Summary
In 'The Perfect Sap', the privileged scion Herbert Alden, harboring amateur detective aspirations, finds himself entangled in the criminal underworld through a series of delightfully improbable events. His attempts to practice housebreaking with his ex-convict valet inadvertently lead him into the orbit of genuine safecrackers, George and Polly. Following a chaotic initial encounter and a subsequent chase, Herbert unwittingly offers refuge to these very thieves in his urban abode. The plot thickens when George orchestrates a grand larceny targeting the elite guests at a lavish ball hosted by Herbert's own father. Herbert's detective instincts, however misguided, lead him to uncover that 'Tony-the-Lizard,' the mastermind behind the impending heist, is none other than Tracy Sutton, his sister Roberta's fiancé and a respected socialite. The comedy of errors escalates as Tony, mistakenly believing Herbert to be a notorious criminal, seeks his 'professional' counsel. The narrative culminates in Herbert's dramatic revelation of identities, Polly's clever unmasking of another genuine thief, Ruth Webster, and her own surprising disclosure as an undercover newspaper writer, setting the stage for an unexpected romantic resolution with the 'perfect sap' himself.
Synopsis
Wealthy young Herbert Alden, a would-be detective, is practicing housebreaking with his valet, an ex-convict, when he meets George and Polly, two real thieves; they are discovered and, following a chase, they go to Herbert's city apartment. George arranges with one of them, Tony-the-Lizard, to rob the guests at a ball given by Herbert's father at his country home. Herbert discovers that Tony is Tracy Sutton, a social lion engaged to Herbert's sister Roberta; and believing Herbert to be a famous criminal, Tony seeks his advice. At the last minute Herbert sounds the alarm and reveals his identity. Polly, who is at the ball in disguise, is accused by Ruth Webster of participation in the robbery, but Polly unmasks Ruth as a notorious thief. After revealing her own identity as a newspaper writer, Polly is united with Herbert.
