Dave, the sheriff, with his son looking up into his face drinking in every word, and with his wife, Edna, sewing and watching them both, tells the boy a true story. This is the tale: John Mabery, sheep rancher, comes upon big Dave and his daughter, Edna, in a love scene. He smiles and approves and watches them go with affection in his glance. At the cattle ranch Jim Hall, Tex and other cattlemen discuss the court’s decision and decide to take the law into their own hands and establish a range deadline. Jim rides out and puts up some notices, which tell the sheep rancher that any sheep found beyond the line will he shot. John Mabery and Hall meet as the latter is posting the last sign. Mabery tears it down after a heated argument. He is too late to reach his own gun and Hall shoots him, but as he falls he clutches the reins of Hall’s horse and the latter, to his horror, is unable to unloosen the grip of the fallen man. In a quandary, he cuts the bridle reins upon either side of the hand and hurries back to his cabin. Edna, out riding, sees one of the signs and tears it down. She comes across her father’s body and when the paroxysm of grief has passed she swears to hunt down the murderer. She seeks out Dave and he goes in quest of the perpetrator of the crime. Naturally, he goes to the cattlemen’s ranches and chance leads him to Jim Hall’s ranch. Jim has returned beforehand and told Tex of the occurrence and together they agreed to hide the evidences of the crime. Jim replaces the shell with a loaded cartridge in his gun and they drop the incriminating bridle down the well. At this moment Dave, looking through his field glasses, sees the action. He rides up and sees Jim and Tex quietly smoking, Dave asks for Jim’s gun and it is handed to him. He empties it and hands the gun back. He then arrests the surprised Jim. In court the evidence is all in Jim Hall’s favor, as Tex and others swear he never left the cattle ranch. The trial appears to have ended and the men smile when Dave produces the reins and the missing piece hearing a metal clasp with Jim’s initials. Hall loses his nerve and it is all over! The tale is finished and the boy gives a big sigh. “I believe that story is about you and mother,” he says, and Dave nods slowly.