Joe McKnight temporarily leaves his fiance, Nora Langdon, for an expedition in a South American jungle. Nora gets a position as librarian in the small town of Midberg, where she boards with the Smith family. Nora is befriended by her next-door neighbor Austin Brown, who, unknown to his wife, is engaged in a moneymaking scheme with James Wilson. Ada Smith and her friends spread gossip about the innocent relationship between Brown and Nora. One of Nora's staunch defenders is neighboring schoolgirl Wilma "Willie" Murphy, who tells tall tales and, because of her curly hair and clumsiness, is mercilessly teased by her schoolmates. One night, Nora warns Brown that, according to information that she found at the library, the business he is starting is against a postal law. Later, Brown receives a telegram from the post office informing him that Wilson's plan is a fraud. Brown demands his $2,500 investment back from Wilson.