For business reasons Hicks, proprietor of a face powder plant, desires a marriage between his son, Ned. and Alice, daughter of James Trent, one of Hicks' most wealthy customers. But Ned, who is a care-free boy, has set his heart upon marrying Kitty, of the shipping department in his father's factory. When Hicks learns of this he discharges Kitty and buys an engagement ring which he gives to Ned, with instructions to go and propose immediately to Alice. Alice lives with her father on a large suburban estate, quite a distance from Ned's city. Hicks hopes to kill two birds with one stone by having Ned secure from Trent a half-million-dollar order for face-powder at the same time that he asks for the hand of Trent's daughter. Ned sets out by auto for the Trent mansion. But first he has persuaded Kitty to come along with him, it being their intention to elope and marry at the home of the first minister along the way. By nightfall, they find themselves lost in an immense wooded district, and still unmarried. They stumble upon the home of a jolly old Confederate soldier, Colonel Martin, who receives them and offers the hospitality of his house for the night. Ned explains his plight to the Colonel and, learning that the Colonel is about to be evicted for non-payment of rent, urges him to go along with him and Kitty as their escort and chaperon. The Colonel consents and next morning the trio motor forth to the Trent mansion. They are followed by Alex Sweet, the petted, effeminate son of a rival face-powder manufacturer, who is also motoring to Trent's home in the hope of securing the immense order. Ned's party, as well as Alex's, put up at a tavern. Ned tells the Colonel that he must get to Treat's home ahead of Alex. Ned's auto is broken down and he is in a quandary. The Colonel solves matters by introducing himself, as a friend, to Alex, inviting him into a mint-julep drinking contest, and leaving him much the worse tor liquor. Thus Ned, the Colonel and Kitty reach Trent's mansion unimpeded. A ball is under way there. The affair is assuming a droopy, blasé atmosphere and Trent's socially ambitious wife wishes for some incident to thrill her fastidious guests. Ned arrives and solves Mrs. Trent's problem by a daring bit of tragedy. He introduces Colonel Martin as a Count, Kitty as a Countess, and suggests that, as a society novelty, Kitty, as the Countess, distributes samples of face powder to the guests. The novelty is such a huge success that Ned has no trouble in securing his order from the grateful Trent. Ned signs the contract just as the frantic Alex rushes into the room. Alex faints when he hears Ned has triumphed. Instead of proposing to Alice, Ned tells her of his intention to marry Kitty. He has promised his father to be home by a certain hour. Desperately pinched for time, Ned and Kitty are compelled to be married on a rapidly moving hand car which they have utilized in order to reach the nearest station. Arriving home at the appointed time, Ned confesses to his enraged Dad that he has just been married to Kitty. But Hicks' rage is appeased when he learns that Ned has been successful in obtaining the coveted order. His good humor is rendered complete when he discovers that Colonel Martin is an old war comrade of his younger days.