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- The prologue shows Cyrus returning from his club with some of the members, and the next morning, he finds the following note on the table, "Cyrus, I have endured your intemperance for the last time. I am taking the twins and going where you will never see me again. Matilda." Little Alma, his favorite twin, entered as her father was reading the note, her mother having returned to get the other twin's hat, and so Cyrus hurried her to the train with him and they were soon on their way out West. Matilda searched diligently for Alma, but hearing nothing from either Cyrus or the child, decided that they were both dead. Many years later, Cyrus and Alma, now "full grown" are seen in the west, while Elma, the other twin (also full grown) now married, starts west on a visit with her husband and mother. Chance brings them to the same town and trouble begins. Alma's friends mistake Elma for her sister, while Patsy, Elma's husband, after quarreling with his wife on this account, follows Alma home, and enters her abode to beg forgiveness. Her screams bring Cyrus to the scene, who throws Patsy out and turns him over to an officer. The next morning the twins and their father and mother arrive at court and a general reunion takes place.
- The first Universal motion picture released: dying Will Barton has to go to the mountains in search of health and is distracted thinking about leaving his beloved daughter, Netta, behind.
- Major Bughouser gets possessed with the idea that he ought to censor the movies, so he appoints a Board of Censors, every member of which must be exactly like himself. They visit a projection room of a film manufacturing company and as the film of a stirring drama is reeled off, they order cuts made in the picture which they consider essential, and the scenes in the picture are shown as originally produced, as they appear when the Bughouser Board is through with them. The original picture was already passed by the National Board of Censors, but Bughouser orders the National Board to be cut, and shows how he would like to do the cutting himself. The last scene shows the gallant Major filling up on his usual favorite food, a large dish of prunes.
- Charlie Chaplin, in animated cartoon form, visits the beach, has some fun at the expense of a female bather and gets into trouble with Mike the candy cane-loving cop.
- Enedy, a witch of Greece, curses the waters of Roma's fountain, so that forever after anyone who bathes therein becomes beautiful, but whoever drinks thereof, dies. Chicotio, son of a wealthy neighboring lord, with his father and retinue, visits Roma's father, the duke, and she and Chicotio are betrothed. In honor of the betrothal, the duke grants to the village maidens some of the magic waters that they may become beautiful. Yuro, a huntsman, in love with Zarus, Roma's maid, meets Zarus, and she, fearful lest her mistress find him, bids him hide. Later Roma comes to bathe in the waters and is met by Enedy, who wishes to tell her fortune. Chicotio, her lover, hurls the witch aside, and she curses him. Chicotio leaves Roma with the witch, who tells her fortune and that she will see her future lord in the reflection of the magic waters. Yuro sneaks from his hiding-place and gazes over Roma's shoulder as she gazes into the water. She sees him and flees. He pursues, makes love to her and wins her. Zarus, full of jealousy, tells Chicotio of this and he gets the duke and has Yuro thrown from the grounds. Zarus follows him and appeals to Yuro for love. He scorns her, and she, wishing death, drinks the poisoned waters and dies, Roma has promised to meet Yuro that night, and gets to the fountain at almost twelve. Here she meets Yuro and as their arms entwine the midnight hour arrives. Remembering the legend that at twelve the spirits of love's suicides arise from the waters, Roma attempts to flee, but Yuro tells her he will protect her. As she gazes in fear, the spirits arise, beckoning to her, and Roma dies of fright. Yuro seizes her, and with her body does the dance of death. Yuro kisses her cold lips and himself drinks the deadly waters, dying beside her. The duke, searching for his daughter, finds her and her lover at the fountain, and as his head sinks to the will of the gods, Enedy and the witch appear and laugh exultantly at the fulfillment of her curse.
- The Chief's son, Silver Water, returns from college and is met at the station by the tribe. The Indians make merry to celebrate his homecoming. Hal Benton, an easterner, rides on to ask his way to the hotel, where he is stopping with some friends, among them his fiancée, Veda Mead, and her father. Knowing that the Indian ceremonies will interest his friends, Hal obtains permission to come the next day and bring his friends. The Chief calls Morning Star, an Indian maiden, telling his son that she is to be his squaw. Silver Water is pleased with her. The next day Hal Benton and his friends arrive. While the others inspect the camp, Veda Mead amuses herself with Silver Water and ere long is thoroughly infatuated with him, while the Indian's vanity is touched by the attentions of the society coquette, and he promises to meet her the next day. Their little tete-a-tete is cut short by the entrance of Morning Star. The next day they meet and, after coquetting with Silver Water until he forgets his Indian sweetheart, the eastern girl gives him her calling card, upon which she writes "To my Indian Hero" and asks him to call upon her in the east. Several months pass, and Hal Benton and Veda Mead are preparing to wed, when a letter arrives addressed to Mr. Mead from Silver Water, telling him that as he is in the east, he will do himself the honor to call upon them that evening. To Veda, who had been reading of the Indians' lives and customs after her meeting with Silver Water, the news is very terrifying. Recalling how she played with him, she fears that he may now make trouble. She goes to the veranda and sits down to think over the situation. Suddenly she sees Silver Water in full war-paint and feathers coming up the steps, he sees her and advances. Touching her upon the shoulder, he beckons her to follow. She obeys. As they reach the garden be tells her of his love, reminds her of her promises when they last met and insists upon her fulfilling them now. She cries out, and her cry brings Hal. Silver Water tells Hal why he has come for Veda, and Hal agrees that she must go with him, but Silver Water is not satisfied. He throws down his knife and insists upon Hal fighting with him for the girl. At a given signal, both men start for the knife. The Indian secures it and soon kills Hal, then, throwing his blanket over the terrified Veda, he drags her off to his camp and commands her to fetch and carry and cook his meals. Veda sinks to the ground as Silver Water stalks off, but no sooner has he gone than Morning Star slips out from her tepee and, creeping down upon Veda, raises her knife to strike the girl dead. Just as the knife descends, Veda forces herself to rise, only to find herself in Hal's arms on the veranda, for the young man has been trying to awaken her to tell his sweetheart that their Indian friend, Silver Water, has arrived, and at that moment stands beside them in the most correct evening dress. At the first glance she gives him, Silver Water realizes that it would be impossible to ever win the white girl, so leaving her with Hal, he tears up her card and returns to the blanket and Morning Star, his sweetheart, before he has learned the white man's ways.
