New England codfish packer Silas Kidder wants his son to succeed him in the business, but because young Cuthbert seems interested only in playing pool, his father turns him out. In Chicago, Cuthbert beats a gang of pool sharks at their own game, and in anger they steal all his money and knock him out cold. He is picked up by tin can magnate James Knight and his pretty daughter Julie, who invite him to recuperate at their estate. As he is rummaging through the icebox at midnight, Cuthbert encounters and captures two burglars and is subsequently hailed as a hero by Knight. Next, Cuthbert, posing as an inventor, persuades Knight to finance the marketing of a "cutless" can invented by clerk Bill Atwell. Kidder's Keyless Kutless Kan becomes a success and the young man earns a fortune. After exposing a bogus count who has tried to woo Julie, Cuthbert wins her love and takes her home to meet his proud father.