroon's ranch, then offers to get the Sheriff. Annie reveals she is married to Maroon but thought he was dead when she was involved with Grif and when she found out he was in jail decided to leave Grif. Maroon is sending a wagon train with the stolen coaches back east, with Barney as one of the drivers, though he still doesn't trust him completely. Barney manages to lose his guard and heads for Tucson followed by Maroon and Hayden. They are spotted by Grif and the posse who chase them. Barney disconnects the team from his wagon which tips over. Maroon and Hayden jump off their wagon and Maroon says they need to fight the posse but Hayden disagrees. Hayden is still angry with Maroon for shooting his dog, when they argue Hayden kills Maroon. He then goes after Barney but is knocked out by Grif. Barney joins the Union army as a sergeant and bids farewell to Kate. Grif is a Union officer and bids farewell to Annie with whom he has reconciled. As Grif and Barney leave on the stage, Doc Banteen and the townsfolk who have joined Confederates march through town.
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