Cross-Country Romance

High-profile heiress Diane North hides in Dr. Lawrence 'Larry' Smith's trailer to escape her own wedding. Larry discovers the stowaway and faces the dilemma of how to handle this unplanned passenger as they continue the trip. Diane claims she is Maggie Jonesy, a girl headed to a poorer uncle, which sets up the central deception of the journey.

Rather than hire a carrier, Larry opts to drive across the country to catch a ship bound for China. He hopes to complete his work and avoid a longer delay, while still trying to drop Diane off along the way. Diane remains determined to stay aboard, turning the voyage into a tense, improvised road movie.

Diane insists she is Maggie Jonesy, disguising herself as a poorer relative traveling to a distant uncle. Larry tries to figure out how to separate himself from his passenger, but her plan presses on. The lie begins to reshape their dynamic as they travel.

Larry makes repeated attempts to drop her off at service stops and towns, hoping to abandon the situation. Diane uses wit and charm to thwart his plans, turning the drive into a game of cat and mouse. The uneasy alliance slowly grows into a hesitant bond as they press toward San Francisco.

At a diner stop, two grifters recognize Diane and decide to sneak aboard the trailer. Their arrival adds a new layer of danger and comedy to the already tense journey. The group becomes a quartet under the same roof, living with mismatched motives.

The grifters con Orestes, the diner's cook, into giving them two ten-dollar bills for five. The con triggers a larger trouble and a police alert as the trailer heads toward Omaha. Larry and Diane realize their situation is spiraling, while the cooks and con artists proceed with their scheming.

All four are taken to the Omaha police station where Captain G. G. Burke sorts out the confusion. After interviewing everyone and uncovering the truth about Diane's identity, he releases them with a warning. The incident breaks the immediate tension but leaves Larry and Diane's relationship unsettled.

Shortly after the arrest, Diane and Larry decide to marry, sealing their strange cross-country romance. The spontaneous ceremony comes as a surprise but reflects their growing bond. The newlyweds continue their journey with their future still uncertain.

During another stop, Diane secretly calls her mother to intervene and try to stop Larry from going to China. She uses her influence to attempt to derail his path, hoping to preserve their newly formed partnership. The plan adds another layer of suspense to the road trip.

Larry hears on the radio that a famous doctor has found a cure, removing his reason to go to China. The news unsettles him and makes him reconsider his mission and his relationship with Diane. The moment marks a turning point in their evolving dynamics.

Larry discovers Diane's true identity and confronts her about the deception. He ends their relationship as their goals and trust collapse. The journey resumes with tension and uncertain futures.

On the return trip through Omaha, Larry is arrested by Captain Burke who suspects he kidnapped and possibly murdered Diane. The police confrontation heightens the stakes as the missing wife suddenly reappears seeking her husband. The truth still seems murky, and the tension hangs in the air.

Diane confesses that the news story about her disappearance was staged by her mother, undermining the motive for the trip and clearing the immediate misunderstanding. The revelation forces Larry to reassess his assumptions about Diane. The couple teeters on the edge of reconciliation.

Larry leaves again for San Francisco by air, time running short, hoping to pursue his work while preparing to salvage his relationship with Diane. The separation is painful but necessary to sort out loyalties and futures. The journey heads toward its final act.

On board the ship, Larry is invited to dine with the captain, only to discover the guest of honor is Diane, one of the owners of the shipping line. He initially storms out, but Diane persuades him to give their relationship another chance. The tale ends with a tentative reconciliation as the voyage continues.