District Attorney Downey tries unsuccessfully to convince parole board chairman Jed Cross that certain vicious criminals should not be released on parole. Meanwhile, cop killer "Slicker" Nixon and his men, recently paroled from prison where they were serving time for minor offenses, plot to start a new racket disguised as a legitimate business. Because store owner Mallory refuses to go along with the business, actually a "protection" racket, he is killed. Although Mallory's daughter Pat witnesses the crime, Nixon's airtight alibi keeps him from being convicted. Pat then decides to catch and kill Nixon herself while Nixon and some of his former prison mates work on further schemes. As she hides to listen to Nixon's plans, she is discovered by "Red" Herron, a member of the gang, who lets her go. After being evicted by her landlady, Pat wanders the streets carrying a gun concealed in her purse, then falls asleep among the hoboes