Lum has missed out on a thousand dollars from Mr Duncan because he told Abner to tell Mr Duncan that he was out of town and didn't know when he'd be back. Now Squire Skimp is on the phone and Lum has told Abner to tell him that he is sick and can't answer the phone. Abner is reluctant to lie for Lum again when Lum is blaming him for missing out on Mr Duncan's proposition yesterday. But luckily for Lum it might just have turned in his favor.