The Traveling Salesman plot
"Come and Hold Your Sides While Fatty Unpacks His Samples"
Commercial traveler Bob Blake falls victim to a prank and gets off the train for his intended destination, Grand River. Bob is soaked from the pouring rain and when he can't find shelter, he breaks into a private house that the sheriff is about to sell for a tax debt. The house belongs to Beth Elliott, a telegraph operator at Grand River Station. Bob visits her so he can pay for his housing and falls in love with her. However, Franklin Royce is also in love with Beth. Out of jealousy of Bob, he accepts a proposal from Martin Drury to cheat Beth from a tax point of view.