It is 1929 at Hartley's Lumber Yard in the center of town. Mrs. Hartley, who is somewhat of an entrepreneur, bought an old Victorian mansion to fix up and sell. She demands her husband to hire two men to fix up the house so she can make a profit. Wally and Sidney see the advertisement and apply. Mr. Hartley hires them sight unseen and gives them the address. As they are leaving, Sidney knocks Mr. Hartley's cigar into the desk drawer. Seeing the boys out and happy to get his wife off his back, he turns around and sees his office on fire. He tells his secretary to call the Fire Department. As Wally and Sidney are leaving, the Fire Department is arriving. They try to fix it up, but end up doing damage and destroying the house. Mrs. Hartley arrives, sees all the damage and is enraged. Just then, Mr. Hartley arrives, hoping to gain praise from his wife on the wonderful job his workmen are doing, but is confronted by an outraged Mrs. Hartley. While they are in the front yard arguing, Sidney and Wally, with their bungling, cause the whole house to collapse. Now outraged, Mr. Hartley chases Sidney and Wally back to their truck, where they drive off leaving the house in total ruin.