Rusty is out "playing soldier" for a change like any boy his age. But he makes a mistake, he sends Rinty to get Masters and the troopers. Masters and O'Hara are not pleased that Rinty was sent on a made-up story. Masters tells Rusty not to send Rinty unless it is actually important.
Now Rusty is playing dragons and knights. But now two guys, Charlie and Sam, appear and they are looking for a stolen Wells Fargo payroll using a map they got from a fellow inmate. They follow the trail into a cave, with Rusty and Rinty behind them. Rusty sends Rinty to get Masters, but Masters believes it's just more games, and Rinty is ignored. When the payroll is thought to be found, Charlie kills Sam. Rusty escapes with Charlie in pursuit.
When Rusty comes upon Masters, Charlie pulls up. Masters decides to follow Rusty, but the cave is empty. Masters tells Rusty that he is under arrest for fake stories and will be court-martialed at the fort. A hearing is held accusing Rusty of exaggeration, especially about the murder of a man in a cave. Even Rinty is called as a witness, and he backs Rusty. Rusty is found guilty and sentenced to a night in the guard house and the loss of his stripes. Cpl. Boone tells Rusty about the boy who called wolf; Rinty picks the guardhouse key from Boones's pocket. Rusty escapes determined to find evidence.
Rusty returns to the cave. Rusty finds the payroll, but Charlie is still in the cave. Charlie lassos Rinty, and chases after Rusty who now has the money. Charlie grabs Rusty, but Masters and Boone followed Rusty's trail after they discovered he had escaped. They let Rinty go and Rinty pulls Charlie down.
Rusty gets the reward of $1,000 that Wells Fargo offered for their stolen payroll, and the reward is to be collected when Rusty turns 21. The court-martial is then overturned and Rusty gets his stripes back.
Now Rusty is playing dragons and knights. But now two guys, Charlie and Sam, appear and they are looking for a stolen Wells Fargo payroll using a map they got from a fellow inmate. They follow the trail into a cave, with Rusty and Rinty behind them. Rusty sends Rinty to get Masters, but Masters believes it's just more games, and Rinty is ignored. When the payroll is thought to be found, Charlie kills Sam. Rusty escapes with Charlie in pursuit.
When Rusty comes upon Masters, Charlie pulls up. Masters decides to follow Rusty, but the cave is empty. Masters tells Rusty that he is under arrest for fake stories and will be court-martialed at the fort. A hearing is held accusing Rusty of exaggeration, especially about the murder of a man in a cave. Even Rinty is called as a witness, and he backs Rusty. Rusty is found guilty and sentenced to a night in the guard house and the loss of his stripes. Cpl. Boone tells Rusty about the boy who called wolf; Rinty picks the guardhouse key from Boones's pocket. Rusty escapes determined to find evidence.
Rusty returns to the cave. Rusty finds the payroll, but Charlie is still in the cave. Charlie lassos Rinty, and chases after Rusty who now has the money. Charlie grabs Rusty, but Masters and Boone followed Rusty's trail after they discovered he had escaped. They let Rinty go and Rinty pulls Charlie down.
Rusty gets the reward of $1,000 that Wells Fargo offered for their stolen payroll, and the reward is to be collected when Rusty turns 21. The court-martial is then overturned and Rusty gets his stripes back.