- Chief Mad Bull was well pleased, for was not Kottona, his daughter, sought by Morning Plume, only son of the powerful chief Big Moon, and had not that chief, accompanied by Morning Plume, arrived with many presents to ask that their children's marriage be celebrated within two moons? The old chief's peace of mind was soon cut short. Spotted Eagle, his favorite son, was taken ill with fever, and although the medicine man had done his best, the young brave grew steadily worse and would have died, but for Dr. Roy Wallace and Ben Allen, who had stopped to inquire the way to the Rankin Mine. There, the half-breed, who acted as an interpreter, prevailed upon Mad Bull to have the White Medicine Man treat his son. So skeptical was the old chief, that Roy and Ben were obliged to remain at the camp until Spotted Eagle had entirely recovered. Then they would have departed, had not Chief Mad Bull been stricken with the same disease. Roy agreed to remain until he, too, had recovered. Once more the two friends prepared to leave, when the half-breed appeared, to say that the old chief required their presence. Hurrying to the council, Roy was dumbfounded to have the Eagle Feather bestowed upon him, and to hear Chief Mad Bull declare that he was now entitled to marry a chief's daughter, as they needed his skill as a white medicine man, and Kottona should be his squaw to keep him among them. At last, prompted by Ben, poor Roy managed to stammer his thanks, and, the young doctor handed Mad Bull a picture of Mary, his little wife. To wed the chief's daughter would be impossible. Fairly beside himself, the Indian tore Mary's picture to bits, and had not Ben interfered, the conflict between Roy and old Mad Bull would certainly have proven fatal. As it was, the two friends were thrown into their tepees to await the morning sun, when Roy would be sacrificed to their Getchie Manitou, for after receiving the Eagle Feather, the Pale Face had repaid their great chief by not only refusing his daughter, but attacking him as well. Ere night, however, Onesta, the girl's mother, had apprised Morning Plume of the intended sacrifice, and he, by sending a messenger to Mad Bull, saying the whites were preparing to attack them, drew the chief and his braves to their camp. Instantly Morning Plume rushed in, released the two friends, then with Kottona and Onesta, hurried to Big Moon's camp, where, after sending the white men safely on their way, the marriage of the lovers was celebrated.
- Poor Major Wright was feeling thoroughly out of sorts, for of late, Hiram Ciders, the town constable, seemed to be making considerable progress in his courtship of Miss Judith Mullen. But could the Major have read the wealthy spinster's feelings aright, however, he would have found no cause for alarm, for so busy had the good lady been in looking after her niece, Flossie, that she had found little time for aught else. Not that "auntie" had any objection to Dick Morgan, as her niece's suitor, but she considered the girl too young to wed. Indeed, so closely did she keep watch on Flossie, that Dick, coached by the girl's governess, determined to put an end to their stolen meetings by boldly proposing for his sweetheart's hand. To Dick's consternation, "auntie," wishing to frighten away the young man altogether, pretended that she believed he was proposing to her, nor did she dismiss the boy until she had given him two very uncomfortable hours. Dick's turn for revenge came, however, when he met "auntie's" two admirers, and told each that the other had just proposed to the fair Judith. The result was a quarrel, ending in Major Wright challenging Hiram Ciders to a duel. Dick and James Hurley, who had been asked to act as seconds, had no intentions of having any bloodshed, and therefore carefully extracted the real cartridges from the combatants' revolvers and replaced them with blanks, then, sending a note to Miss Judith Mullen of her admirers' intentions, mentioning the time and place, they calmly awaited the appointed hour. Not so, Hiram Ciders, for Major Wright was far too good a shot to permit him to be calm. Nevertheless, owing to James Hurley's vigilance, the shivering constable was unable to slip away, as had been his intention, and was led pale and trembling, to the "field of honor." While the backs of the group were turned, he made a wild dash for liberty, so that when "auntie" arrived, she found only the hardy old Major. And so pleased was that lady at her hero's gallantry, that she promptly accepted him then and there, and Dick instantly seizing the favorable moment, was at last overjoyed to receive "auntie's" consent to his marriage with her niece.
- Swift Wind, a young chief, loves Dancing Fawn. In their ramblings they, too, see white wolves, which is an object of fear and veneration among the Indians, and return to the village. The two are betrothed by the old chief, but old Red Nose, the medicine man, demands her hand for himself. The chief, fearing his magic powers, considers. Dancing Fawn runs away to her lover. Swift Wind is taught a secret by an old trapper, "If a trap is baited with an animal's own hair the iron jaws will never fail to catch it." The Indian decides how he will overthrow his rival. At his instruction Dancing Fawn cuts off a lock of hair from the sleeping medicine man. With it Swift Wind baits the trap. The next day a wolf is caught and as the Indians approach the trap the beast turns into the medicine man. The hand of the great father has proven his love again and Swift Wind and his sweetheart are united.
- Eddie receives a letter from Frederick Gamble, the uncle and guardian of Edith Roberts, whom his late father desired him to marry, asking him to their house on Saturday to discuss the marriage, so he arranges for his valet, Lee, to impersonate him, while he goes as the valet. Edith persuades her uncle to allow her to play the part of the maid. They are mutually attracted, but each thinks the other a servant. The butler has left and Lee tells Eddie to assist Edith with the dinner. Lee has a terrible time with his oysters on the half shell. Jane is uncomfortable in the presence of her master and mistress. Eddie and Edith are getting along famously. Lee and Jane decide to elope and, slipping out a side door, are married at a church nearby and return and announce the event. Edith tells him she is the heiress and Lee and Jane fall in a faint. The aunt and uncle are delighted.
- Bob Madden returns home slightly intoxicated and his father angrily commands him to leave the place and shift for himself. The next morning he goes, leaving his father a note: "Dear Dad, I am going out West and try to make a man of myself. I hope some day you will be proud of me. Your son. Bob." His father relents and, after tracing him to the station, buys a ticket for the same place. In the meanwhile, Rob has arrived, and reading a notice that cowboys with outfits are wanted on the Carter ranch, he buys an outfit from a man near the station and starts for the Carter ranch. However, the foreman will not have him, as he confesses that he cannot rope, so Bob rides on until he comes upon an Outlaw's Camp, and is glad to accept their rough hospitality. In the meanwhile, the ranchman, Joseph Carter, receives his new automobile, but being unable to take his daughter, Jessie, sends her with the foreman for a ride. The machine breaks down and the chauffeur returns for parts, while the foreman takes his opportunity to force his attentions upon Jessie, her cries bring Bob and the outlaws to the scene. The foreman recognizes the outlaw chief and returning to the ranch, starts out at the head of the cowboys to capture the band. Bob has loaned Jessie his horse to return home, and the outlaws have just broke camp, so when the foreman and the boys return they only succeed in capturing Bob and hustle him off as an outlaw. Jessie arrives at the ranch, learns where the boys have gone, so together with her father, rides to the rescue, arriving just as his father comes along. The two fathers learn that they are old friends. The man at the station recognizes Bob, and general rejoicing takes place.
- In order to get a job as a cook on a ranch, a young girl disguises herself as a boy. Problems arise when several of the young women at the ranch fall in love with "him".
