The Silent Influence of Edward Sedgwick: Decoding Horse Play

Ranchowner Slim Perkins is in love with his neighbor's niece, Angelica Wayne, but her aunt and uncle throw him off their property because he is a poor bumbler. One day a stranger buys Slim's ranch for one million dollars because the land contains valuable minerals. Slim and his partner, Andy Jones, are overwhelmed by their newfound wealth, but it does not help to soothe Slim's hurt feelings when he finds out that Angelica has gone to England to stay with her other aunt. He decides to bring her his horse, "Cynthia Ann," as a gift, and with Andy and the horse, he sets sail. Once in England, Slim and Andy have difficulty locating Angelica, but the notoriety they gain for bringing their horse into the royal suite at their hotel brings Angelica's aunt, the Duchess of Disborough, to see them. Discovering that they know Angelica, she invites them to a costume ball at her castle. When Andy and Slim arrive, they are outfitted with medieval costumes, and Angelica is thrilled to see them. Slim is disappointed again when he hears that Angelica is engaged to Philip Marley, whom she met on the cruise. Unknown to Angelica, Philip is a jewel thief, and his "sister" is actually his wife. During an enactment of the Robin Hood story, in which everyone participates, Slim and Andy meet a detective from Scotland Yard who is looking for a man with a birthmark on one ear lobe. Slim and Andy join in the search, afraid that Angelica may be in danger, but their unending assault on everyone puts them in disgrace, and the duchess asks them to leave. At the same time, they unwittingly disrupt Philip and Angelica's plans to elope, and as Philip is the only man whose ears have not been checked, they try to locate him. Philip is in the midst of robbing the duke, whom he knocks out. Andy and Slim catch Philip, and after they prove his identity, he is arrested. Angelica returns to America with Slim, Andy and "Cynthia Ann."