Love and Duty

The bugle's call rouses Private Plump and he hurries to Lieutenant Runt's tent to aid his pompous little superior's dressing. Secure in his authority, the officer tortures poor Plump with unnecessary drilling and departs for the day's work. The colonel's daughter loves Plump. The lieutenant loves her. Plump's heart is given to the little pet of the regiment, so that things are rather mixed. A trumped up charge places Plump in the court martial's hands and unthinkingly the colonel sentences him to death. Risking her life, the pet aids him to escape. About this time the maneuvers are taking place and the bursting of a cannon scatters the troops and sends the colonel's horse away on a mad gallop ending in a flying jump into the river. Plump sees this and rushes off to a crane, jumps into the scoop and with a mighty heave drags out the drowning colonel. Before the whole regiment the hero is now restored, decorated and promoted, and with the pet in his arms, his happy future is assured.