- In an effort to save her brother from the clutches of a scheming Melanie Blake, a wealthy rancher blackmails Bret into playing the role of a wealthy Texan to seduce Melanie into giving up the brother. But the brother has already been cheated out of his share of the ranch, so it is up to Bret with help from brother Bart to regain the asset through a land development ploy.—graymatters
- Bret is strolling down the street when two men beat him up and drag him into an alley. One of the men takes money out of Bret's jacket and hands it to the third man, Peters. When Peters says that Bret is going to jail, Bret insists that he won Peters' saloon fair and square and they'll see what the sheriff has to say. Peters tells Bret that he is the sheriff.
Later, Peters release Bret and a woman, Kate Dawson, says she she's posting bail for Bret. They haven't met each other, but Kate tells Bret that she's heard of him and she doesn't go in for charity. Kate says that she has her reasons for freeing Bret and she'll tell him at her ranch. They go there and Kate tells Bret that he's sitting in the Queen Ranch, the most valuable 100,000 acres of land in Texas. Kate shows him a photo of her brother Mark and tells Bret to chase Mark back home from Saratoga. There's a woman involved, and between that and a woman, Mark is being bled dry. Kate figures that something has gotten to her brother and she's worried about him. She says that if Bret took Peters' saloon back, they can handle anyone. Kate tells Bret to pretend that he's richer than Mark and take the woman away, and figures Bret either does it or goes back to jail.
Bret travels to Saratoga and signs in as Texas colonel Bret Maverick. The clerk directs him to Mark in the game room, and notes that Mark is often with Melanie, and Melanie is sitting in the lobby reading a book. As Bret goes into the game room, Melanie notices him. In the game room, Mark is playing poker and losing. Bret sets himself down and introduces himself to Mark and his opponent, John Flannery. The gambler buys himself in for $1,000 and gets one chip, and suggests that they cut cards for it. Flannery agrees and Bret draws a jack. Mark draws a ten, and Flannery draws a king. Bret excuses himself, and Mark says that he's trying to forget about Texas and it's his deal to Flannery.
Out in the lobby, Melanie approaches Bret and they introduce themselves. Bret claims to have the biggest spread of land in Texas and owns gold mines. Mark comes in and reminds Melanie of their luncheon engagement. As they go, Melanie tells Bret that she hopes they'll be seeing each other again.
Later, Bret goes out on the veranda and approaches Mark. Mark talks about the only woman he ever was Kate, and she started to look like one of his longhorns. He insists that he isn't' going back to Texas.
Later, Bret has dinner with Melanie and Bret talks about his gold mine. Mark comes over and Melanie says that he was late and Bret offered her dinner. The Texas makes it clear that he's not going to come between them as a third and walks off, and Bret continues talking about his mines.
Later in the park, Bret and Melanie sit together and listen to the band. Mark is watching them while sitting in a tree, and Bret notices him. When Bret kisses Melanie on the forehead, Mark falls. Later, Mark confronts Bret in his room and says that he's a cad and a scoundrel. Bret immediately agrees and Mark says that he's going to go back to Texas, figuring women are fickle but longhorns aren't. The gambler says that he'll take the train back with Mark to Texas, and they have a drink.
Melanie meets with Flannery and says that Mark is a pauper compared to Mark. Flannery asks if she's seen any of Bret's money yet, and Melanie insists she isn't that kind of woman. Melanie orders Flannery out, and first he tells her that he wants Mark in the game room that night and Melanie should get him there... and reminds her who pays the rent there. Melanie gives in and tells Flannery he should go.
Bret and Mark are sharing a smoke outside, and after Bret goes in Mark hears Melanie crying. She's putting on an act but Mark doesn't realize it and goes over. She says that it's too late to convince him to stay and asks for a handkerchief. Mark gives her his and she kisses him, asking him to forgive her. He says that it's his last night, and Melanie tells him that it's theirs.
Later, Mark is sitting across the game table from Flannery with Melanie at his side. When Mark loses, Flannery tells him to come to his office and sign the paper.
The next day, Mark visits Bret and says that he lost all of his money and half of the Queen Ranch. Bret explains that he's not really a colonel and Kate hired him to bring Mark back to Texas. Neither one of them want to go back and face Kate, and Bret realizes that Melanie was there. He then says that he's going to win Mark's way back to Texas.
Bret is soon in the game room playing poker against Flannery. He turns down Melanie when she offers to sit with him, and is soon winning all of Flannery's money. Bret starts losing and notices a mirror in the chandelier overhead. When he says that Flannery is cheating and grabs the man by the collar, two of Flannery's men grab Bert and start to usher him out. Bret promises that Flannery will see him again.
Flannery goes to his office and tells the manager, Mason, to ask Bret for his room bill. He reminds Mason that the hotel is dependent on him for steady incoming, and tells Mason to make sure and ask Bret for the money. As Bret checks out, Mason calls Bret into his office and asks for the payment of his bill. Bret realizes that Flannery suggested it, and notes that Flannery isn't going to help the hotel's reputation. When Bret refuses to pay, Mason says that he's going to lock up Bret's room and confiscate his belongings. Bret says that Mason, Flannery, and Saratoga will regret it.
