No Man of Her Own

Card sharp Babe Stewart and his partners pull off a crooked poker game against the unsuspecting Mr Morton in New York City. They manipulate the play and win big through deception, establishing Babe's pattern of cons. This early score sets the tone for his reckless life of crime and charm.

Babe ends his relationship with Kay Everly after their quarrel. Kay threatens to turn him in to the police, and Officer Dickie Collins reveals that Morton has been told the truth. The revelation forces Babe to consider leaving town to escape the consequences.

Feeling cornered, Babe chooses the small town of Glendale as a new refuge, hoping to lose himself in a quieter life. He ends up in a place far from his poker games and scheming. The move marks the transition from the city swindler to a chance at something resembling stability.

In Glendale, Babe encounters Connie Randall, a bored librarian who seeks excitement beyond Glendale’s confines. Connie plays hard to get, testing Babe’s persistence, but she is visibly drawn to him. The meeting sparks an attraction that shifts Babe’s plans.

When Babe is ready to return to New York, Connie challenges him to flip a coin to decide whether to marry. The coin lands tails, and they marry, tying Babe to Connie despite his past. The impulsive union sets up the double life that follows.

Babe keeps up his cheating ways while telling Connie he has a regular job. He even convinces a stock broker friend to let him work as an assistant, proving to be good at the deception. Connie remains largely unaware as the lie grows more elaborate.

Connie stumbles onto Babe’s secret stacked deck hidden in a side compartment of their card table before a fixed game. She quietly shuffles the cards back, not wanting to expose him. The crew then loses thousands of dollars in the rigged game.

Babe plans a trip to South America with Vane and Vargas, intending to leave Connie behind. At the last moment, he realizes he loves Connie and chooses not to board the ship. He asks to be charged so he can serve a jail sentence and 'come clean' about his past.

To prevent Connie from discovering his jail term, Babe is arrested and agrees to a 90-day sentence to pay for his misdeeds. Vargas arranges weekly cablegrams in Babe's name from South America to Connie, keeping up the illusion of his travels. Connie stays in the dark about the true situation.

Before Babe’s return, Kay visits Connie and tries to warn her about Babe’s shady past. To her surprise, Connie already knows the truth and remains devoted to Babe. The moment cements Connie’s belief in their love despite his flaws.

Babe is released from jail and heads to a shop to buy South American souvenirs, including a caged bird. He returns home to Connie with the trinkets as a symbol of his journey. The gifts prompt Connie to press him for the truth about his travels.

Connie asks Babe to tell her where he has been, and he responds by describing a purely fictional voyage to South America. The ending reveals Babe’s habit of spinning stories to protect his relationship and avoid vulnerability. The story closes on their complicated, yet enduring bond.