Rodney Marvin hears a vague account of a dispute between Mayor Gorham and Matt Hayward from Hayward's daughter, Virginia. She is employed by her father on his paper the Gazette, a sworn enemy to the Mayor. Rodney outwits the Mayor and buys from him a note that would have endangered the fortune of the Gazette. Rodney realizes that the only remedy for the situation is to get the two men to shake hands and be friends.