- Mutt and his dear colleague Jeff have the blues. While Jeff falls to thinking, Mutt, being in doubt as to what to do, takes a shove. Most of the time he manages to wipe his razor on the face of the shining dome of the hard-thinking partner. Once, however, he uses a piece of newspaper, and an advertisement, "Police Wanted," meets his gaze. Mutt promptly decides to join the force, much to Jeff's displeasure. At Police Headquarters he is thoroughly examined, physically and otherwise. Mutt becomes a guardian of the peace. Jeff is disconsolate and lonely. He, too, yearns for the blue uniform; but nature has been unkind to him. Roaming about the streets, he comes to a telegraph office. A large sign, "Messengers Wanted," causes him to halt and think. He finally decides to become one of the boys in blue. While "showing off" at the Police Headquarters, Mutt is astounded to see his confrere in uniform chatting pleasantly with the captain. Jeff has just delivered a message apprising the police officer of a planned robbery for that evening. Mutt is promptly detailed on the job. He starts out like a conqueror, but the burglars go about their work with Mutt as a witness. He does not arrest them because, well, because they refuse to believe him a policeman. At the station, when the facts are known, the captain and other policemen gently pick up Mutt and tenderly throw him out. Full of life and energy, Jeff comes upon his friend lying bruised and hurt on the sidewalk. He offers consolation, but Mutt will have none of it. Was it not Jeff and the message he delivered that caused his downfall? Mutt must be revenged. They're off! Stick in hand, Mutt chases Jeff over the marathon route. A friendly telegraph pole ends the run, for Jeff scales to the top and waves an affectionate adieu to his foiled chum below. And now, Mutt and Jeff no longer have the blues!
- Mr. Cutter, proprietor of a shoe store, finds business very slack. Billie and Ray are in the throes of their honeymoon and while seeing the town, the girl decides she needs a new pair of shoes. They wander into Cutter's establishment to select a suitable pair. Customers being few and far between, Cutter waits on the newcomers himself and his effusive politeness rankles in the bridegroom's chest. The bride appreciated the personal attention given her by the proprietor, but Ray takes her away and refuses to allow her to trade there. They go down the street quarreling. Mrs. Newlywed finally breaks away from her husband and returns to the store and buys a pair of shoes, leaving them at the store. The next day Ray meets his lawyer for a business conference. As they leave the office Ray sees Cutter loaded down with a mass of boxes and begins to suspect that Cutter is paying attention to his wife. His wife, meanwhile, has phoned the shoe store and requested Cutter to bring the shoes she had left. He not only takes the pair she selected, but also various others, an assortment, thinking he may sell her more shoes. In order to be sure of his suspicions Ray phones the shoe store and one of the clerks tells him that Mr. Cutter is fitting a particular lady customer at her home. The husband imagines the worst, and securing a gun, he hurries on home. He bursts into the house and finds Cutter fitting a pair of shoes to his wife's feet. He does not wait for explanations but begins shooting and he and Cutter have it up and down all through the house. Cutter escapes for a wonder, but still the irate husband pursues him and it is only when he reaches the protecting bulk of a traffic policeman that he stops to draw a breath. They explain to the officer their versions of the affair and the officer is successful in making peace between them. Cutter returns to the house for his shoes and as a peace offering presents the bride with a beautiful pair of shoes. Ray apologizes for his roughness and promises Cutter that all their trading will be done with him in the future.
- As Tetona sat before the camp-fire gazing at the sweet fact of the white woman in her locket, she pondered for the millionth time as to the owner of that face. Her foster-father, the old chief, professed total ignorance on the subject, but Tetona found that her skin was only darkened when exposed to the sun, and that, together with the locket and apparent inborn abhorrence for some of the Indian customs, caused her to sometimes question whether, after all, she was a real Indian Princess. Since Tetona, then Elletta Barnett, had been carried off during the attack on the prairie schooner, nine years ago, the chief bad been kindness itself to the "Princess Tetona." Only now he commanded her to wed the Prince, his son, creeping cautiously from her tent. Tetona stole quietly toward the woods. She could not, she would not marry the young brave. Fate favored her, for, ere the pursuing Indians could drag her back, Dick Morley galloped past and seeing the maiden in distress, caught her up on his horse and made a mad dash for the Barnett Ranch. The mother's instinct, Tetona's face, and locket thoroughly convinced Mrs. Barnett that at last she had found their long-lost daughter, and, overjoyed at the wonderful discovery, she went to call her husband. The Indians, however, had followed close upon the cowboy's heels, and the instant they observed their Princess alone, crept softly behind her and throwing a blanket over her head, bore her hastily outside. Here again Dick might have saved her had not the crafty Prince attacked him from the rear. He revived sufficiently, however, to tell the distracted father and mother which way the Indians had taken their daughter, but as Barnett ran to get the cowboys to rescue Tetona, the Indians surrounded him, and taking him captive, hurried him before their chief. To vent his wrath upon the maiden would have been unbecoming his dignity, but when the chief found Barnett in his power, his anger burst forth. Tetona, seeing the tribe engaged in a war dance around the unfortunate man, mounted the horse they had taken as they returned with her to the camp, and galloped back to the ranch. Luckily the cowboys lost not a moment in responding to her call, for the infuriated chief had stripped Barnett to the waist, painted a target on his breast, and had his braves drawn up to take aim, when they dashed to the rescue, and would gladly have placed the chief in his place, had not the girl told them of his unvarying kindness to her, and insisted upon giving him his freedom.
- A cartoon version of the Little Tramp character gets thrown off the boxcar in a cow town. He seeks employment as a farm hand, but is disappointed to learn that hard work is involved.
- This time Mutt and Jeff are not over-prosperous (a financial state of affairs to which they are no strangers) and, as is their usual wont, they get busy devising ways and means to make an easy living, the easier the better. Traveling organists have no difficulty in getting money; and as Mutt always was musically inclined, he undoubtedly could grind out the same quality and the same quantity of music that energetic Italian mountaineers regale us with. But what is organ music without a monkey? How to get a monkey, that's the question. Mutt's think-box gets in motion. It takes more than a little persuasion on his part to get little Jeff to impersonate the much-needed monkey. Organist Mutt and collector-monk Jeff soon begin making noise and incidentally some money. Business, however, does not meet with Mutt's most sanguine expectations, and, of course, he takes it out of the monkey. The dog-catchers, a tender-hearted bunch, free Jeff from Mutt's brutal clutches and take him away with a motley assortment of stray dogs. What does Mutt do without his monkey? What does Jeff do in the dog den? What do the dog-catchers do? They cut up such a lot of uproariously funny monkeyshines as to keep both young and old doing the continuous laughing performance till the climax is reached.
- The wife takes with her their small daughter, leaving the son to the care of the father. The forlorn woman wanders into a fishing village, and is taken into a kindly fisherman's family. To more surely separate herself from the world that knows her. She assumes her maiden name. Many years afterward the father and the son, now grown, pass through the village. The son becomes acquainted with his own sister, knowing nothing of the relationship, and falls in love with her. He persuades his father to spend his season at a summer resort nearby. Later, the son and the daughter are secretly married. The girl leaves a note for her mother, telling her of the act. The mother follows to the parsonage, and then the summer resort, where she overtakes the couple. The mother recognizes the father, and the young couple are told the horrifying news. Distracted, the girl runs away. After upbraiding his parent, the boy seeks out his father. Together they solve the tragic question which confronts them. Hand in hand they walk into the illimitable ocean until they are covered by the water.
