Bret Maverick takes down a money-hungry gambler in the town of Echo Springs. He befriends an old drunk, who turns out to be a successful judge. Maverick strikes a deal with the gambler, Phineas King, to merge the ""silver lady"" mine with ""the new hope"" mine.

Bret meets a delightful and cunning girl (Karen Steele). Within minutes, she makes plans for his future — a permanent plot on boot hill.

Samantha Crawford is a con artist employed by George Cross. Cross once lost $50,000 to Bret Maverick and is determined to get it back. Two riverboat owners staked Maverick $5,000 which he promptly loses to Samantha. Samantha claims Cross is her father and needs the money to get out of jail. Maverick forms a partnership with Samantha and purchases gambling equipment in a scheme to put Joe Riggs, a crooked game room owner, out of business. Samantha and Cross doublecross Maverick by selling the equipment to Riggs.