Denis O’Grady, Tom and Aileen’s son, is eight. His grandfathers, O’Sullivan and O’Grady, are jealous of each other, and each tries to win the child’s affection and to object to everything the other does, but O’Hara, his god-father, is really the child’s favorite. One day while his mother is out, Denis tries to steal a pot of jam. Aileen is going to whip him, but O’Hara pleads for him and be is pardoned. For a while he remembers his promise, then one day, near Christmas time, when he is over at his grandfather Sullivan’s, he is tempted to steal some tarts. He does so, and at the same time breaks a pet pipe of his grandfather’s. Sullivan would forgive the theft, but not the pipe, so he takes Denis home and tells his mother. Aileen whips him soundly and shuts him up in an outhouse. Denis resolves to run away. He climbs out of the window, steals a ride on a cart and gets out into the country. Night comes on, and he is lonely and frightened and wishes he was home. In the meantime, his flight has been discovered and his mother blames herself for her harshness. O’Hara starts out with Larry, the policeman, to find him and they discover him curled up by a small fire, which follows out the tactics of his favorite heroes. O’Hara restores him to his mother and all ends happily.