 Officials of the C. & F.W. Railroad discover the company is still running a short spur line between Hooterville and Pixley. C. & F.W. dispatches Homer Bedloe to find out what s going on and to shut it down. The spur line carries the "Cannonball" train, and is vital to the Shady Rest Hotel, run by Kate Bradley, her three grown daughters and "Uncle Joe" Carson. If Bedloe succeeds, Kate faces ruin.