Cooter and Loftis are two brothers living in a Chicago apartment. Noticing that their elderly neighbor, Miss Elnora Bailey, has remained unseen for a few days, the brothers decide to rob her apartment. As they enter the residence, Cooter and Loftis pass by rotting trash and cans of human waste. However, they stumble into Miss Bailey’s living room and find money, stocks, rings, and many other valuable items. Cooter hesitates in front of the discovery in fear of being cursed and due to the immorality of burglary. The boys find Miss Bailey’s dead, bloated body in her bedroom as well as a newspaper clipping on her bedside table. The article reveals the source of her riches by stating that Miss Bailey was the beneficiary of her employer's’ entire estate, as he was left without an heir. Despite Cooter’s initial hesitation, Loftis convinces him to take the wealthy property. Back in their own apartment, Loftis begins acting strangely, setting up booby traps in the brothers’ apartment and scolding Cooter for using the new money to purchase clothes. After Loftis leaves for work, Cooter notices that Loftis does not return for days. The brothers’ apartment begins to break down and Cooter runs out of food in their apartment. Several days later, Cooter finds Loftis has returned home, sprawled out on a couch. Cooter feels haunted, as if he and Loftis are facing the same fate as Miss Bailey in hiding their wealth and fearing spending.