The village blacksmith has a hard time holding onto his assistants. This is due, primarily, to the presence around the shop of the village belle. Finally, the brawny smithy is compelled to hire as his helper a man who is without any female affiliations. He hits upon Lonesome Luke as the ideal man for the job and that well-known worthy accepts the position with alacrity. But unfortunately the queen of queens crosses Luke's path and disconcerts him. Several clashes he has with his employer in his efforts to win the affections of the girl and his position is in jeopardy. Finally Fatty, his chief rival, steals a horse whose hoofs are being manicured and runs away with the girl in true Lochinvar style. But Luke rushes to the father-in-law-he-would-like-to-have and gathers a posse to pursue the elopers. They come together far down the road to the city and all bands get into a mix-up in a delightfully muddy pool and have it out then and there in a no-decision bout.