Joe Harris 21  wearing a cheap blue suit and a thin top coat  cold and wet on a cols and rainy night decides to make a change in his life. He decides to stowaway on a freight train to California.  He doesn't notice anyone else in the car so is surprised to be confronted by a man who looks like him and who threatens him with a knife. A fight ensues and Joe over powers the man and ends up killing him. Fearing he will be caught and won't be believed he acted in self defence, on account of his criminal record , he swaps identity with the man and escapes from the train. However his life as Martin Pell proves to be far worse than his own life.