After he is expelled from college, Joyous Johnson finds a job as a publicity agent for the Coronado Hotel. At the hotel, he meets Marjorie Milbank, a clever businesswoman who is in town discussing the sale of her Texas ranch with Joyous' father. Unknown to Joyous, the senior Johnson needs Marjorie's cattle ranch to keep his packing house solvent, but she refuses to sell. Determined to get the hotel into the newspapers, Joyous breaks into Marjorie's room and steals her diamond necklace. When his employer tells him that the publicity is hurting business, Joyous dresses up in women's clothes in an unsuccessful attempt to return the jewels. Marjorie checks out without her necklace and heads for the next boat back to Texas, followed by Joyous, who eventually confesses his crime. To his surprise, Marjorie hires Joyous to manage her ranch and he defeats his father in a takeover attempt. Impressed by the change in his son, Johnson finally forgives the interference and embraces the new couple.