Joe Meadows, who hails from a Kansas wheat farm, has prepared for a life at sea by reading books and, finally ready to pursue his dream of being a sailor, moves to New York City. He is unable to fulfill his ambition, however, as there is no work available, and so takes a job at Duke and Tilson's department store as a delivery truck driver. Helen Brown, a wedding gown salesperson who has been praying for the right man, decides that Joe is the man for her. In spite of several dates arranged by Helen's friend Jean, a fellow salesgirl, and Jean's sweetheart, Frank Munson, another driver, Joe resists Helen's charms. Frank teases Joe about the possibility of marrying Helen, which prompts Joe to beg for a job as a sailor. He is hired to work on a munitions boat headed for China and has only a few days before he leaves. Helen is devastated by this news, but Jean and Madge, a flirtatious salesperson, offer to help. Helen uses her own influence to induce the manager to offer Joe a job as dispatcher, but Joe declines. Joe attends the company picnic at a resort hotel along the Hudson River so he can flirt with Madge, but she pretends to leave to help a sick grandmother, and he is thrown in with Helen. Upon discovering Madge's ruse, Joe angrily deserts Helen and goes to his room to pack. Helen tries on a wedding dress purchased by her client, Mrs. Merrivale, that she has been entrusted to deliver. While she is outside on the moonlit lawn, Joe sees her in the dress and is finally overcome by love for her. While they are kissing, however, a riverboat whistle blows and Joe, once again mindful of his goal, is recalled to his packing. The thousand-dollar wedding dress is ruined by rain and a distraught Helen insists that Joe find a way to delay the Merrivale wedding until she can clean the dress. Back in the city, Helen confesses her misdeed to a sympathetic Mrs. Merrivale. The wedding is postponed when Joe gives the groom a black eye and is thrown in jail. He misses his departure and when released catches a tug boat that will meet the munitions boat. Helen joins Joe on the tug at the last minute. To Joe's surprise, he becomes violently seasick while still in the harbor. The tug is unable to catch up to the munitions boat and returns to land while Helen nurses Joe. Joe admits his love for Helen, and that he is no sailor, and they marry.