A small boy witnesses a crime, but proves to be an awkward witness due to a mental condition that doctors cannot explain. An attempt is made on his life whilst he is under the Chief's sole care, and in order to capture those responsible, the story is put out that the boy is dead, and that the Chief has retired through a sense of guilt. Putting it about that he has new evidence, he sits back to wait for somebody to make an attempt on his life, whilst spurning the efforts of his friends to help him. It looks as though his attempts to make it look as though he is turning to drunkenness and depression might just be costing him his life.