An insatiable boy's curiosity is drawn to his nearest neighbor, Dan Hammond, where he eventually learns the secret of The Mysterious Man With the Lantern. Intrigued by his lantern as it flickers amongst the woods, Chad trails him, but he doesn't learn Dan's secret until several weeks later. Chad's inquisitiveness gets the better of him, and he continues to sleuth, shadowing the man into the woods. Overexcited one evening, Chad stumbles and the man quickly turns, raking his lantern over him. Helping Chad up, Dan teasingly asks Chad if he is on a mission, too! Chad tells him that he wonders where he goes each night. Dan invites him to come along the following evening and see. When Chad learns the secret, he's astounded! Through that experience, he eventually fulfills his childhood dream, finding a gift more precious with Dan than he could ever have imagined, that changes his life forever!