Colonel Edward J. Hazelet, an old derelict in the journalistic field, Bruce Henderson, and Wesley Bowers, two young newspaper men, and Andy Mullet, a tramp printer, find themselves upon the rocks of adversity when their paper, "The Franklyn Gazette," is taken over by the sheriff on Christmas Eve. Bruce is in love with Dorothy Cremer to whom he is engaged. The Cremers are entertaining as holiday guests Lord Lonsdale and his sister, Lady Margaret. Knowing nothing of the financial condition of her fiancé, nor of that of his two companions, Dorothy invites them to her home to meet the titled foreigners. The Colonel and the two boys keep bachelor quarters and have only one dress suit among them. After a lively contest for this much prized article the trio make their appearance at the Cremer home. They are followed hither by the tramp printer, who demands the price of a Christmas dinner. Andy is conciliated and gotten rid of, while the three journalists proceed to work themselves into the good graces of the distinguished English people. Lord Lonsdale offers to sell the penniless Henderson a piece of land in British Columbia for $15,000. The way in which the offer is accepted, the land disposed of, and a large sum of money made out of the deal, is the story of "An Unexpected Fortune." Written by Moving Picture World synopsis

• Plot Summary

• Comedy
• Drama
• Short