- Traveling saleswoman Mary Marbury thrashes a masher on a train when he tries to kiss a young girl in a tunnel. After the man and his female companion are escorted from the train, Mary encounters them again in New York City, where they attempt to marry the children of her wealthy employer, Jonas Abbott, then pose as cubist art instructors Fernando Poyntier and his sister, Marcia. Jonas worries that his son and Mary's fiancé, Raymond, is leading a frivolous life in the city's Bohemian community. Mary plots to incur the boy's jealousy by posing as an adventuress leading Jonas astray. When the Poyntiers suspect that the Abbott fortune could go to Mary instead of to them, they rob Jonas's safe and hide the money on his yacht, on which they plan to escape. Exhausted from dancing the fox-trot, Mary and Abbott rest on the yacht, and she discovers the money. When the crooks are captured, Raymond, realizing his love for Mary, proposes.—AFI
- Mary Marbury is a traveling saleswoman. Representing the firm of Abbott & Son, she boards a train. She encounters a male and female, who we later learn are crooks. The male forces his attention on another passenger, and attempts to kiss her as the train enters a tunnel. Mary saves the day by smashing the masher on the head with her bag. The two crooks go to New York, where the man takes the name of Fernando Poyntier, a Russian nobleman, and opens a new art school. Marcia, his female accomplice, poses as his sister. The crooks meet Raymond Abbott, the junior partner of the Abbott & Son firm, and his sister Lois. The young Abbotts become involved with their new "friends," leading Raymond to neglect his end of the business. This annoys Jonas Abbott, their father. When Mary returns from her trip, she is met with coldness from Raymond, for whom she has deep feelings. Mr. Abbott complains to Mary, explaining that Raymond and Lois are no longer satisfied at home, but instead, desire high living. He is worried that one of his children will end up married to one of the crooks. Mary devises a plan; she will give Raymond and Lois an "overdose" of the good life, and Mr. Abbott will go along with the idea, opening his home to the high rollers.
When Mary meets the "artists," she realizes they look familiar but can't place them because they have changed their appearance. In carrying out her plan, Mary nearly exhausts Abbott with outdoor sports, dancing, and so forth. Abbott's children begin to think that Mary and their father will end up getting married, thus cutting them out of a fortune. The crooks rob Abbott's safe and plan to get away on his yacht while everyone is busy dancing. But Abbott and Mary board the yacht just to rest for a bit. The yacht drifts out into the bay, and neither Mary nor Abbott know how to operate it. Mary discovers the stolen money and manages to get ashore for help, all while Abbott steers the craft in a circle until another boat comes to the rescue. Once the crooks are caught, Raymond realizes he has been a fool, and that Mary is the woman he really loves. Mr. Abbott goes to his upstairs room, soaks his feet in a hot mustard bath, and is relieved that the whole thing is finally over.
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