Walk Softly, Stranger

A man identifying himself as Chris Hale arrives at the doorstep of Mrs. Brentman in Ashton, Ohio and asks to see his childhood home. The widow gladly invites him in and offers him a room. He agrees to stay, beginning a tentative new life in a town he barely knows.

The unemployed Chris accepts a room in Mrs. Brentman's house and takes a job in the shipping department of the Corelli shoe factory. This marks the first step toward a steadier life in Ashton and begins his connection to the Corelli family, especially Elaine.

One night, Chris wanders into the Ashton country club and meets Elaine Corelli, the paralyzed daughter of his employer. They reminisce about his days delivering newspapers to her door and his long-ago adoration from afar. His self-deprecating humor eases her guarded nature and draws her in.

The next day, A. J. Corelli informs Chris that Elaine was so taken with him that she requested he be given a better job in sales. Chris declines the offer but promises to explain his decision to Elaine.

As promised, Chris visits Elaine at the Corelli home to talk about his past. His humor puts her at ease, and she jokes about the skiing accident that left her paralyzed. The exchange deepens their connection.

The next morning, Chris flies to meet petty criminal Whitey Lake in another city. They rob gambling-house owner Bowen of $200,000 in cash, knowing the crime won't be reported, and then divide the money and tell Whitey to disappear.

Back in Ashton, Chris accepts a double date with co-worker Ray Healy but runs into Elaine. He breaks the date and takes the reluctant heiress to a working-class nightclub. Gwen, his jilted date, denounces him in front of Elaine, and Elaine grows despondent watching Gwen dance.

Elaine leaves suddenly for Florida, fearing she will be abandoned because of her paralysis. She returns at Christmas, and Chris resumes his pursuit.

Upon her Christmas return, Chris resumes pursuing Elaine and the two begin to reconnect. By New Year's Eve they are deeply in love.

Whitey arrives broke and scared, forcing Chris to sequester him in Mrs. Brentman's house and devise an escape plan. Whitey's nerves fray as he tears through Chris's room in search of his share.

Whitey becomes convinced Chris intends to kill him during Mrs. Brentman's absence as she visits her son's grave in Arlington Cemetery. Chris calms Whitey and sees Mrs. Brentman off at the airport.

While driving home, Chris realizes he is being followed by two men, but reaches Elaine's home undetected. He confesses everything to Elaine, who responds with understanding and urges him to return the money.

Elaine reveals that she had known all along about his past since she moved to Ashton as a teenager. She urges him to undo the situation by returning Bowen's money.

By the time Chris returns to Mrs. Brentman's, Whitey has been killed and the money reclaimed. The situation shifts toward a confrontation with Bowen and a plan to rob Elaine surfaces.

Bowen's killers take Chris to see Bowen, who suggests they both rob Elaine of her fortune. Chris tries to overpower Bowen's driver but Bowen shoots him; the car crashes, and Chris winds up in a police hospital. Elaine visits him and vows to wait until his release.