The Directorial Signature of John Smith: Decoding The Detective

Jimmy is fishing from the end of a pier, his hock catching certain articles of food from the lunch of a beach-party. His attention is attracted to a girl close by, weeping. He befriends her and when she says she has no home, offers the hospitality of his own hotel - where he already owes a large bill. The manager of the hotel notes in the newspaper the fact that an heiress is missing and a reward offered for her return, Jimmy takes the girl to the hotel where the manager recognizes her as the missing heiress, Jimmy is ejected by the hotel detective, but manages to get to his room by way of the fire escape. The manager finds him but the girl persuades him to treat Jimmy kindly. As soon as the girl is gone the manager throws Jimmy out of the window. The manager flirts with the girl and the manager's wife raises objections. The manager tells her that he is merely after the reward, Jimmy males use of the fire department, to effect an entrance to his room by means of a ladder, and is made a porter and told to work his bill out, Jimmy runs into difficulties as a porter. The girl is taken by the manager and his gang, to an old mill out in the country. Jimmy learns of this from the jealous wife and goes there to rescue her. He climbs in and out and around the mill, eluding his pursuers, finally rescuing the girl and knocking the entire gang half-senseless with a club as they emerge from the mill. Then he and the girl depart in safety.