Summary
In the whimsical, often crude landscape of early 20th-century courtship, Harold, a man of questionable romantic finesse, enlists the aid of a remarkably clever stray dog. This canine accomplice becomes instrumental in dispatching Harold’s rivals, most notably three boisterous sheiks and a delicate-souled lad, through a series of escalating, slapstick-infused deceptions. Harold’s pursuit of Frivolous Sal is marked by manipulative stunts, from unraveling her stocking yarn to a particularly unsporting garage trap. When these overt tactics fail to secure Sal’s unwavering affection, Harold resorts to a dramatic, feigned illness, fabricating a ‘heart’ ailment to elicit her sympathy and, ultimately, her embrace, orchestrating a theatrical recovery once his affections are reciprocated.
Synopsis
Harold adopts a clever stray dog after the animal presents him with a bouquet of flowers which Harold had dropped. He calls at the home of Frivolous Sal, who happens to be entertaining three young sheiks. Harold opens the door and tells the dog to do his stuff. In a few minutes the three sheiks dash out, their clothes all torn. Harold steps in, presents his bouquet, and comforts her. Soon, a gentle, delicate-souled lad calls. Sal has Harold wind some yarn while she flirts with the newcomer. Harold winds the yarn and discovers that he is unraveling one of Sal's stockings. She dashes out of the room. The lads step out on the veranda, at Harold's suggestion, to smoke cigars. Harold lures his rival towards the garage, then kicks him in, and locks the door. The dog sees the lad trying to escape, and chews his clothes up. Sal reproves Harold. A vamp bumps Harold and tells him she likes him. Harold takes her walking in front of Sal's home. The vamp lures him to a jewelry shop, but Harold gives her the slip. He leaves a note at Sal's door, informing her that life is not worth living any more. From then on he tries to have his life ended by automobiles and succeeds in being bumped when he spots Sal. He is rushed to the hospital and whispers to the attending physician that his sickness is only "heart" trouble. The doctor tells Sal to nurse him, and when she puts her arms about his neck, he immediately regains consciousness.
