Phony Express

In Peaceful Gulch, the town's mayor conceives a plan to deter the marauding bandits by spreading a fabricated report. He announces that three resolute marshals—the Stooges—will soon arrive, with identities borrowed from a wanted poster portraying vagrants. The deception, done for a nominal cost, aims to project strength without direct confrontation.

The Stooges arrive in town and attempt to administer a purported panacea to the ailing sheriff, who suffers from lumbago. The botched treatment nearly gets them run out of Peaceful Gulch, threatening to blow their cover. They improvise quickly to avert expulsion and keep their ruse intact.

The trio takes shelter in a local saloon where they meet Red, the gang's leader, who tries to lull them with hospitality and drinks. Their deception begins to unravel as wary patrons grow suspicious and the ruse teeters on exposure. They must act fast to maintain their cover.

Using quick wits, the Stooges turn the danger back on Red and his gang, managing to slip away from a mounting trap. They narrowly avoid capture and retreat to regroup outside the immediate threat. The escape showcases their improvised problem-solving under pressure.

With the threat temporarily diverted, the Stooges are tasked with guarding the town's financial stronghold as the community prepares defenses. They accept the responsibility with a blend of bravado and bumbling charm, aware that the bank's loot is a tempting prize for bandits. Their vigilance becomes the town's line of defense.

A brazen bank robbery unfolds in the absence of the appointed guards, and the thieves seize the money before anyone realizes what's happened. The Stooges spring into action, chasing the culprits through streets and alleys. The town's livelihood hangs in the balance as the pursuit intensifies.

Curly dons the guise of a bloodhound to trail the thieves but is momentarily diverted by a mischievous skunk. The detour adds chaotic humor but also a delay that tests the team's coordination. They quickly recover and press the pursuit again.

The Stooges close in on the culprits and recover the stolen plunder just as the criminals return to their hideout. A tense standoff ensues, with the thieves regrouping in a second attempt to escape. The trio's perseverance keeps them on the thieves' trail.

In a chaotic turn, Curly ends up wedged inside a stove, unintentionally becoming the receptacle for the ill-gotten gains. The predicament heightens the comedy while the loot remains perilously close. The moment sets the stage for the final clash with the outlaws.

A fire erupts accidentally, spreading through the hideout and triggering a volley of bullets. The chaos scatters the outlaws and enables the Stooges to seize the moment. The combination of fire and misfortune tilts the battle in favor of the heroes.

With the bandits dispersed, Peaceful Gulch is saved from ruin and the Stooges' ruse has achieved its purpose. The townsfolk breathe a collective sigh of relief as the unlikely trio exits the danger as victorious, though their methods remain a source of wide-eyed humor. The town quietly acknowledges their surprising heroism.

Normalcy returns to Peaceful Gulch, but the Stooges leave behind a legend of improbable valor and comic ineptitude. They ride off into the distance, ready for whatever misadventure comes next. Their victory reinforces their status as the town's most unlikely guardians.