Alkali Ike, a cowpuncher, is given his walking papers for neglect of duty. He has little trouble, however, in securing a position on Sophie Clutts' ranch. His trial is a hard and tedious one, the gladiatoress standing over him with a powerful six-shooter, and every time he drops his work, a bullet from the aforementioned piece of artillery hastily reminds him of his necessary toil. Sophie is an old hen, and Alkali Ike is not very much stuck on her. Sophie's niece visits her, a young, sweet girl of twenty, and Alkali makes haste to win the fair one. He is abruptly interrupted in his love making and Sophie puts the finishing touches on Dan Cupid's wings by making the son of the alkali dust marry her.