J C Graves

Death is a Gambler J C Graves

After the Civil War, the McKay Rangers flee Ashley, North Carolina and settle in Texas. They purchase land and gather wild longhorns for one of the first cattle drives to Denver. A stage holdup outside Austin disturbs the local judge, who dispatches Deputy U. S. Marshal Henry McKay to investigate and apprehend the criminals. Although Henry does not catch the bandits, he does find important clues and speculates on how the bandit leader escaped the area. The ranch foreman, Alberto, had hoped the Don's grandson, Robert, would die in the distant war. He resents Robert, because the Don put him in charge of the vast Rancho when he returned, demoting Alberto. Alberto enlists his half-brother's help in a scheme to get the herd back and murder the cowboys, so he can become the new Don. When the herd arrives in Denver, the cattle drive and stage hold up and Alberto's betrayal finally converge in a saloon gun battle. But the gambler is just getting started.