A couple in straits, lured by visions of undiscovered gold, load a wagon and cross the plains. One misfortune follows another and the story opens with one starving horse, one dead horse and an empty mess box. The woman, womanlike, is the optimistic member of the family, and throughout the struggle, maintains a cheerful attitude. When they camp, for which seems the last time, their little girl wanders away, is missed and searched for. When "the Man" finds her, she is beside a running creek, playing with some pretty stones. One glimpse at the "pretty stones" is enough to convince the "Man" that at last his dreams are realized, and he has found gold. After the first hysteria, a realization of this condition dawns upon him. They have found gold but have no money and no food. So what's the use? The cheerful wife takes the reins and insists that he go with specimens of his find to the nearest camp and find a grub stake. He struggles across the desert, finds the camp, but is laughed at as a crazy man when he refuses to tell the location of the find, until he is assured of a stake. "The Gambler" is interested, takes him to his home, feeds him and makes a gambler's proposition. "Cut the cards. If I win, I'll give you $500 and the claim is mine; if I lose I'll grub-stake you and take a chance." In desperation the man agrees and loses. The "gambler" pays the $500 and leaves to inspect his bargain. He meets the wife who refuses to acknowledge his rights, but compels him to give her the same chance he gave her desperate husband. Agreeing, he loses, and not only relinquishes his right, but provides her and her baby with food, and stakes her husband.