Keystone short about two suitors getting into an increasingly, cartoonishly violent fight over a woman.

Unknown to Kelsey and Ryan, two prominent actors, the show troupe to which they are sent by their booking agent, was driven from town by the Constable and his deputies. While waiting for their train the two actors stepped into the depot lunchroom and are seen by Rube and Ben, both out of employment. Rube and Ben steal the actors' suitcases, their wallet containing two dollars, their railroad transportation and their contract to join the troupe for which they are leaving. The actors finding their suitcases and wallet gone and being unable to pay for the food they have eaten, are detained by two roustabouts of the lunchroom long enough for Rube and Ben to leave on their train, and are then thrown out.

Rube's and Ben's wives are waitresses. An art collector purchases a rare picture and the "picture pirate," representing himself as another collector, calls on the first collector. As he is leaving the place Rube and Ben try to pick his pockets, and admonishing them as amateurs, he tells them to join in with him and try to steal the picture. They take the art collector's wife with them to the same café wherein their wives are waitresses. Ben and Rube leave her there and hasten to her home to steal a copy of the picture, the owner having hidden the original. They also drink some poisoned whiskey left for them and fall into a fit. Later the "picture pirate" pays Rube and Ben for the picture, thinking it is the original.

The prospector enters the western dance hall, and upon seeing the gambler, takes a mallet and apparently kills the man. He is captured by the posse and as he is dangling from a tree tells the story of how, years before, he and Ben had been in Texas together, Ben fleecing Rube of all his savings, robbed him of his girl, and disappeared. As Rube is about to breathe his last word, a message comes to the effect that Ben has recovered. The posse cut Rube down and take him back. He discovers that the girl is still with Ben and is the mother of seven urchins. Ben tries to rid himself of this domestic burden, but Rube flees on his trick mule and has the last laugh on the gambler.

Ben Turpin & Rube Miller trying to fix a leak.

Rube Miller & Ben Turpin enters a harem.