- Roger Grant, foreman of the "Circle S" ranch, is engaged to Isabel Norris, the old ranch owner's daughter. Previous to a dance one evening, Grant receives the following letter from an official of the National Guard, "Anticipating an attack upon pumping station, Silver Lake reservoir, by the Federals, I request that you arm your cowboys and protect it until our troops arrive." Nunez, a Mexican spy, learns of the existence of the letter and that night enters the ranch house to steal it. Grant and Isabel return from the dance. She tells Grant to wait for her signal and then return. Shortly after his departure Isabel makes the appointed signal. An instant later Nunez comes from his hiding place, chokes the girl into insensibility and steals the letter. When Grant returns, he finds Isabel upon the floor, unconscious. Blame for the assault is laid upon him. He barely escapes with his life. The cowboys take after him. In the meantime Isabel finds a piece of lace from Nunez's hat. This, together with the fact of the theft of the letter, convinces her that Nunez is the culprit. She sets out to call the cowboys. In the meantime the Mexicans have attacked the reservoir. Grant battles with them single-handed and holds the great pumps until the arrival of Isabel and reinforcements. Nunez is captured and Grant vindicated.
- Mert, the station agent, loved Al the foreman, and Mert's father, the engineer, loved Al's mother, and Al loved Mert, and Al's mother loved Mert's father. However, Mert's father did not love Al, and Al's mother did not love Mert, so that kept things from being monotonous. Al invited Mert to the soda fountain, but when Mert found that he had no money she suspected that the attraction was Babe the dispenser of liquid refreshment. Herein she wronged Al's honest soul. Al found Mert's father making love to his mother and threw flour at them. Just then the train arrived, and with it Terrible Ted, the He-Vampire. Ma and Pa were sitting a truck, and Al sneaked up and tied it to the train as it pulled out. However, the end of the rope caught his foot and he was hauled along the track till Pa cut the rope and they all came home. Mert was making making eyes at Ted. His idea was to get into the safe while she flagged the train. He and his confederates had almost succeeded, when Mert managed to grab the bad in which they had placed the money and pull it up through a trap in the ceiling. They discovered her and pursued her to the roof. She jumped off, but they got her, and put her in a trunk. They then loaded the trunk onto a passing train. Al and Babe went to the rescue on a handcar. All of them arrived in the Great City, and the trunk with Mert inside was taken to a room. Al and Babe arrived, and Mert, looking out of the window, saw them. She wrote a note which she placed in the water pitcher and threw out of the window. Al snatched a bow and arrow from a child and shot a reply to her. He sent up a rope and Mert lowered the money to him. She then slid down the rope after tying it to the bed, and they all went off on the handcar, pursued by the villains in an auto. But the handcar reached the station first. Ted was not to be foiled, and be subdued them all with chloroform. She grabbed him, threw him off the train, and then returned with the money. Moving Picture World, October 27, 1917
- Mr. and Mrs. Smiff are a childless couple. Mr. Smiff visits a baby show, where he gets into trouble over a widow's child.
- An actress is recuperating at the beach, and is attended by her doctor who is in love with her. Eddie bids Betty, his sweetheart, goodbye, as she is going to the beach. Back at the store Eddie is told to take wax model No. 46 to the same hotel, to a salesman there. Betty and her father see him arrive at the hotel and think that the model is another woman. In the meanwhile Eddie takes the model to the salesman's room which is next to the actress's, and after leaving it there, he hastens down to Betty. She at once asks for an explanation, so he goes up to get the model. But the poor fellow gets in the wrong room and is detained there so long that Betty comes up and finds him in the arms of the actress. Of course the whole mix-up is explained away in the end, and Betty and Eddie as well as the actress and the doctor are all reconciled.
- At last the hopes of Col. Anderson and Major Carlisle, to unite their fortunes, seemed to be realized. Dick, the colonel's son, was still heart whole and fancy free, while the major's daughter, Leona, had just finished school. Accordingly, the major dispatched a letter to his friend stating that he and Leona would start for the colonel's ranch without delay. The major was in high spirits, and his daughter delighted at the prospect of a western trip; but after reaching the little hotel, where the blunt old gentleman enlightened her upon the object of their visit, her delight turned to indignation. The major threatened, pleaded and stormed, all to no avail; Leona stubbornly refused to consider her father's choice, and determined to even avoid meeting him if possible. At the Anderson Ranch things had not gone much better; Dick declared he was quite capable of selecting his own wife; then, shouldering his rifle, he had stalked majestically away. But ere long a heavy shower compelled him to seek shelter in a deserted shack, where, to his amusement he soon beheld a bedraggled, woebegone young lady paddling through the rain. Being reassured by his appearance and lured by the promise of a fire in the tumbled down stove, Leona gladly accepted his hospitality, and, before the rain ceased, they had become fast friends. The major met the young people at the hotel, and, as was his wont, without waiting for an explanation, at once ordered Dick from the place. From then on, stolen meetings became the order of the day; both son and daughter determined to outwit their stern parents, and it was not until the colonel and the major were almost beside themselves with rage that they accidentally stumbled upon the young lovers, and, when the truth was borne in upon them, they fell into each other's arms for joy, then stole quietly away to drink a toast to the little god of chance.
- To neglect his duty toward a bunch of hungry cowpunchers was what On Ching, the cook, had he been sober, would have carefully avoided. Experience had long since taught him this. Unfortunately the Chink was not sober and therefore failed to notice a large hole in the bag of salt which was emitting a steady stream into the soup. The boys were pounding loudly on the table. On Ching quickly filled the dishes and trotted in, but scarcely had he gotten back to the cook-house than the boys, who had taken one taste of the soup and risen in a body, were upon him. Forcing the remainder of the soup down the Chink's throat and throwing the dough he had been kneading over his head, they kicked him out, bag and baggage. Then, after the excitement was all over, sat in gloomy silence. It was thus that the boss, James Bedlow, and his daughter found them. Where could he get another cook on such short notice? Suddenly a happy thought seized Florence; she had been to cooking school and here was an opportunity to display her ability. Snatching up a large cook-book, she disappeared in the direction of the cook-house amid the jubilant shouts of the boys. An hour passed, still no dinner, then, as despair was settling upon them, the door opened and Florence, hot, but happy, appeared. Her heavily loaded tray looked very tempting, from a distance, and there was still more to come. As she returned with the third tray, however, she found the room empty, and tears of anger and mortification rose to her eyes. Had the boys peeped into the cook-house and seen the poor child's many troubles during that strenuous hour, the dog running away with the roast, the cats in the cream, and noted that her hands and dress were burned in many places, they surely would have choked down the sodaless biscuits and raw potatoes, likewise the steak, even though it was burned to a crisp. But being ignorant of all this, the boys lost no time in making good their escape and were mounting to ride to the only restaurant in town when two tramps hove into sight. This chance to dispose to dispose of Florence's cooking was promptly and eagerly seized upon, after which the hungry men galloped away. At the saloon and restaurant all might have gone well had not Big Bill gotten into an argument with the bartender, then, all supplies were refused. But the boys were not to be again outdone. Quickly they whipped out their guns, packed up what food and drink they had desired, tossed the money on the bar and backed out. The cowpunchers were preparing to enjoy their feast in the bunk-house when Florence appeared to announce Parson Conn and his good lady. Hastily they stowed their supplies in the wood box and lowered it out of the window, and although the old parson only remained long enough to offer up a prayer, sing a couple of hymns and take up a collection, it seemed an eternity before the boys were once more in possession of their precious wood-box. As the cowpunchers removed its cover, they fell back prostrated at their hard luck. Florence's burned steak, raw potatoes and stone-like biscuits met their eyes, for in coming back to return these delicacies, the tramps had espied the box and carefully substituted the one for the other. At that very moment they were sitting under a tree with the Chink, whom they had met on the way, cheerfully disposing of roast chicken, pie and choice whiskey.
