Charley (ribbon seller), after saving up studiously for three weeks, manages to get together enough to take his lady love to the theater. We see him purchase the tickets and then, with the air of a Standard Oil magnate, dispatch a passing messenger boy with a note telling her to meet him at the theater at once. Now, there is where Charley makes a mistake; never send a messenger boy on a hurry-up errand. As the picture will show, the boy pays no attention to Charley’s demand for speed, and straightaway hies himself off for his favorite book, a dime novel, and while he is diligently perusing its contents he meets another messenger, and what they do to the town is a caution; and while they are having their fun, poor Charley waits, and more misfortune for him, his girl gets tired of waiting and goes to the show with another friend, and as she passes Charley, who is still waiting at the theater, she gives him the icy go-by. The messenger then turns up and of course tells Charley that his girl is not at home. Charley then takes his vengeance out on the poor kid.