The Go-Getter

The US Navy airship Macon is damaged in a storm and crashes into the water. Helmsman Bill Austin stays by his commanding officer, helping the crew escape safely. The crash costs Bill a leg, forcing him to leave the Navy.

Back on land, Bill searches for work in San Francisco but faces a tough job market. He interrupts a meeting at Lloyd Skinner's lumber company hoping for a chance, but Skinner orders him to leave. This rejection pushes him to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

Bill meets Margaret Ricks in the reception area while seeking a job and misreads her as another hopeful applicant. He asks her out on a date, unaware she is Cappy Ricks' daughter. Margaret hopes Bill can win her father's confidence through a real opportunity.

Cappy Ricks and Skinner decide to test Bill with a nearly impossible assignment: sell half a million feet of unused skunk spruce. The challenge is meant to prove his grit and potential for leadership. Bill accepts the test, determined to prove himself.

On a single business trip across the western United States, Bill not only sells all the spruce but also generates orders for much of the company's lumber beyond expectations. His performance forces Cappy to reevaluate his potential for broader leadership. The trip marks a turning point in his career.

Cappy sends Bill to Seattle to buy the shortfall from a hard‑negotiating competitor. Bill negotiates through the obstacles and returns with the needed stock. The success strengthens his case for advancement.

As Bill's professional prospects improve, he and Margaret fall in love. He buys an engagement ring with his commission earnings. He shares his plans to marry, further entangling his future with Cappy's approval.

Cappy and Skinner stage the blue vase test to push Bill to the limit. He must buy a vase and deliver it to the railway station by eight o'clock, no matter the cost. Bill pawns Margaret's ring to raise the price, enlists a honeymooning Navy pilot to fly him ahead of the departed train, and succeeds, leaving Cappy impressed. This victory earns Bill a promotion offer to manage the Shanghai office.

Bill insists on marrying Margaret immediately so she can accompany him. Cappy tries to stop them by buying up all the staterooms on the ship, but the couple marries and manages to sneak aboard the vessel anyway. The union is sealed even as Cappy contends with the business implications.

Cappy learns that his own workers have gone on strike and will only negotiate with Bill. He sends an urgent radiogram instructing Bill to resolve the labor impasse and secure a deal. The tension tests Bill's leadership under pressure.

During the voyage, the captain refuses Bill's request to turn the ship around. Bill leaps overboard to pursue a better outcome, and Margaret follows him as the captain drops a lifeboat. They face a perilous moment while seeking to salvage the situation.

Cappy finds Bill and Margaret rowing back toward land, recognizing Bill's resolve and leadership. The ordeal strengthens the bond between Bill, Margaret, and Cappy as they navigate the crisis together.

Bill negotiates an end to the strike, convincing the workers to bargain with him. Cappy then decides to send Skinner to Shanghai to oversee operations there, signaling a new phase for the company’s overseas expansion. The resolution cements Bill's place in the leadership team.

For Cappy's sake, the couple agrees to live in his mansion, joining family ties with the business's ongoing success. The marriage and partnership solidify a durable alliance between Bill, Margaret, and Cappy. The story closes on a note of stability and shared purpose.