Jack Meyers, once a successful broker, is now brought face to face with ruin. He is forced to sell everything, and with only a few dollars in his pocket, seeks the shelter of a luxurious hotel. But he soon realizes his inability to continue long in such quarters, and is forced to seek work in order to live. Brought to the last cent in his possession, he becomes a lounger in the public parks. Sitting in despair, he picks up a newspaper lying by and his eyes fall upon this advertisement: "Wanted, a young man to work in phosphate mine. Will advance railroad to right party. St. John's, Florida." Jack decides to take it. An actor who has learned of Jack's predicament, offers him his room in the Actor's Boarding House, as he is going on the road. On their way to the house. Jack steps into the Post Office and spends his last cent on a postal card to answer the advertisement. A few days later he receives a letter from his sweetheart, Polly Waters (with whom he had a quarrel just before his downfall), now with her father in Florida, saying that he is the owner of the mine mentioned in the advertisement, and that he win receive a position if he hurries there immediately. As the letter contained ample transportation, he makes all haste to Florida.
