The search for Ellie Connors has been virtually abandoned in the Pine Ridge area, so little Ellie Connors, now named Mary and posing as Lum's niece, is quite safe. However, Lum feels that things cannot go on this way, so he's decided to go to the reformatory, explain everything, and attempt to get the girl paroled. As we look in on the little community today, we find Abner in the store helping Lum prepare for the trip.