Cisco and Pancho trace the rumors to newspaper editor Trent Wilson, who admits he printed the fake story as a means of getting Cisco into town. Wilson wants Cisco's help in clearing up corruption and crooked local politics. Cisco agrees to help. Wilson prints another story which lead the criminals, headed by Banker Kennedy, to believe that Cisco came to town to get rid of the editor. Just as Cisco planned, Kennedy's men try to kill Wilson and pin the crime on the famous "guardian of the range" when the plan backfires, Kennedy's infuriated henchmen lock Cisco in his tiny hotel room and start pouring bullets through the thin door.