Lucas and Mark find Winslow Quince stranded in the desert with a broken wheel on his wagon and help him to get to North Fork. On the trip, it develops that Quince is a sign painter by trade, and an amusing old eccentric who tells tall tales. After arriving in town, Quince attracts attention by lavishly dispensing gifts from his wagon stock and by paying for purchases with new gold coins. Back in town, Lucas learns of a series of cold-blooded murders and robberies, and the descriptions of the loot match some of the fancy gifts Quince has been giving away. The townsfolk are incensed and ready to lynch Quince on this circumstantial evidence, but Lucas demands further proof and eventually saves the innocent Quince.