Big Timber

On the road to a logging camp near Mt. Whitney, Jimmy Wheeler, who recently completed his training as a tree surgeon, hitches a ride with Sally, who runs the camp commissary. Jimmy tells Sally he has come to see a logger named Rocky Elliot, who had stayed at his mother's Chicago boardinghouse years before and inspired Jimmy in his choice of career. On the way to the camp, they come across June Dixon, daughter of the camp superintendent, whose car engine has overheated. Jimmy helps her, but drenches her with water in the process. At the camp, Jimmy finds Rocky and reminds him of his promise to get him a job as a logger. Dixon agrees to hire Jimmy, and he tells Rocky that Jocko, the former job boss, is coming back to the camp to reclaim his position. Jocko is on his way to the camp at that moment, accompanied by his pal Bert, who considers Sally to be his girl friend. Later that afternoon, while Jimmy helps Sally in the kitchen, she explains that his new job, that of "cable monkey," entails hauling the electrical cables that power the cutting equipment. Bert comes in and asks Sally for a date, but she lies and says that she has a date with Jimmy, whom Rocky has nicknamed "Doc." The next day, Jocko refuses to let Jimmy join his crew, and June, who has a crush on Jimmy, persuades Sally to give him a job in the kitchen until he can try again the following season. Bert grows increasingly jealous of Jimmy, wrongly assuming him to be the reason that Sally continually rejects his advances. At Bert's request, Jocko asks Dixon to let him use Jimmy on the logging crew, and Jimmy starts his job as a cable monkey the next day. After hours, Rocky gives Jimmy extra training, and one night June and Sally bring Dixon up the mountain to watch Jimmy practicing his axe swings by moonlight. Rocky advises Jimmy to watch out for Bert, and after Bert's instructions to Jimmy result in a snapped cable, Jocko begins to suspect sabotage. That night, while helping Sally serve dessert, Jimmy comments that a lot of accidents seem to occur when he is working, but Sally reassures him. After dinner, Dixon complains about the drop in productivity, and Rocky reluctantly blames Jimmy, saying that the other men do not want to work with him. The next day, when Rocky sadly relates his conversation with Dixon, Jimmy gives notice, and Jocko promises to write him a letter of recommendation. Just then, Bert tries to knock Jimmy down by pulling a cable across his legs, but Jocko pushes Jimmy out of the way and is knocked down himself. Jimmy punches Bert, then puts Jocko in the logging truck and sets off for the hospital. When Bert learns that Jimmy has taken the truck, he confesses to Rocky that he tampered with the brakes. After a harrowing descent, Jimmy manages to get down the mountain safely. Later, Jimmy happily tells June that he has been promoted.