Laurel and Hardy are partners in a barbershop. Stan reads a classified ad in the newspaper from a wealthy widow looking for a new husband. Initially, only Stan plans to respond to the ad but after explaining his plans to Ollie they both decide to answer the ad, shaking hands in agreement, and with Ollie saying "May the best man win." However, Ollie cheats on this agreement by mailing only his own response, and hiding Stan's in his hat. Ollie then settles into the barber's chair for Stan to shave him, and inadvertently dozes off. The widow invites Ollie to her mansion, and Ollie announces himself with his full true name. Oliver Norvell Hardy, the only film in which this happens. Stan discovers his unmailed response, he also goes along and demands half of whatever Ollie gets. At the widow's mansion, Laurel and Hardy encounter a deranged butler who pantomimescard tricks with imaginary cards, and serves an imaginary meal. The same butler tips off Stan and Ollie that the widow is a serial murderess, who had previously slit the throats of seven prior fiancés, all named Oliver. Laurel and Hardy are sent upstairs, as the widow tells her butler to make sure all the doors and windows are locked. She tells Ollie, "I hope you have a nice, long sleep", as the butler plays "Taps" on a trumpet. Unable to escape their bedroom, Stan finds a pump-action shotgun, leading to some slapstick mishaps, including Stan accidentally shooting Ollie in the foot. They plan to take turns sleeping, so that one of them can watch out for the knife-wielding widow. Ollie sets up a Rube Goldberg-style contraption to help Stan to stay awake. Tying a gold coated brick to a string, suspending it above Stan's head and then tying the other end of the string round a lit candle. Ollie then explains to Stan that he must periodically move the string in order to prevent the candle's flame burning through the string, resulting in the brick falling on Stan's head. As usual, things go awry with the brick falling on Ollie's head, knocking him unconscious. Moments later the widow is heard walking up the stairs, sharpening a long knife. When Stan goes to get the shotgun, he gets locked in the closet as the widow enters the room. As she is about to slit Ollie's throat, a loud offscreen crash is heard. Suddenly, Stan and Ollie are back at their barbershop, and Ollie leaps out of his chair, screaming and runs to the mirror to examine his throat. He explains to Stan, "I just had a terrible dream."
