Little Nell keeps house for her two brothers, who have a cabin near a placer claim, where they wash out pay-dust so rapidly that they have accumulated quite a store of it, which gives an added responsibility to the little girl, to watch its hiding place. She is further burdened with the care of a small baby sister, and although she is but a child herself, she feels the double responsibility of her position. Two villains, who know the existence of the gold dust cache, come to the, cabin to lift it. Nell, however, has seen them coming from a distance and suspecting their intent, places the treasure in the cradle under the baby. Consequently, when the men search the cabin they cannot find it. They threaten the little girl, but she refuses to tell them anything and cautions them that the baby is ill. When the men depart, she makes a rush to the claim by a short trail to tell her brothers, and they miss her on the way home, finding both her and the gold gone. They are about to start out after the thieves and abductors when she turns up and tells them of her adventure.