In this pilot episode, Dan Troop takes over in Laramie after the previous marshal is killed. His first job is to bring in the marshal's killer, and in the process he gains a fine deputy in Johnny McKay. (This is also the first of several episodes where veteran actors Jack Elam and Lee Van Cleef appeared.)

One member of a gang planning to rob a stage gets drunk while in Laramie and subsequently is jailed. He offers to tell Dan the scheme for some whiskey. Then, Dan has to try to foil the plot.