Four entertainers, Walt Lund, Kate Germaine, June Sherman, and Terry Tomlin are riding in an old bus on a snowy and windy night making their way to the next show in Exeter. Their bus driver is named Harry. In the theatrical circles their act was known as Four for Frivolity. While on the road, the bus comes to a slow stop. Kate asks "Why did we stop, what's wrong?" Harry says "We've had it. Burned out bearings, I wouldn't be surprised". Walt asks "What do we do now?" Harry says "We walk". Kate and June say "We're not walking in this snow. You big brave boys find us some shelter, then lead us to it". Walt and Terry start walking. They soon find a large house. When they get closer, Terry says "That's not a house, it's a castle". After knocking on the front door, the butler opens it and says "Yes?". Walt and Terry explain their situation, and the butler says "Very well, come and speak to the Master".

Mrs. Mudge sees Mrs. McManus on her way down to the Relief Headquarters to get her children something to eat. Mrs. McManus says that she has had a plumbing problem and has not seen the landlady, Mrs. Watson, for the last three days. Mrs. Mudge says that she has not seen her either, so they decide to go to her apartment. They knock on her door, but there is no answer. Mrs. McManus looks through the keyhole and sees that the place is a mess. Concerned about her, they call the police. The police discover that Mrs. Watson has been murdered. She had been tied up and beaten with a blunt instrument. The police said it looked like a robbery. They call the coroner, then start questioning her neighbors. One of them says that she had some money in her room and always wore a big diamond ring.

Keeler McCartney, a reporter from the Atlanta Constitution newspaper, is talking to another reporter. Keeler says "The City Editor gave me the assignment to help clean up the lottery racket in this town". The reporter says "How do they operate the lottery?" Keeler says "The lottery numbers are determined by the third, fourth, and fifth digit of the daily bond total in the paper. It pays off 450 to 1, but the odds are 1,000 to 1 against winning. How do you find out about the lottery?" The other reporter says "Place a bet. A fellow down the street from me named Joe Sampson gambles a lot on it. Ask him, he should be able to make contact for you". Keeler goes to Samson's home, and finds his wife there. They sit on the front porch, and Joe's wife tells him about how Joe's gambling has affected their lives.