Clem Rogers, a bumbling, novice reporter for the Times , gets a break when he is sent to cover the murder of District Attorney Forbes. Clem loses his press pass, however, and cannot procede through police lines, so he walks around Forbes's house. Observing a girl exiting through a window, he finds that she has dropped her purse, which identifies her as Betty Adams, the daughter of the mayoral candidate. Clem discovers that she was trying to obtain papers from Forbes, a friend of her father, which would assist in his campaign against Blake, a competitor supported by underworld figures. Unfortunately, it is too late to withdraw a story Clem has written about Betty, in which he describes her as the "mystery woman" in the murder, so they resolve to solve the case together. She and Clem secure the papers, which confirm Blake's criminal ties and guarantee his defeat. They also find a photograph of a woman named Marie Denton, which is then stolen by one of Blake's gang. Clem tricks Blake into revealing Marie's address, and finds that she is a prisoner in her home, where she is guarded by criminals. To trick Marie, Clem informs her that she is wanted for Forbes's murder. As hoped, Marie angrily denounces Blake, who ordered his henchman, Dave Evans, to kill Forbes before his knowledge of Blake's illegal activities endangered his election. Dave is captured by Clem and Betty, and after escaping the gang, they take Dave to the Times office. Dave confesses in front of the editor, and Clem has his big story. Betty, now cleared, will help inspire Clem to finish the play he has always hoped to write.
