Huckster J. Dockweiler Droop is constantly being chased out of carnivals by a sheriff for not having a license. On one such night, he is befriended by a waif called Rosie, who tags along with him, so he becomes her foster father. Fourteen years later, Rosie, now 17, meets handsome Billy Lowe at a carnival and they instantly fall in love. He invites her and Droop to his 21st birthday party to meet his parents and influential townsfolk. But things begin to look dim for Rosie when she learns Billy's friend, Madeline Van Dorn, intends to marry him. And to make things worse, Droop starts a shell game to fleece all the party guests.