The “Herald’s” city editor gives Bert Allen, cub reporter, an opportunity to scoop the “Express” by detailing him to interview Lesley Hartman, the mysterious country architect of Barlow, who has just won the ten thousand dollar prize in the courthouse design contest. At about the same time, Jim Baker, veteran reporter of the “Express,” sets out to scoop on the same story. When Bert arrives at the Barlow station he looks about, wondering how he is to get out to the Hartman ranch. Spying the blacksmith shop across the street, and seeing a horse tied nearby, it seems likely that he can hire a rig without going further. Walking over to the “smithy,” Bert is tempted to turn back when he sees a pretty girl drive past him to the station. But duty demands that he make haste, and besides, the girl holds a baby in her lap, which is discouraging. Bert persuades the blacksmith to rent him a rig, but must wait until the smith has finished mending the wagon. While this is going on, Bert hears a scream from the pretty girl, whose purse has been snatched by a thief. Bert gives chase to the tramp and after a battle recovers the purse and hurries back with it. He then consents to take charge of the child for a few seconds. In the meanwhile, Jim Baker has arrived at Barlow, and has bribed the blacksmith to hire him the rig. Bert sees his rival, Jim Baker, driving away with his rig, to steal the story. Bert gives chase with the baby clinging to his neck, and the girl, thinking the child about to be kidnapped, runs wildly after. Baker escapes, and Bert, too angry to explain to the girl, thrusts the baby in her arms and dashes away to whip the traitorous blacksmith. As they are about to fight, the girl comes up and learns what they are in search of. Thereupon she bursts into laughter, announces that she is Lesley Hartman, the architect, and that Baker will have his trip for nothing. Also, she is not married.