Later, Bret convinces Mark to give him all of his remaining money and goes back into the hotel. He has the clerk send him some telegrams, insisting that they're confidential. Bret sends telegrams saying to sell off four of his smaller gold mines for cash, then to several other fake men saying he has a big investment in Saratoga. As they go, Bret says that his Pappy always told him to drop fake names hard when he drops them.
Mason is listening in from his office and comes out after Bret and Mark left. He reads them to Flannery and Melanie, and worries that they made a big mistake by throwing Bret out of the hotel. Once Mason leaves, Melanie points out that the Queen Ranch is in Texas, but Bret and his money are in Saratoga. Flannery and Melanie find Bret and Mark putting up signs for "Maverick Springs" in the middle of swamp land. Bret tells them that quite a few well-known investors think they can make a go of it, and refuses to give Flannery any proof of his "business".
Later at his rental office, Bret and Mark take the names of manages for their property. Flannery and Melanie come in, and Flannery demands the proof. Bret says that Flannery is the only one who talked about proof earlier, and Mark has some telegrams. When Flannery tries to read them, Bret tells Mark to give them to Flannery. The telegrams are all investors saying that they plan to send money. A disgru8ntled Flannery leaves with Melanie in tow.
Bret and Mark wait at the hospital for an investor's nephew, Van der Grift, to arrive. Mason comes over and apologizes, and says that he'll make sure Flannery apologizes as well. Bart arrives and Bret greets him as Van der Grift. The other Maverick brother introduces his associate, Professor Kronkhite, the geologist running the survey on Maverick Springs. Bart quickly has Mason take Kronkhite up to their suite, and stays behind to talk to Bret. Once they're alone, Bart says that the Professor was almost thrown off the train for dealing marked cards. As they go through the lobby, Bart sees Melanie and she flirts with Bart.
Later at Maverick Springs, Kronkhite surveys for spring water. Bart assure Bret that when he hires a crook, he hires the best. Kronkhite says that when they tap the spring, they'll drain Saratoga dry. Once Bart confirms that his uncles bid is in, Flannery and an associate make offers. Bret tells them that they're oversubscribed but they can leave their names with Mark. Melanie attaches herself to Bret's arm, and later Bret and Bart tell Flannery that they don't want to be associate with him. Bart speaks up, saying his uncle would welcome a local developer. Bret isn't interested but Bart welcomes Flannery into the business. Flannery offers $25,000 for a one-third interest. When the Mavericks say that they're not interested, Flannery offers his deed for half of the Queen Ranch, disregarding Melanie's objections. The Mavericks agree to accept it, and Flannery goes off to hire a drilling crew, taking Melanie with him.
Once Flannery and Melanie leave, Mark comes out and Bret gives him the deed back. Bart figures that they should sell Flannery the remaining two-thirds of Maverick Springs, and Bret and Mark agree.
Soon, Bret sends another telegram which Mason intercepts and shows to Flannery. The telegram says that Bret wants to liquidate his holdings for another business, and soon other telegrams follow from Bret saying that he doesn't have enough money. Flannery meets with the Mavericks, saying that he knows Bret needs money. He offers him the $50,000 in return for the other two-thirds of Maverick Springs. Bret soon gives in and Flannery renames the property Flannery Springs.
As Bret and Bart leave, Mason delivers a telegram saying that Bart's uncle is coming. Bret figures that they can't abandon Kronkhite, who is working at Maverick Springs, and wants a last look at the property.
Later Flannery is going through the lobby. Kate is there and demands to see Mark and Bret, and takes an interest Maverick Springs. She leaves and Flannery follow her. Mark is outside and Kate demands an explanation. He says that he lost his share of Queen Ranch and got it back from Flannery, and starts to explain that Maverick Springs is a con for Flannery. He then sees Flannery, who storms past him and heads for Maverick Springs. Mark takes Kate with him and they go out to Maverick Springs.
At Maverick Springs, Flannery tells Bret that Kate is in town and figures that Bart is in on it. When Flannery tries to take the workers away, a fight breaks out and Kronkhite jumps in. Sulfuric gas comes up from the drill hole and everyone runs from the stench. Kate and Mark arrive in their carriage and start sneezing from the gas.
Back at the Mavericks' office, Flannery tells the Mavericks that he wants his cash back. When Bret says that they can't, Flannery has his men grab Bret. Kate and Mark come in, and Kate tells Flannery that it's her own fault for sending Bret and she'll play Flannery $25,000. Once he leaves, Kate tells the Mavericks that she hired a real geologist who confirmed there's a deposit of natural gas.
At the hotel, the Commodore--Reggie-arrives. He and Kate are old friends, and Kate introduces Mark, Bret, and Bart. Flannery looks on and realizes that Bart isn't Reggie's nephew, and that the Mavericks are brothers. He figures that he was a first-class swindler, and tips his hat to the Mavericks when Bret notes that there are two of them. Inside, Melanie flirts with Reggie, and Bret and Bart realize that Reggie is heading for trouble... and leave him to it.
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