Acting
Professional safecracker Fancy Charlie breaks into the apartment of G.B. Lawson, a criminologist, and mistakenly believes that he has robbed a fellow safecracker. Out of "professional courtesy" he informs Lawson of what he has done. Instead of calling the police, Lawson--who believes in the philosophy of "honor among thieves"--makes a deal with Charlie: to show Charlie that it's actually more profitable to be a legitimate businessman then a crook, he'll give Charlie some money if Charlie will use it to establish a legitimate business in the small town of Plumfield, and at the end of a year they will divide up whatever profits Charlie is able to make honestly. Charlie agrees, but soon discovers that things aren't going to be quite as easy as he thought.
When Jack Dougan and Snatcher Nell, partners in crime as well as love, decide to purloin the gifts at the wedding of Madge Carr to James Cluney, Nell poses as a maid to gain entrance to the household. Soon after, articles begin to disappear and Madge's father, a kleptomaniac, begins to feel guilty, while the groom almost suspects himself.
Finding himself broke and out of a job in Paris, American William Ruggles joins the Turkish army and is sent to fight in its war in the Balkans. During a particularly hard-fought battle, he rescues a wounded Turkish soldier. Before he dies the Turk, out of gratitude, leaves William his fortune - but with the proviso that he take care of the Turk's three beautiful young wards.
Skinner is too timid to ask his boss for a salary increase, but also too timid to tell his wife he has not gotten it. He pretends to have received the raise and buys a new suit as proof. The stylish suit gives him confidence, soon he has been transformed into the dynamic and successful man he had pretended to be.
William Skinner is very pleased with the news his wife Honey is expecting their first child. He eagerly prepares for the new arrival, as he is sure it will be the next William Skinner Jr. When the bundle of joy finally arrives, much to his surprise, it's a girl. However, Honey and William are just as happy as if she were a he.
Betty Hall, sent to boarding school by her wealthy parents, leads her friends in pajama pranks which upset Miss Elliott, the matron. After breaking up Miss Elliott's first and only love affair, Betty is expelled. To save the family from further disgrace, Betty's father tries to get her to marry a man in his office, Franklyn Winters, but Betty refuses, saying that she will choose her own husband.
Tom Brown shows up at Harvard, confident and a bit arrogant. He becomes a rival of Bob McAndrew, not only in football and rowing crew, but also for the affections of Mary Abbott, a professor's daughter.
The house of Thomas Chatterton is divided against itself. His son Joseph is an inebriate; his daughter Anne is a social butterfly who neglects her baby and husband; the old man lives in solitude. Edith Conway comes to visit the Chattertons and finds herself distinctly out-of-place, of a different type. Thomas Chatterton finds in Edith a long-wished-for companion.
Having followed the road of romance through many countries, Lord Quex finally falls in love with Muriel Eden. After resisting Lord Quex because of his reputation, Muriel finally capitulates to his charms and agrees to marry him. In her heart, however, Muriel still treasures an affection for Caption Bastling, a fortune hunting womanizer, and when Muriel is told of Lord Quex's continuing contact with the Duchess of Dowager, a situation brought about through the scheming of the Duchess, Muriel turns to Bastling and agrees to meet him at her friend Sophie Fullgarney's manicurist shop.
Margaret Sherwood's fiancé has disappeared in the Arctic and she hasn't heard from him in two years. Yet she does not believe he died. Price Latham, in love with Margaret, offers to organize a new expedition to prove otherwise. In return, she promises to marry Latham, come what may.
Tom Travis, a bad man, comes to New Mexico. He sees Vicky, the sheriff's daughter, playing a part for a motion picture company. The action calls for Vicky to be overcome by the villain and thrown on a horse. Tom, not understanding the action, blazes away at the villain, and the bullet passes through the actor's hat, chasing the horse upon which Vicky is riding. Tom, coming up with Vicky, believes he has saved her. The director and Vicky's father think Tom a great actor. The sheriff, however, discovers that Tom has the reputation of a "bad" man, and orders him to stay away.
Martin, a ranch owner, writes Graves, a broker, to send Tom Graves west to marry Martin's daughter, Daisy. Tom has a sweetheart, but obeys his father's orders. Meanwhile, Daisy has a sweetheart unknown to her father, and when Martin tells Daisy that Tom Graves is coming to marry her Daisy tells her sweetheart, Ned, all about it. Ned meets Tom; they become friends and Tom visits Ned's claim. Tom shows Ned Daisy's picture and they agree to a plan. Ned agrees to impersonate Tom and marry Daisy while Tom is to send for Hazel.
When Tommy, an Eastern young man, arrives in a Western town, the cowboys see that he is a tenderfoot and make him dance to the tune of a gun. Beecher, a ranchman, Hazel, his daughter, and Sid, the foreman, who is in love with Hazel, rescue Tommy.
