Jovial and big-hearted, Jim Brice, of the Howard Detective Agency, is sent to trap bribetakers in a nearby city. Bidding his wife and three children good-bye, he departs and on reaching the city poses as a writer on Civic Reform. He makes the acquaintance of Commissioner Hazard of the Utilities Commission, who is being urged by his unscrupulous colleagues to accept a bribe from the waterworks company in return for a franchise which will freeze out all rival companies. On the verge of ruin through his wife's extravagance, Hazard finally succumbs and promises to sign the franchise. The Commissioner, taken by Brice's genial manner, invites him home to dinner. Brice and Danny, the Commissioner's son, become great friends and the detective manages to save Danny's father if possible. He manages to obtain a glimpse of a note sent to Hazard appointing time and place for the bribe transaction. He and Hazard then go to the club, where Jim encourages him to drink heavily. Hazard falls asleep, thereby missing his appointment. At midnight, Brice wakes him up and takes him to lonely Danny. Upon their arrival at Hazard's home, Brice shows the Commissioner an extra he had purchased, containing news of the arrest of the bribe conspirators, adding that Commissioner Hazard, despite rumors, was not in the deal. After learning how he had saved him, the Commissioner, overcome with gratitude at his narrow escape, shakes the detective's hand warmly. Mrs. Hazard, at a bridge party, hears gossip of the arrests of high officials, and frightened, hurries home. There she learns the whole truth, and thoroughly repentant, promises to give up her extravagant ways and devote her time to Danny and her husband. Brice takes leave of the happy family with the pleasing thought that he had saved and reunited them.