The story begins with Karnes McHenry performing a routine task of milking a cow in his shed, accompanied by the usual farmyard sounds and sights. His tranquil activity is disrupted when a hen's panicked flight draws his attention to a hidden hatchet in the hay, which is clutched by a human hand. Without showing outward alarm, Karnes discreetly grabs his gun and shoots the hidden man, who turns out to be an intruder lying in wait.

After dealing with the immediate threat, Karnes calls his neighbor, Jim, to inform him about the incident, indicating the man appeared to be a "nigger," a term used pejoratively to describe any dark-skinned individual by the locals, despite knowing otherwise. This detail highlights the racial attitudes of the period and the setting. He then contacts the police and handles the situation with a calm detachment, suggesting familiarity with such harsh realities.

Days later, a detective named Mr. Ord visits Karnes, explaining that the dead man was actually a mixed-race individual named Ahmed Ali, who was fleeing from the law and a dangerous cult. Ahmed had stolen a valuable artifact—an ivory camel inlaid with gems—from this cult, leading to a deadly pursuit. Mr. Ord, aware of the artifact's significance and danger, tries to convince Karnes to hand it over, if he has it, to avoid further trouble. Karnes, however, is noncommittal, revealing nothing about the camel while discussing the hardships caused by the Great Depression and his tough economic situation.

The narrative ends with Karnes advising his sister Alice to leave for safety, hinting at the expected escalation of danger due to the possession of the ivory camel, which he presumably has decided to keep.