The circus has a new clown, a real daredevil who is an old friend of Joey's. Big Tim wants to give Ned his own spot in the circus and Joey is happy for his friend. Pete and a water buffalo got caught in some quicksand and have to be pulled out, which upsets Big Tim because Pete should have put some fencing up.
Joey gives Corky some backstory on Ned. How when his wife fell off a trapeze, he stayed with her for ten years. Ned goes into town with Joey to drop off some mail. But a Pinkerton detective is there checking the mail looking for matching handwriting. He then heads for the circus to look for a bank robber. Whoever he is, he is sending back the money back at $50 to $75 at a time. Nolan, the Pinkerton, doesn't care the money is being sent back. He is having every man write out Omaha, Nebraska to see if he can match handwriting. When Ned writes, he uses his left hand but Joey knows his old friend is right handed.
Joey confronts Ned. Ned explains he couldn't stand seeing his wife in pain. He needed money for an operation. So, he stole $2000. His wife didn't survive, so he ran away and has been trying to pay back the money. Now he plans on running away again. Joey tries to convince Ned to turn himself in. Ned is taking off when Corky finds a note, Nolan takes the note and knows Ned is his man. He takes off in pursuit of Ned but falls into the quicksand. Corky runs to find Ned so he can help him.
Ned returns and pulls Nolan out even though he shot at Ned and wants nothing more than to put him in jail. After being saved, Nolan says he will try to get Ned a suspended sentence so he can return to the circus.
Joey gives Corky some backstory on Ned. How when his wife fell off a trapeze, he stayed with her for ten years. Ned goes into town with Joey to drop off some mail. But a Pinkerton detective is there checking the mail looking for matching handwriting. He then heads for the circus to look for a bank robber. Whoever he is, he is sending back the money back at $50 to $75 at a time. Nolan, the Pinkerton, doesn't care the money is being sent back. He is having every man write out Omaha, Nebraska to see if he can match handwriting. When Ned writes, he uses his left hand but Joey knows his old friend is right handed.
Joey confronts Ned. Ned explains he couldn't stand seeing his wife in pain. He needed money for an operation. So, he stole $2000. His wife didn't survive, so he ran away and has been trying to pay back the money. Now he plans on running away again. Joey tries to convince Ned to turn himself in. Ned is taking off when Corky finds a note, Nolan takes the note and knows Ned is his man. He takes off in pursuit of Ned but falls into the quicksand. Corky runs to find Ned so he can help him.
Ned returns and pulls Nolan out even though he shot at Ned and wants nothing more than to put him in jail. After being saved, Nolan says he will try to get Ned a suspended sentence so he can return to the circus.
