A story about the passengers of the inland waterway Heinävesi. Salli, the daughter of the captain, dreams of an acting career and joins a performance by a theater company traveling on a ship.
A member of the Bunco squad introduces the Case of the Gullible Woodpecker. It seems that Woody wins a pot full of dough that con man Buzz Buzzard notices and sets his sights on stealing.
Murders, with victims dying from spines broken by brute strength, erupt in the city and the killers, when encountered, walk away unharmed by police bullets which strike them.
A witch's broom breaks right outside of the broom factory where Woody just happens to be working. Unfortunately for her she doesn't have the 50 cents needed to purchase a new handle.