The Artistic Mind of Robert F. Hill: Decoding The Phantom of the Range

It is told that Hiram Moore (John Elliott), a miserly rancher, has a treasure hidden on his property and that a map to its location is hidden in his portrait. He dies in debt and prospective buyers are scared away by rumors that the ranch is haunted by his ghost. A spectral rider is seen on the ranch at night. A year after his death, his granddaughter, Jeanne Moore (Beth Marion), arrives from Santa Fe to assert her claim to the property. She meets Jerry Lane (Tom Tyler), who has just sold his ranch and stock, and wants to buy a ranch in the area. At the public auction, Jerry outbids both Jeanne and some crooks who are trying to get the ranch. Jrry invites Jeanne to stay at the ranch, and hires a Cockney, Eddie Parsons (Sammy Cohen), as his valet. Perdita (Soledad Jimenez), the ranch housekeeper is a spy for Brandon (Forrest Taylor), a rival rancher. Pedita helps Brandon steal the portrait, but Eddie, a kleptomaniac, has already swiped the map which was hidden in the portrait frame. Accordinng to the map, the treasure is buried at Tower Rock and can only be found under the light of a full moon. The moon turns full a week later. Tex, a gang member who has been impersonating the ghostly rider for Brandon, threatens to tell Jerry the truth. He is shot by Brandon's foreman, Mark Graydon (Charles King) and Brandon frames Jerry for the murder.