 In Rowena, CA where draw poker is legal, Manning Ennis pays a casino manager, Slim Marcus, $60,000 to settle his losses. The only witness to the game is the singing cigarette girl, Betty Roberts. The casino owner, George Anclitus, arrives in time to see the exchange and is displeased at the situation. Vivian Ennis, Manning s wife, calls Betty to help retrieve the money. Betty consults Perry Mason about the issue and shows him an automatic pistol she found in her hat box. Perry surreptitiously switches weapons and sends Betty on her way. Vivian is killed and Betty arrested. Surprisingly, the gun Perry put in her hat box is the murder weapon.