Summary
A vibrant tableau of frontier justice and mistaken identity, "3 Gold Coins" unfolds with the effortless charm of Bob Fleming, a deadeye marksman whose legendary pistol skills earn him the titular gold and the admiration of both local gentry and the fetching Betty Reed. Yet, this very éclat makes him a convenient pawn for the avaricious duo, Ballinger and Berry, who orchestrate a cunning oil swindle. They cunningly implicate Fleming, planting fabricated oil prospects on his land and then duping the townsfolk into a fraudulent stock investment, which the naive cowboy, in a misguided gesture of trust, entrusts to the very architects of his downfall. Framed for stock fraud and bewilderingly misidentified as the notorious outlaw Pat Duncan, Fleming is plunged into a labyrinthine quest for exoneration. His subsequent trials, replete with daring escapades, culminate in the dramatic apprehension of the authentic Duncan, decisively clearing his name and securing not only his rightful reputation but also the hand of the discerning Betty.
Synopsis
Happy-go-lucky cowboy Bob Fleming exhibits such prowess with his pistol, that he wins the three gold coins offered by millionaire Luther Reed to test his marksmanship. Bob also makes an impression on Reed's pretty daughter Betty. The cowboy is so admired by the local citizenry that when crooks J. M. Ballinger and Rufus Berry arrive in town, they decide to make Bob their patsy. After planting oil on Bob's land, they sell stock to the townfolk and the cowboy, who has been innocently drawn into the scheme, turns it over to the crooks for safekeeping. For his efforts, Bob is arrested and found guilty of defrauding the stock holders, and also charged with being notorious outlaw Pat Duncan. After several adventures, Bob succeeds in capturing the real Duncan, vindicates himself of the charges and wins Betty for his bride.
