Although nearly every family has its night workers, the day-world gives little thought to the unnaturalness of their existence. A boy escapes from an orphanage, and after a few weeks in a country printing office, reaches the city where he obtains work as an office boy on a newspaper. About him everywhere are men who at forty have lived their lives and are ready for the discard. But at fifteen he little heeds the warning. In ten years he has become an excellent reporter, but possessed of the irresponsibility of his night life. The girl, also a reporter, interests herself in him and repeatedly saves him from disgrace in his work. Under circumstances distasteful to him he encounters his parents, who learn his identity but conceal their own. The girl, discovers who he is, but keeps it to herself. In the moment of their greatest "scoop" the girl learns that her grandfather, the editor of an up-state weekly, has died. She persuades the boy to help her edit the paper. Under the spell of living by day his whole attitude changes, and he tells her of his love and his desire to remain in the little country town.