A boy defends a black boy from a bully, and his friends keep
the bully out of their detective club; but he gets to join after
they catch robbers.
Mr. Frank Schofield (Frank Craven) works for Mr. Bitts (Charles
Halton) in a bank. Bully Rodney Bitts (Jackie Morrow) throws chestnuts
at black Verman (Philip Hurlic), and Penrod Schofield (Billy Mauch)
fights Rodney, who tells his father that Penrod started it with
his gang. Rodney lies that they steal tires. Penrod's club meets
in a barn while Verman keeps watch. Penrod supervises their detective
work. They approve a new operator but vote against admitting Rodney.
Mr. Schofield tells Mrs. Schofield (Spring Byington) that Penrod
thrashed Rodney. Mr. Schofield tells Penrod not to fight, but
he says he was defending someone. Mrs. Schofield believes Penrod
and secretly sends Delia (Bernice Pilot) with his dinner. In his
room the dog eats Penrod's dinner while he washes. Mr. Schofield
asks Penrod what happened and says what Rodney said, asking Penrod
to get along with Rodney. Penrod's father asks him what he does
after school; but Penrod won't say until his father takes an oath
to prevent crime and keep the club secret.
While Mr. Schofield is assuring Mr. Bitts, Rodney comes in crying.
Bitts and Schofield get into a fight, and Bitts fires Schofield.
Mrs. Schofield sees that Penrod and his father were fighting.
Four bank robbers in a car are chased by police amid shooting.
Verman's mother is shot dead. Penrod consoles crying Verman. One
robber was found dead. Penrod wants to adopt Verman, but his father
says no. Buzz tells them Verman is gone. On a rainy night Penrod
and his parents go out and find Rodney in the cemetery. They take
him home, and Delia feeds him.
Three robbers hide in a corn field and go to the barn. Penrod
calls a meeting in the barn. The robbers listen from the loft.
Penrod sends operatives out to search, and they make Verman a
G-man. Penrod and Sam (Harry Watson) find the robbers in the loft
and are captured. Penrod warns entering Rodney, and Verman sees
Rodney get captured. Wanted man Dude Hanson (Craig Reynolds) attacks
Penrod's dog. Penrod and Rodney become friends. Verman tells Delia
that a man grabbed Rodney. Delia tells Mrs. Schofield, and Mr.
Schofield calls the sheriff. Penrod tries to escape, and the police
arrive outside. The three boys fight the robbers and let the police
in to take them. In the final scene at a dinner Mr. Schofield
reads a letter from the FBI, and Mr. Bitts presents the reward
to be divided; but Rodney and Penrod suggest it should go to help
Verman.
This idealized drama of boys catching dangerous bank robbers
shows the trend to make government crime-fighters heroes instead
of the criminals.