Mistaken Orders

General Barton, the vice-president of the C & E Railroad, fears that his ne`er-do-well son Vincent will never become responsible. Barton's devoted daughter Helen tries to reconcile Vincent and Barton, but one night, after Vincent steals a costume for a party, Barton allows him to be jailed. Vincent spends an uncomfortable night in a cramped cell, and in the morning, is bailed out by Helen. Helen tells her brother that their father agreed to hire him as the operator for the isolated Hynes station, and begs him to "make good" for her sake. At the Hynes station, operator George Shelby learns that he is being replaced by Vincent. George and his friend, the station's agent, are furious, and hope that their shady pal, Tony Sharkey, will be able to help. Later, Barton and Helen go to the main depot to meet Barton's old friend Lawson and his son Tom, who has been appointed a dispatcher for C & E. When each is questioned by their father, both Helen and Tom remember an incident from their childhood: young Tom buys a grab bag at a general store and, upon finding it contains a ring, asks little Helen to marry him. At the depot, Helen and Tom each realizes that they would no longer recognize each other, and a mixup occurs when Barton spots Lawson. Because Tom has turned away, Helen mistakes Starkey, who is standing beside Lawson, for Tom. When Lawson sees Barton, Tom mistakes an ugly woman for Helen. Both of the young people are displeased and leave before being introduced. Later, Vincent arrives at Hynes and begins his duties. The first message he receives instructs him to detour a freight train because of the lateness of an oncoming passenger train. While Vincent is busy in the front office, Sharkey arrives in the back. After learning from George that he has been fired, Sharkey starts a fight with Vincent and knocks him out. Unaware of the teletype that Vincent has received, George waves on the freight train, then dines with his pals. Tom, who is now working at the main depot, receives word that the freight train has not been diverted and frantically tries to reach Hynes, to no avail. Fortunately, the two train stop in time, and when Tom calls to alert Barton, Helen intercepts and instructs him to do nothing. After Helen drives to Hynes, Barton learns about the mishap and goes to the depot. At Hynes, Vincent regains consciousness and staggers into the office just as Helen arrives. Sharkey and his cohorts overhear Helen tell Vincent what has occurred, and a chase ensues. Helen is able to telegraph for help, and soon Barton, Tom and several others are on the way. After they arrive and disembark, Sharkey steals the engine, and Tom jumps onboard. Learning that the drawbridge over which the engine must pass has been raised for the day, Helen follows in her car and lowers the bridge just as Tom, who has thrown Sharkey into the water, crosses it. Helen and Tom finally solve the riddle of their mistaken identities and re-affirm their engagement.