- A tramp called the "Solitary Kid" finds an abandoned infant, Ruth, on a doorstep, with a note promising a rich reward upon the girl's eighteenth birthday. The Solitary Kid "hocks" her for five dollars with Ben Shapinsky, a Jewish pawnbroker, who rears the infant as his own daughter. In time, Ruth turns eighteen, and the Solitary Kid, who has continued to pay interest on his five-dollar "loan," returns to the pawnbroker and demands Ruth back. If Shapinsky refuses to turn the girl over, he insists on being paid $10,000. Ruth overhears the proposition and informs the police. The Solitary Kid is arrested. Ruth goes on to marry Larry Donovan, an Irish youth who was her childhood sweetheart.—AFI
- A hobo named The Solitary Kid picks up a basket on the steps of an asylum, thinking it contains food. To his surprise, he finds a baby in the basket, along with a note from its mother stating whoever takes care of the baby will be richly rewarded. All the finder needs to do is present the note to the Trust Department of the Harrison National Bank on the baby's eighteenth birthday, December 24, 1921. The Kid realizes this is a great opportunity to cash in, but he has to decide how to care for the baby until it's of age. He sees a pawnshop with a sign reading "Ben Shapinsky, I LOAN MONEY ON ANYTHING," so he enters the store. He learns from the owner that, according to the law, anything that is pawned must be kept in good order and is subject to the call of the pawner so long as the interest is paid. Then he tells Shapinsky that he wishes to pawn the baby. The old man, thinking this is a practical joke, lends the Kid five dollars on the baby. Later that night, Shapinsky realizes this is no joke, and that he must care for the child, so he hires a nurse.
Twelve years pass, and the child, whom Shapinsky has named Ruth, has become the most important thing in Shapinsky's life. But Shapinsky is in constant fear that the Kid will someday reclaim the child. Meanwhile, Ruth gains two admirers. One is Larry Donovan, the son of a police offer, who is an old friend of Shapinsky's. The other is Bernie Riskin, whose father owns a clothing store nearby. Ruth is sent to a boarding school, but returns home at the age of eighteen, arriving on Christmas Eve. Shapinsky, although a Jew, gives a party in her honor, complete with a Christmas tree and all the trimmings. Bernie's mother suggests to Shapinsky that Ruth and Bernie should marry. But Ruth is really in love with Larry. However, she agrees to the plan to please Shapinsky. Bernie is not thrilled, since he is interested in a girl named Esther Block.
That same day, The Solitary Kid arrives in town and presents the note to the bank. He receives a letter which states that the person who takes care of the child will receive his reward in heaven. Disgusted, but thinking he may be able to get something out of Shapinsky, he presents his pawn ticket to the pawnbroker. Shapinsky offers to buy the pawn ticket, and the Kid demands the thousand dollars for it. Shapinsky tells the Kid to return the next evening and he will give him the money. When the Kid comes for the money, Shapinsky takes him into his office where their conversation is overheard by Ruth. She realizes Shapinsky is about to sacrifice everything he has to save her from the Kid. She takes Shapinsky's money from the safe and runs away. Shapinsky discovers the money is missing, and the Kid, thinking he has been deceived, attacks the pawnbroker. Larry arrives in time to save Shapinsky, beats up the Kid, and takes the pawn ticket from him, along with the note. Ruth meets Larry's father, explains the situation, and the two go to the pawnshop. The Kid is arrested and Shapinsky makes plans to have himself legally appointed as Ruth's guardian. Bernie announces that he and Esther have gotten married. Ruth then accepts Larry's proposal of marriage.
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