Ne'er-do-well Homer Cavender ventures to the city from Mainsville in an effort to find fame and fortune. Both elude him, and after clerking for two years, Homer returns home for a vacation. Impressed by his flashy clothes, the townspeople assume that Homer has achieved success. Attempting to win Rachel Prouty from his rival, Arthur Machim, Homer continues the deception by announcing that his employer, Kort and Bailly, has dispatched him to enroll stockholders for a proposed new plant to be built in Mainsville. Machim discovers the sham and denounces Homer as a crook. Meanwhile, Homer returns to New York, convinces his employers of the merits of his plan and comes home triumphant, with a proposal for both the new plant and for Rachel's hand in marriage.—AFI
Homer Cavender is regarded as a failure by the people in his hometown. He has been fired from just about every job. In his latest fiasco, he tries out a non-skid device on his boss' car. While he is driving his boss to a reception, the car skids through a fence and crashes. Homer is again fired and heads for the city. The only person sorry to see him go is Rachel Prouty, daughter of one of the town's leading citizens. He goes to work as a clerk for Bailly and Kort. But after two years he finds he is not progressing rapidly enough. He has an idea of creating a factory in his hometown. But the venture requires money to get off the ground. His bosses refuses to finance the venture. However, Homer has managed to save $300. With his cash, he returns home on the Lightning Express, which carries only important people. The whole town turns out to see him return, sporting his new suit. Homer takes the best room at a local hotel. He hires the local taxi for two weeks. He spends money recklessly. He wants to propose to Rachel, but is afraid to let her know he really has no money. Then he secures the capital to carry out his venture by offering the citizens stock in the enterprise. But Arthur Machim, a jealous rival of Homer's finds out that he is only a clerk, and spreads the news that Homer is dishonest. When Homer fails to appear at work after receiving the financial backing, it appears to everyone that Machim is correct. Then Homer's venture comes to pass, and he is named the boss of his factory. In so doing, he also wins the hand of Rachel.