- Dick Martin, foreman of the Circle E ranch, tells Colonel Gray that his mother is coming to visit them for a short time. The Colonel thinks it's a fine opportunity to invite his three nieces from the city, as Dick's mother could act as their chaperone. The girls eagerly accept the invitation, and start for the ranch. In the meantime two letters are delivered at the ranch. One from the girls to their uncle apprising him of their visit, and the other to Dick from his mother, saying that she was obliged to postpone her intended trip. Phil, the Colonel's son, together with Jack, a college chum of his, and Dick are downcast, knowing full well that the Colonel would not permit the girls to come without a chaperone. Jack comes to the rescue by impersonating Dick's mother. The Colonel is delighted at the appearance of Jack arrayed as Mrs. Martin, and loses no time in making himself agreeable to "her," much to the amusement of the boys. The girls arrive and immediately take a great liking to the chaperone, which fact is not relished by Dick and Phil. For a while things are lively at the ranch, with Jack having many narrow escapes of being more than once on the point of being discovered. The girls in their kimonos insist on taking down Jack's false hair and put it up in curl papers. Jack, of course, has to use considerable diplomacy. A shaving mug and brush almost gives him away, and the smell of tobacco also get the girls on the scent. Jack wants to enjoy a game of cards with the boys, and manages to get into their rooms only to be interrupted by the Colonel. Jack, however, pacifies the Colonel by saying that "she" is there to lecture the boys, and accordingly takes cards, bottles and glasses and throws them out of the window. In the midst of the festivities the real Mrs. Martin comes. Pandemonium breaks loose. Jack in his haste to get away leaves his wig in the Colonel's hands. Later, when himself again, he is introduced to the ladies, who forgive him. Grace, one of the girls, who has shown a great liking for the chaperone, learns to love Jack, much to the latter's delight. Dick and Phil also meet their future partners, and the old Colonel transfers his affections to Mrs. Martin.
- The two lonesome bachelors were to be lonesome bachelors no longer. Tom's father, the professor, was coming and with him Lucille and her chum, Beatrice. Dick would at last meet his friend's sister, while Tom was none the less delighted at the prospect of again seeing her chum. The entire party, including Matilda, the professor's maiden sister, arrived. The young people, however, worried very little about the good lady and her brother, but busied themselves in the pleasant occupation of becoming better acquainted. So the days flew happily by until a lover's quarrel bid fair to spoil both pretty romances. Luckily, at this juncture, an Indian strode past, and when the boys promised to take the party to their encampment where they might behold the noble red man in all his picturesque regalia, the young men were speedily forgiven. Once at the encampment, the professor insisted upon adopting Chief Pain-in-the-Face as an exhibit when delivering his forthcoming Indian lectures, and, although ignorant of what the old gentleman wanted of him, upon being assured that his services would be handsomely rewarded the young Indian readily consented. Their opinion of the Indian, however, underwent a sudden change when they beheld his disregard for knives and forks and his intense partiality for the professor's whiskey. After pocketing his winnings in a poker game with the boys, and disposing of what wine and whiskey he could find, the chief sought the room assigned to him. Instead he entered Matilda's and spying a bottle on the bureau, proceeded to sample same. It proved to be hair dye! With a howl of pain the Indian let it fall and staggered out, while Matilda sit up in bed screaming for help. Hearing the others coining, the poor fellow sneaked into the girls' room and crawled under the bed, where, after Lucille and Beatrice had fled in terror, he was finally found and booted from the house. The Professor, however, would not hear of his dismissal, but insisted upon the chief being reinstated, or he and the girls would leave for home. A hasty consultation resulted in heading of the Indian, taking his costume, and starring him for the encampment in a barrel, which he held up solely because they insisted. Dick was then painted and carefully dressed in Pain-in-the-Face's regalia, and so completely did it disguise him that not only was the professor fooled, but when the real Indian returned from camp, Lucille actually pulled her chum's hair for allowing the supposed Dick to make love to her. Here Tom entered with a minister, but sincerely regretted his haste, when he discovered that he sent his sister out to marry the chief instead of his dear friend. Fortunately, there were no witnesses handy, so that Dick arrived in time to take Pain-in-the-Face's place, greatly to the relief of all concerned, even the professor, who was forced to give his blessing, or have a real Indian son-in-law, so Lucille declared. Chief Pain-in-the-Face was quietly given his salary and requested to return to camp. The professor's interest in Indians had strangely subsided.
- While Bess, the ranch owner's daughter, is on her way to town, her horse goes lame. Bud, a wandering cowboy, happens along at this moment and takes a stone out of the horse's hoof. The girl hands him a flower, which Tom, the foreman of her father's ranch, had given her. They part, the girl to go to town, the boy to go on his way looking for work. He stops at a sign reading: "Cowboys wanted at the Circle K Ranch." On arriving at the ranch, the foreman takes a dislike to him, recognizing the flower the cowboy is wearing as the one he had given Bess. The owner of the ranch, however, likes the boy's looks and engages him, much to the dissatisfaction of the foreman. Bess returns home and is delighted to find the young puncher employed on her father's ranch. The foreman, observing the growing friendship between Bud and the girl, makes Bud's lot a hard one, calling him down whenever an opportunity presents itself and finally discharges him. Bess's father, when he hears of this action, re-engages the boy and discharges the foreman instead. Three other cowboys on the ranch, friends of the foreman, threaten to leave unless the ranch owner takes the foreman back, but the ranchman is obdurate and the four men ride off, threatening vengeance. A week later, as the boy is returning from the bank with money for the payroll, he is seen by one of the ex-foreman's friends and the news is carried to the foreman at the Lone Tree Saloon. They arrange to hold up the boy and give the ranch owner the impression that the boy has stolen it. Taking a short cut, they head Bud off and he is taken to an old hut, where he is bound and thrown into a corner while the men play cards and drink. In the meanwhile, the ranch owner is becoming anxious at the prolonged absence of Bud and sends the new foreman to the bank to see what is causing the delay. The foreman comes back to the ranch with the news that the boy left the bank hours ago. The owner orders all his men out to find Bud, accompanied by Bess. Coming to the cross roads, the girl decides to go the other way alone and comes to the hut. Looking through the window, she sees the men and hastens to the cowboys. They follow her to the hut and Bud is released, while the men are taken to the sheriff's office. On returning home, the father of Bess gives his consent to the marriage of his daughter to Bud.
