A discharged serviceman investigates a wrongful arrest, infiltrates a hijacking operation, and restores justice with help from his loyal club.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Discharge And Arrest
Muggs learns that poor eyesight may end his military service. Before he can settle at home, Glimpy reports that Danny has been jailed.
Key Events
Discharge Notice — The Colonel informs Muggs that poor eyesight will lead to his honorable discharge. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, ColonelLocation: Colonel's office
News At Home — Muggs tells his mother about the discharge before Glimpy arrives with urgent news. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Muggs's apartment
Danny Is Jailed — Glimpy reports that Danny has been jailed, redirecting attention from Muggs's discharge. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy Freedhoff, DannyLocation: Muggs's apartment
Clubhouse Welcome — Muggs and Glimpy reach the clubhouse and are welcomed by their fellow members. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Clubhouse
The Warehouse Trail
Muggs and Glimpy question Danny and follow the evidence to a warehouse. A suspicious payment leads Muggs to test a new associate through an undercover performance.
Key Events
Warehouse Testimony — Danny explains that his warehouse job preceded the accusation involving Army-bound alcohol. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy Freedhoff, DannyLocation: Jailhouse
Warehouse Investigation — Muggs investigates the warehouse after hearing Danny's account. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Warehouse
Money Changes Hands — Muggs observes a troublemaker paying the new warehouse worker fifty dollars. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Warehouse
Clubhouse Infiltration Plan — Muggs invites the new worker to a clubhouse party and sends the other boys away. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Clubhouse
Murder And Suspicion
Muggs learns how the warehouse access was arranged, but the informant is killed after being overheard. The resulting suspicion forces Muggs to seek official support.
Key Events
Undercover Confession — Muggs falsely claims dishonorable discharge and seeks entry into the hijacking operation. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Clubhouse
Warehouse Access Revealed — The infiltrated worker admits being paid to unbolt the warehouse back door. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Clubhouse
Murder At Clubhouse — After overhearing the confession, the expelled troublemaker drags the worker back and kills him. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Clubhouse
Muggs Falsely Suspected — The murdered worker's body is found, suspicion falls on Muggs, and Glimpy warns him. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Clubhouse
Undercover Offer — Muggs offers to work undercover to clear his name and expose the hijacking mastermind. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Military intelligence office
The Undercover Trap
Muggs receives approval to infiltrate the hijacking operation. He mobilizes Glimpy and the club members while a bloodied clue links the criminal network to the murder.
Key Events
Criminal Boss Alarmed — Larry becomes disturbed after reading about the clubhouse murder. Characters: LarryLocation: Maxie's Club
Law Enforcement Approval — Military and police officials accept Muggs's proposal for an undercover investigation. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Police department
Forced Criminal Entry — Muggs threatens exposure unless he is allowed to join the hijackers. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: City streets
Club Members Mobilize — Muggs asks the club members to help apprehend the thieves and assigns Glimpy a telephone watch. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Clubhouse
Murder Clue Found — A bloodied tie clip with initials gives Muggs a clue to the killer's identity. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Clubhouse
Milly Receives Instructions — Muggs asks a family member working at the club to call the delicatessen if trouble starts. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Maxie's Club
Raid And Restoration
Muggs participates in the crate theft to expose the operation, then identifies the murderer through matching initials. The club members storm the operation, leading to arrests and promotions.
Key Events
Milly Receives Instructions — Muggs asks a family member working at the club to call the delicatessen if trouble starts. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Maxie's Club
Stolen Crates Loaded — Muggs helps load stolen crates onto a boat and delivers them to the club storeroom. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Dockside warehouse
Warehouse Fight — Muggs knocks out the criminal accomplice, then identifies matching initials on the man's hat. Characters: Muggs McGinnisLocation: Maxie's storeroom
Warning Reaches Glimpy — A warning from Maxie's Club reaches Glimpy, who rallies the waiting club members. Characters: Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Ginsberg's delicatessen
Office Distraction — A deliberate distraction in Larry's office buys time for the club members to arrive. Characters: LarryLocation: Larry's office
Criminals Apprehended — Muggs and the boys rescue their ally and apprehend Larry and the warehouse accomplice. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy Freedhoff, LarryLocation: Maxie's Club
Military Restoration — Muggs is reinstated as a sergeant, while Glimpy is promoted to corporal. Characters: Muggs McGinnis, Glimpy FreedhoffLocation: Military office
Story Breakdown
Military Discharge — Muggs faces the loss of his military role before a new crisis redirects him.
Colonel's Decision — The Colonel informs Muggs that poor eyesight will lead to honorable discharge.
Homecoming Shock — Glimpy interrupts Muggs's emotional homecoming with news of Danny's imprisonment.
Danny's Arrest — The friends investigate why Danny was charged over Army-bound alcohol.
Jailhouse Questions — Muggs and Glimpy question Danny about the warehouse job.
Warehouse Suspicion — Muggs follows the evidence to a suspicious payment at the warehouse.
Undercover Discovery — Muggs adopts a criminal persona to learn how the warehouse thefts operate.
False Discharge Story — Muggs claims dishonorable discharge to gain the suspect's confidence.
Back Door Confession — The suspect reveals that he is paid to unbolt the warehouse door.
Murderous Retaliation — The undercover breakthrough produces a killing and leaves Muggs under suspicion.
Clubhouse Killing — The overheard confession is followed by the informant's death.
False Accusation — The discovery of the body causes suspicion to fall on Muggs.
Official Infiltration — Muggs seeks authorization and deepens his role inside the hijacking network.
Military Cooperation — Muggs offers military intelligence an undercover solution.
Criminal Recruitment — He pressures the warehouse accomplice to admit him into the operation.
Clubhouse Counterattack — Muggs organizes the club members while evidence and communications converge.
Bloodied Tie Clip — A marked tie clip provides a clue to the killer.
Telephone Mobilization — Glimpy receives the warning and assembles the waiting members.
Final Warehouse Raid — The stolen-crate operation exposes the criminals and leads to their apprehension.
Crate Transfer — Muggs helps move stolen crates to the club storeroom.
Arrests And Honors — The criminal leaders are captured, and Muggs and Glimpy receive promotions.
Muggs and Glimpy, two East Side Kids in the army, return to their neighborhood, supposedly on furlough; actually, Muggs has been honorably discharged with a physical defect, but he tells no one of this. Danny, another East Side kid, is in jail because a large amount of medical supplies have been stolen from the warehouse where he works. Muggs see Spider, a new member of the gang, flashing a large amount of money around, and Muggs shrewdly turns toughie, boasting that he has a dishonorable discharge because of thievery. This leads Spider to confide in Muggs that he is the one who has been aiding in the theft of supplies from the warehouse, and he gets paid for the loot by Larry, operator of a nightclub where Muggs' sister, Milly, is an entertainer. Fingers, a henchman for Larry, kills Spider when he learns that Muggs has been let in on the operation. The police then suspect Muggs of killing Spider.
