On his way to Red Mesa to insure mine owners against loss from raids on their ore shipments, George O'Brien (George O'Brien) is ambushed by the raiders, and is accidently saved by the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Shemp Howard and Larry Fine) who run a traveling variety store. O'Brien sells mine owner John Sawyer (Monte Blue) and his foreman Sandy Evans (Hugh Hooker) on allowing him to insure and guard their shipments since they have no help from the bumbling sheriff (Fuzzy Knight). He hires to Stooges, Laura Mason (Sheila Ryan) and Doc Mason (Clem Bevans), Laura's ex-physician-turned-drunk grandfather. O'Brien's first move is to trap the bandits headed by saloon owner Taggart (Lyle Talbot) and his henchman Clete (John Merton) by using the Stooges to inform Taggart that O'Brien will escort the gold shipment, but George plans on having the Stooges take the actual shipment in another wagon. His plans backfire when Doc Mason, drunk in Taggart's saloon, accidently informs Taggart of the real plans.