Private Eye Popeye sits in his office wearing a Sherlock Holmes-like suit and cap, in addition to his usual pipe. When he receives a phone call consisting of only a scream and a gunshot, he decides to trace the call along telephone wires with the aid of his magnifying glass. He ends up at a mansion owned by Olive Oyl and, after being welcomed by the butler, he is met by machine gun fire from the lady of the house herself. Reassured that he is indeed a detective, Ms. Oyl entrusts him with the protection of her valuable emerald as she fears someone is trying to steal it. As if on cue, both Olive and the jewel are snatched away, and Popeye promptly discovers that the butler did it.