Wrangler Dan Tolliver has been a hand on the Ponderosa for a long time. Dan showed Ben the ropes when he started. Dan is getting older and slower and Joe and Hoss think he needs easier work to do. After Hoss gets hurt because of something Dan does, Ben reluctantly agrees to talk to Dan. Ben gently offers Dan easier jobs on the ranch. Dan is insulted, quits and joins up with outlaws planning to rob the Ponderosa.