- They called him Tahnidge the miser, and spoke in whispers of the golden hoard hidden away in his little cabin where no one was ever invited; they drew pictures of the old miser greedily counting this gold by a single candle, and wonder how his daughter, the fair Niada, managed to appear so happy. But could they have peeped into that same little cabin, they would have wondered no longer, for Smith Tahnidge fairly worshiped Niada and delighted in his gold chiefly for the protection it would give his daughter when she should be left alone. Then, the girl had still another cause for happiness; she and Bob Homer had been secretly engaged for weeks, and now awaited but the approval of her father, which, when he knew Bob thoroughly, Niada felt sure they would obtain. The miser, in going in search of his daughter, was passing Jim's saloon when the lovers appeared. Instantly a quarrel arose between the men and the result was one of Tahnidge's heart spells. This gave Will Danvers, gambler and all around crook, an opportunity to help the old man to his home. But his advances proved quite as fruitless with him as they had with the daughter, and he was compelled to leave without as much as a glance inside. That night, however, in peeping through the keyhole, he discovered where the old miser had hidden his hoard and. from then on, waited but for an opportunity to find the cabin alone. The opportunity came the next day, for, after intercepting a note to Niada from Bob and learning when she would be away, Danvers stationed himself at the side of the house and the instant Tahnidge stepped outside to call Niada, the gambler darted into the house. He had no sooner seized the gold, however, than the old man returned, a fierce struggle ensued, which might have proven fatal for the miser had not Bob arrived, for, being told by the boy that Danvers had read his note, the young man had hurried to the cabin to find out his motive. Tahnidge had scarcely time to thank his rescuer when he sank into unconsciousness, and the gambler, believing he was dead, ran to the saloon for the boys, telling them that Bob had killed the old man in an attempt to rob him. But as they started away with Bob, Niana appeared, and after restoring her father to consciousness, Tahnidge not only righted matters by sending the posse off with Danvers, but gladly gave his consent to the young people's marriage.
- Eddie and Edith are newlyweds ; Lee and Gertrude have been, married a long time, and she is stern with him. The boys go to a banquet and outstay all the other guests. At last they start for home, finding a flivver, which they induce to run by dropping a coin into the radiator. It runs wild with them and they cannot find the way home until they have the happy idea of following the tracks. When a turn comes in the tracks Eddie sees the milkman, and they follow him. Gertrude has gone over to Edith, who is frightened and thinks that something dreadful has happened to her husband. When the boys arrive together they shout to Edith to come and pick out her husband. She receives Eddie with joy, but Gertrude goes for Lee with a rolling pin.
- Again he had been refused, and this time George Martins knew it was final. If only Nellie could have trusted him, the cowboy felt sure it would make another man of him; that he could turn over a new page, so even Nellie Arnold would be proud of him. These gloomy thoughts gave him no excuse for beating his horse, at least so thought the girl's brother, Frank, who at once took the disappointed suitor to task. The result was a quarrel, which might have ended rather seriously for George had Nellie not interfered and sent her brother about his business, while the cowboy rode away, and thence out of the state. A year passed. Nellie in the meantime had married Jack Saunders and gone with him to his father's ranch, not far from where George Martins had settled. George follows Saunders from a bank and stealing from the house a large sum of money rides rapidly away. It was this very speed that attracted the attention of Nellie as she rode up to find her husband's parents in wild consternation at the theft. A bag of oats, however, gave her an idea. Her pony, she felt sure, would be able to keep the stranger in sight, and by blazing each turn of the road with oats, the boys could easily follow, capture the thief and get back her husband's money, so, snatching up the oats, she darted after him. Ere the third turn in the road was reached, however, George had observed that he was being followed. Dismounting behind the bushes, he held his gun in readiness for his pursuer, but, as she dashed up, he was dumbfounded to behold his old sweetheart. Quickly Nellie told him of her marriage to Jack Saunders, and implored him for his own sake to give her the money, so she might save him from the posse by blazing his way back to the ranch. Humbly and gratefully he complied with her request and hastened off in the opposite direction, while Nellie, true to her promise, led the boys back to their starting point, where, by showing her husband the recovered money, she prevailed upon him to abandon further pursuit.
- Mutt, limber of mind as well as of body, perceives a little tantalizing advertisement, sandwiched in the sporting columns of a newspaper, "Man wanted by attractive young widow to manage her $100,000 estate. No objection to poor man." Without much ado, he writes to Rebecca, the attractive young widow. Jeff, whose cerebellum is astonishingly well developed, slowly realizes that something is wrong with his elongated friend. He tries to investigate, but to no avail. Mutt is cautious and the affair is strictly a personal one. Everything comes to him who waits, even if his name should be Jeff. In fact, the moment Mutt departs to mail his billet deux, the little fellow starts in investigation a la Sherlock Holmes. The tell-tale advertisement is soon subjected to Jeff's careful scrutiny. Manlike, he quickly decides to manage the young widow and her $100,000. Mutt's and Jeff's letters soon meet in the interior of the same mailbox and exchange confidences. In due time, Rebecca receives the notes, and alas! she also notes the address on each of them, "23 Joy Street." "Ah! Evidently a joker," thinks the lady. She promptly dispatches a warm invitation to the unknown gallants, arranging meanwhile with the cook, old Mammy, to meet them. Mutt, as usual, is the first on the scene, and while enjoying a delightful tete-a-tete with Mammy, Jeff quietly enters, and hides behind an armchair. Though Mammy is disguised under a coat of white paint, she coquettishly holds the fan between her fair visage and Mutt's Cyrano-like nose. Jeff gets somewhat nervous, and slightly moves the chair. Pandemonium breaks loose. Mammy runs out of the room, screaming for help. Rebecca adds her bird-like notes to the tumult, while Mutt is bent on venting his ire upon his unfortunate little partner. They are finally ejected from the premises. Back in their 2 x 4 hall-room, they gaze at one another's discolored countenance, and with a friendly hand-clasp, the ejaculate, "NEVER AGAIN."
