Briar Jones is a young engineer who invents a version of the typewriter. But her success is not as promising as she envisioned. The twenty-fifth-anniversary celebration of the Franklin Institute is coming, and there will be a special exhibition. Wages and bets from rival competitors are made, and Briar has no choice but to go to her secret admirer for assistance.

Robert Socrates Abbott made a name for himself in Philadelphia. He’s a hero to young inventors and admired by his peers. Inspired by Briar, he agrees to help guide her through her inventing process. As they grow closer, an enemy from the past comes back to haunt Robert and attempts to destroy Briar’s chance to overtake the competition.