After Little Joe Cartwright had found a detective book and he had solved a bank robbery with his elder brother Hoss the youngest son of Ponderosa ranch owner Ben Cartwright had decided to start a detective agency. Of course Hoss got involved reluctantly.
“Joe, I tell you right now that this will become a big failure again”, Hoss said when he heard of the plan.
“Nonsense. This is a genius plan that cannot fail! Just trust me”, Joe reacted fierce.
Reluctantly Hoss gave his co-operation.
Fortunately for the brothers was their elder brother Adam was on vacation with his son Mitch. They knew very well that Adam would have comments at their plan. And their nephew did everything to mess it up to great joy of Adam.
One morning Joe said, “Pa, if you miss something you must say it. Then we will trace it down for you.”
“And why would you do that?”, Ben asked amazed but also worried about the answer.
“Because Hoss and I have founded a detective agency together”, replied Joe.
Ben sighed deep. He already knew how it would end. Though he decided to play the game along.
“Well Joseph, I do miss something indeed. Would you and your brother find it for me? Or are you also looking for persons?”, asked the rancher.
“Of course we also do investigation work for persons”, said Joe.
“Alright then”, said Ben.
Hoss got pencil and paper and to make notes.
“I miss a little boy of 3½ years old. He has been away for two weeks. The lad has brown eyes and black hair”, said the rancher.
Hoss wrote down all details but didn’t realize that his father meant Mitch. Joe too hadn’t discovered it and was overjoyed about his first assignment for his agency.
“We will go and find him right away”, Joe said enthusiastic.
He and Hoss left at once.
Outside Joe said, “This is a piece of cake. We find that child right away.”
“Pa will be as proud as a peacock of us”, replied Hoss.
They got their horses and left the yard. The brothers looked everywhere if they found their prey. But luck wasn’t with them.
“Do you know what we do? We go to Virginia City and ask Clem if he has seen him”, Hoss suggested.
Joe agreed with reluctance.
“Maybe that child is in town”, he said.
“There are enough children but if the right one in there we have to wait and see”, replied Hoss.
They rode to Virginia City looking for the missing one of their father.
In the meantime Adam and Mitch came home from their vacation at the Ponderosa. Ben was reading the newspaper on the porch and heard by the bark of their dog Cody riding up the yard his eldest son and grandson. The rancher put his newspaper aside and walked with Cody towards Adam and Mitch.
“Welcome home boys”, said Ben.
“Thanks pa. Kid, we are home again”, said Adam.
Ben got his grandson out of the carriage and gave him a loving hug.
“Have you missed me?”, asked the rancher.
“Yes, you missed us too?”, asked Mitch.
“You yes but not your father”, Ben replied teasing.
“Very funny pa. Where are those brothers of mine? Don’t tell me that they are working hard”, Adam said worried.
“No, they have founded a detective agency. I have given them as assignment to look for Mitch. They are away quite a while”, Ben told.
“And they have the description of him?”, Adam asked while he got out of the carriage.
“Yes, but I am afraid that they haven’t understood it yet”, said Ben.
“That wouldn’t surprise me”, Adam said laughing.
Mitch got put on the ground and went to play right away with Cody on the porch like he never had been away. Ben and Adam carried the suitcases inside.
In Virginia City Hoss and Joe looked everywhere for their missing assignment. Their search also got the attention of deputy Clem Foster op. Via a few mothers he had heard that the Cartwright brothers had bothered them. Near the Silver Dollar Saloon Clem ran into them.
“Clem, we just have to see you”, Hoss said laughing.
“That’s a co-incidence because I have to see you as well. Shall w ego to my office?”, asked the deputy.
Without suspecting anything the brothers went along.
In his office asked Clem, “Why are you bothering mothers?”
“We are looking for a little boy of 3½ years old with brown hair and black hair. Pa misses him. Because he have started a detective agency it is our duty to find that child”, replied Joe.
“A little boy of 3½ years old with brown eyes and black hair? I don’t want to say much but this that your know your nephew very bad”, said Clem.
“Our nephew? He doesn’t look like the description at all which pa gave us”, Joe reacted indignant.
Hoss checked his notes once again well and said then, “Little Joe, Clem has right alright. Adam and Mitchy are on vacation to Yuma, aren’t they? Well, who misses that little thing the most besides Cody? Pa of course.”
Joe was too indignant and insulted to say anything else.
“Here by your detective agency has been closed, hasn’t it?”, asked Clem.
“What concerned me yes. I have much better to do that waste my time with your dumb ideas. I am going to grease my throat with a cold glass of beer”, said Hoss.
He left the office of the sheriff and went to the Silver Dollar Saloon. Joe went away too but to a different saloon. His mod wasn’t far too well. The fact that he was abandoned by Hoss and that no one took him seriously made that Joe didn’t come home for a long time.
When Hoss and Joe came home Ben was reading to Mitch and Adam listened along.
“Pa, we have done our best but couldn’t find your assignment”, Joe said indignant.
“That is not needed anymore because my missing is at home already. And your beloved and big brother too”, replied Ben.
For the security Hoss and Joe kept silent about what had happened to them in town. But Joe would never start a detective agency again.