- As he read his uncle's letter, Archibald Willard merely shrugged his shoulders and heaved a sigh of bored resignation. Truly it was the master stroke of what he termed "Uncle Joe's tedious eccentricities," this offer of $50,000 if he would wed the daughter of his uncle's comrade, Col. Redmond. This meant a tedious trip to the Colonel's ranch, and even then Miss Moinai might prove entirely impossible. Still, as his fond mother argued, it was distinctly worth a trial. Then, too, mingling with hundreds of swaggering cowboys and riding bucking bronchos would be rare sport. Accordingly, armed to the teeth with guns and knives, he set forth, accompanied by the haughty Mrs. Willard. Major Joe Buford's kind offer, however, was not received at the ranch with such complacent resignation. Moinai indignantly declared that she had already bestowed her heart upon her father's junior partner, Lewis Shelby, at which the sly old Colonel pretended to be greatly surprised; but, in truth, seeing which way the wind blew, it was this fact which caused him to make the young cowboy his partner. Lewis' suggestion, therefore, that they give the Willards a reception they would long remember, met with hearty approval from all sides. He and Moinai would meet the mother and son at the station, and escort the stagecoach home on horseback in truly western fashion. At a given signal, a band of Indians, in warpaint and feathers, would surround the coach. They were to be led by Sour Bill, for whom the cowboys borrowed Kid Eagle's headdress, and with the aid of some brown house paint, which they assured the enraged Bill would surely wear off inside of a couple of months, he might well have been the proud possessor of the title they bestowed upon him, "Chief Pain-in-the-Face." The hold-up was to be followed by a thrilling rescue by the cowboys stationed in the distance, and the day's sport wound up by giving young Archibald an opportunity to ride the bucking broncho he had written he intended doing. The entire program worked like a charm. At the first sight of the savage Indians, Mrs. Willard fainted, while Archibald got to his knees and implored the redskins with such earnestness to spare his life, that it was only with the greatest difficulty they kept from laughing in his face. The cowboys then made their heroic rescue, and the Indians, selecting a soft spot, fell in a heap at the first sound of the rescuer's guns. Mrs. Willard still remained unconscious, so Moinai, giving her horse in charge of one of the "dead" Indians, clambered into the coach to revive the poor lady. The girl thought the sport had gone far enough, but not so Lewis; for the instant they reached the ranch, while father and daughter were taking care of Mrs. Willard, he led Archibald to the barn, and putting him aboard "Peanuts" started him down the road at a sharp clip, amid the shouts of the pursuing cowboys. "Peanuts" was the gentlest of the bronchos, so, at the most, the young man would only get a severe shaking up. This shaking up, however, together with a slight sprain and several bruises, which he received in falling, so cooled the tenderfoot's ardor for anything western, that he remained up half the night in his fear that they might miss the first eastern-bound train.
- The pair are staying at a summer resort at the beach. They both "spot" the arrival of the "peach." Eddie attempts to flirt with her, and she is coy but willing. Lee, too, cannot make his eyes behave, and a breach is beginning to appear in their friendship. Eddie finds that the girl is in her room and 'phones up to her, inviting her to take a stroll on the beach. She asks him if he is the one with "the winning smile" and he tells her he sure is. She agrees to meet him outside. Lee, meanwhile, has bribed the bellboy to spy on the girl, discovers the arrangement and beats Eddie to the girl. When Eddie comes in looking for the girl he sees her and Lee strolling on the beach. He hires a boy to feign drowning and when Lee bravely tries to rescue him, the kid jeeringly swims off. While Lee is playing the brave rescuer, Eddie gets the girl and takes her off for a stroll. Both the boys try to get the girl to marry, but she holds off and finally leaves for home, each of the pair getting identical letters, telling them that the boy that arrives at her house first will receive good news. There is a dash for the station, Eddie getting the lead by hiring the only auto in sight. Lee gets a motorcycle. There is a hot race between the two. Both catch the train and start on their journey glaring at each other. In a convict camp there is a row and convict 325 makes his getaway, catching the same train as the love-struck twins. The guards, seeing the convict catch the train, wire ahead to have him stopped. In the train, the convict removes the clothes of the sleeping Eddie and eludes the officers, while Eddie is taken for the crook. He escapes and in turn gets Lee's clothes. Lee is mistaken for the convict and Eddie haughtily denies that he is Eddie's friend. The melee ends by both getting free of the officer and with an even chance to reach the girl's house. Through a ruse, Eddie gets there first and is asking for the girl when Lee dashes up. The maid tells them that the girl has gone, and on seeing the woebegone expressions of the faces of the "pair," hands Eddie a letter saying her mistress left it for the young man that arrived first: Eddie gloatingly looks at his rival while he opens it to read the blissful news, but his expression quickly changes when he receives a curt note saying she has gone to marry "a real man."
- Tim, an outlaw, is entirely unsuspected, even by his best friend, the sheriff. Tim has always worn a disguise and he has shown it to but one person, Josie, the girl he loves, and who promises to marry him as soon as he turns over a new page. Josie lives with her Uncle Ben, owner of a gambling house. Tim writes her to be ready to marry him at once, as he has tackled his last job. It is the robbing of a bank, and the sheriff, who is home indulging in his favorite pastime of cards, is notified and starts out to trace the robber. He divides his men, himself setting out alone, but Tim has gotten a good start and, after taking off his disguise, he rides up to the gambling house, which Ben keeps, and secures a room for the night. As this gambling house is also a hotel, the tired sheriff also arrives and asks for a room and is told that all of the rooms are taken, but that he can bunk with Tim. He is quite satisfied and goes to bed. The next morning, however, he awakens first and is astonished to see Tim's disguise lying near his friend's bed. Upon close examination, he is satisfied that Tim has robbed the bank, as the money is in a small satchel with Tim's tools. He takes Tim's gun and commands him to surrender. Tim, taken wholly by surprise, is forced to do so, but pleads with the sheriff not to hand-cuff him or tell the people of the hotel, and he will accompany the sheriff quietly. The sheriff agrees and the men go down to breakfast, after which, much against Tim's advice, the sheriff enters the gambling room and starts to play. Cards are his one great weakness and, when once started, he plays on and on. Noon, evening, and midnight come and he never stops until not only his own money, but that which Tim returned to him from the bank is swept away. Tim finally gets the sheriff to their room, and urges him to drink. After the sheriff has fallen asleep and the gambling room closed for the night. Tim takes the sheriff's gun and his own tools and creeps cautiously downstairs, blows the safe, secures the money that the sheriff lost, and which belonged to the bank, and returns to his room. In the hall he meets Josie. Tim tells her what he has done and that he is returning the money to the sheriff. He enters his room and writes a note, telling the sheriff to return the money to the bank and not to make a fool of himself again, after which he meets Josie again, and together they go away to commence life anew.
- Young Jack Russell goes to spend his two-weeks' vacation at the seashore, where he meets a pretty girl chaperoned by an elderly man. He falls desperately in love with the girl but, in picking up the old fellow's card, he realizes that the daughter of "Willis Smithson, retired capitalist," is too far above his station. Love, however, sharpens his wits and going to a printer, has some cards made reading: "Jack Russell, Capitalist." At the hotel, the two men exchange cards and Jack soon finds himself engaged to charming Grace Smithson. Jack's little bluff grows, for circumstances call for more bluffing. Going to town, he rents a flat, puts furniture in it at one dollar down and one dollar a week; hires servants; and returns to the seashore. Father and daughter are leaving the next day and Jack, anxious to make a ten-strike. Invites them to spend the night at his modest little apartment. So impressed is the old man with the beautiful home that he actually tells Jack to marry tonight, rather than wait six months, and before the young fellow knows what's doing, a minister has been called and the nuptial knot is tied. When alone, Grace breaks down and tells hubby that father is but a poor bookkeeper in a furniture store. Jack laughingly replies that he, too, is far from being a capitalist. The next day, while at work on the books in the furniture store, Smithson comes across the entry of his son-in-law for furniture taken on the installment plan and the sad blow almost overpowers him. He dashes out of the office and, arriving at the grand borne, finds a "TO LET" sign with a note appended thereon, stating that Jack Russell had removed to the Cupid Apartments. The newlyweds are in the midst of their first meal when papa puts in an appearance. Jack admits that he has indulged in a little game of bluff and that the old man was party to the game. When shown his own misleading card, Smithson relents and the "dear children" are blessed in true parental style.
