Hawley, a famous author, takes the road as a tramp to get local color for his new book. He leaves a letter for his wife, acquainting her of the fact. A reporter learns of Hawley 's scheme by questioning Mrs. Hawley and publishes a picture of Hawley and the story in the newspaper. A real tramp takes the same road as Hawley and gets into trouble by helping himself to a pie, that is cooling on the window-sill of a farm house. The farmer mistakes Hawley for the offending tramp and sets him to work on the wood pile while he keeps watch over him with a gun. Meanwhile the real tramp makes good his escape and is mistaken by the good folks of the town for Hawley, the noted author. Weary Willie is dined and wined and treated like a king. Even Hawley's wife joins in the festivities to do him honor, and when Hawley returns after having spent a long hard day making little sticks out of big ones he is taken for a genuine hobo and his troubles are numerous until he is recognized by his wife and friends.
—Moving Picture World synopsis