Plot
At Princeton University, beloved janitor "Pop" Conlan (Chester Conklin) secretly watches over a new freshman, Jimmy Duffy (Charles "Buddy" Rogers), who has just arrived from an orphanage. Unknown to Jimmy, "Pop" is actually his father. Because of his own troubled and dissipated past, "Pop" has concealed their relationship, changed Jimmy’s name, and allowed the boy to grow up believing his father is dead.
Quaint and whimsical, "Pop" harbors secret struggles with alcohol but channels his life into guiding Jimmy from the shadows. His pride grows as Jimmy thrives at Princeton, eventually becoming an honor student in his sophomore year. But concern arises when Jimmy begins keeping company with a hard-drinking crowd, including classmates like Middlebrook (Phillips Holmes) and Rod Luke (Robert Ellis).
During a wild carnival night in Trenton, Jimmy gets caught up in a drunken escapade. There, he meets Fay (Mary Brian), a kind-hearted showgirl who helps him stay out of serious trouble. A romance blossoms between them.
Jimmy soon takes on the responsibility of collecting money for a student fund. However, after a quarrel with Fay and during "Pop’s" absence, he falls into another extended drinking spree. When he sobers, Jimmy is horrified to find himself accused of gambling away the college funds.
Desperate to clear Jimmy’s name, "Pop" intervenes with Fay’s help. In the process, he is seriously injured, despite Jimmy’s attempt to protect him—even at the cost of his own reputation. Through their combined efforts, Jimmy is exonerated.
Following his graduation, Jimmy marries Fay, still unaware that "Pop" is his father. When the newlyweds come to bid farewell, Fay senses the truth. "Pop" quietly confirms her suspicion but swears her to silence. As Jimmy and Fay leave for their honeymoon, "Pop" returns to his humble janitorial duties, content with the secret joy of having secured his son’s future and happiness.
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