Milton Grubbs, the ne'er-do-well son of a widowed college professor, has been in trouble most of his life. Now leading a band that robs college students, he dreams of getting into the big time. In an effort to stop the robberies, city officials enlist the assistance of two cab drivers, Zack Buckler and Bud Odette, to find clues as to the identity of the culprits. Life long friends, Zack is trying to heal a broken heart while Bud is trying to find a career to help him escape poverty. Both are assisted by gunsmith, archer and all-around repairman, Lewis Norstad, a WWII combat veteran. The cab drivers recruit Squint Howard, the town drunk and WWI hero to lend his good eye to help turn up leads in their pursuit of the criminals. Milt's initial venture into the big time is to rob the State Bank in Northfield, Minnesota as the citizens celebrate the Defeat of Jesse James Days, festivities honoring the residents who thwarted a bank robbery in 1876. Eventually, Zack, Bud, and Lewie get involved in a chase down the Cannon River