Desperate for work, Johnny Barclay leaves Ma and Grandpop to join the newly formed Civilian Conversation Corps. On the way he meets cynical young hobo Roscoe "Rockie" Johnson, and, although Rockie believes that hopping freight trains is a great life, Johnny convinces him to join the Corps. At first the hardship of the Corps induces Rockie to quit, but he returns with a recruit, Lazy Bones. Since Rockie has no family, Johnny induces him to send twenty-five dollars of his thirty-dollar paycheck to Johnny's neighbor, Mary Jennings, who has been raising her little brothers and sisters since her parents died. On a two-week vacation, Johnny brings Rockie home to meet the family, and Rockie is surprised to find Mary to be a beautiful and independent woman. Mary and Rockie fall in love, but when Johnny proposes marriage to Mary, she does not give a definite yes or no.