Finding Bones

Originally Aired: March 18, 1938

Lum #9, "Finding Bones," opens with Lum and Abner back at their Jot 'Em Down Store, taking stock after the collapse of the Pine Ridge oil boom and their expensive foray into silent pictures. With Squire Skimp having refunded everyone's oil stock investments and their motion picture venture proving to be a financial loss, the two partners resolve to stick to running their store from now on. Their conversation quickly spirals into classic comedy confusion when Lum tries to explain the concept of not throwing "good money after bad," using elaborate analogies about horses and cameras that only leave Abner more befuddled than ever.

Just as Abner finally seems to grasp Lum's point about avoiding bad investments, Grandpappy Spears walks into the store. Before the old-timer can even speak, the newly cautious Abner immediately accuses him of trying to peddle some scheme, determined not to fall for another money-losing proposition. Grandpappy insists he isn't trying to sell them anything, but the damage is done as the friends' hard-learned lessons about get-rich-quick schemes color every interaction.