- It was useless, Helen Bright could not and would not marry Clarence Richman, so, leaving a note for her father, the girl boarded a train for the west, meaning to remain at her uncle's ranch until Col. Wood B. Bright had agreed to pester her no further in regard to that detested fop. Arriving at the little western station, Helen looked around for a conveyance; none was to be had, and it looked very much as if the young woman would be forced to walk, when her uncle's neighbor, young Bowin Good, mounted her upon his horse, and as he walked beside her extolling the many beauties of the west, Miss Bright once more congratulated herself upon her wisdom. This was indeed a glorious section of the country. So the weeks slipped past, and Helen's opinion of the west, enhanced by the constant companionship of Bowin, steadily increased. One morning, however, her complacency received n rude shock; Uncle Bill had a telegram from her father in which the old gentleman declared he and Clarence expected to arrive the following day and to have n minister ready. In despair, the young people carried their troubles to Actor Fairly Wise, who was spending his vacation with Bowin. When Helen declared that Uncle Bill had not met his brother for fifteen years and gave a description of the Colonel and his would be son-in-law, the actor fairly beamed upon them with satisfaction. His plans were soon formed; he would meet the two men on the road, and by asking aid for a friend, would induce them to follow him into the woods. Once there, he would be joined by Bowin and together they would force the newcomers into a deserted aback and compel them to drink enough liquor to muddle their brains. After which they would be made to hand over their clothes and dress in a couple of convict suits prepared for the occasion. Then, with the aid of the actor's make-up, they would quickly transform themselves into the Colonel and the fop, respectively, and hasten back to the carriage, command the driver to take them to Sheriff Ketchem's, whom they would put upon the track of the two "escaped convicts" to gain time, then dash up to the ranch. Here Helen and her supposed Clarence would be quickly joined in holy bonds of matrimony with the consent and blessing of Uncle Bill, at least. On the following day the actor proved himself to be an artist indeed, for so remarkable was his make-up and so excellently did he play his part that for a moment even the Colonel's daughter was deceived. The surprise of the day, however, came when the sheriff and his men brought in the now merry Colonel, for instead of venting his displeasure upon Helen as she had expected, she was given his blessing and actually complimented upon her independence and spirit.
- Bill Rodney was an ideal father, when sober, but as Jess very curtly observed, he was seldom sober. Indeed, it was this fact which caused Mrs. Harmon to look with disfavor upon Walter's prospective bride, so she explained in her letter to the girl. When Walter appeared, Jess placed this letter before him; then, calling her brother Jack, together the young people went over the situation and decided upon a plan of action which they hoped would thoroughly frighten and cure and old man. Hurrying to the sitting-room, they quickly sprinkled the floor with whiskey, then overturning the furniture and disheveling their hair, each grasped a bottle and waited. Ere long Bill Rodney hove into sight. Instantly there came a yell and a volley of blank cartridges from the sitting-room. But the old man had simply time enough to put his head in at the door and observe his son and daughter in what he supposed to be a thoroughly intoxicated condition, when he was grasped by one of the boys and helped through the door. From the steps, upon which he landed in a sober but somewhat dazed condition, be was hustled off to the nearest tree and securely tied with a strong rope, then his three tormentors proved their good marksmanship by deliberately breaking the bottles placed on his head and in either hand; after which they hastened to the barn, mounted their horses and galloped off for the saloon. Sooner or later Bill would show up there and they meant to be prepared for him. True enough, no sooner had the hired man released the distracted father, than he ran to the saloon. The trio, however, had been too quick for him. Already they had made arrangements to pay for what damages might occur, and now, with Jess in a side room, the boys were making things lively at the bar, when Bill appeared and was forced to foot the bill. But the worst was yet to come. Reaching his sitting-room door, he heard cries for help and upon opening it found the Prohibitionist whom he had scoffed earlier ill the week, kneeling in the center of the room pitiably begging for his life, while Jess, Jack and Walter danced wildly around him, flourishing their revolvers. The Prohibitionist, with a sly wink at the terrible trio, suggested that they might be induced to sign the pledge if Mr. Rodney would set the example. Eagerly the unhappy father consented, promising never again to touch the demon drink.
- Dorothy lives with her Aunt Jennie. The aunt gets the note which Joe has written the girl: "Dearest, I'll be over this afternoon, and if your old maid aunt don't consent to our marriage, I'm going to steal you. Joe." As soon as Joe appears, she sends him away, telling him that her niece is much too young to marry. Joe, who lives with his Uncle Bill, hurries home, and after a good deal of pleading Uncle Bill agrees to go to the aunt to try and get Aunt Jennie to consent to the union of the young people. He goes, but Aunt Jennie, thinking that Uncle Bill is proposing to her, accepts. Uncle Bill is both angry and miserable and turning on Joe, he absolutely refuses to help him further, declaring that one fool in the family is enough. Aunt Jennie writes a note to her rector, and sends it by Dorothy: "J.B. Chapin, Reverend Sir. Will you kindly call at my house at three o'clock, June 24th, to perform a marriage ceremony. Yours very truly, Jennie Meldon." As soon as Dorothy shows it to Joe, instead of allowing her to deliver it he hurries with it to the bunk house, and there he and the boys plan a reply from the rector to be delivered to Aunt Jennie on the day of the ceremony: "My Dear Miss Meldon, Owing to an attack of rheumatism, I will be unable to come to your ranch. However, if you will call at my house, I will be pleased to perform the ceremony. Yours sincerely, J.H. Chapin." The happy day arrives. The big barn is handsomely decorated and a feast prepared for the guests. The boys watch for the minister, and as soon as he arrives, hurry him out of the way, while the foreman enters with the note he is supposed to have written. Aunt Jennie is much annoyed, but bound not to be disappointed, insists upon Uncle Bill going with her to his home. Upon their arrival, however, they find a note pinned to the door: "Have gone to Meldon Ranch. Will return about 6 o'clock. J.H. Chapin." Puzzled and angry, Aunt Jennie hustles Uncle Bill back to her ranch, only to find that Dorothy and Joe have been made one by the minister she had called to the house.
- Although a somewhat stern father, John Dentworth aimed to be a just one, but now he felt at a loss just how to proceed. The mortgage which Jake Schroder held would be foreclosed to-day unless Jane consented to marry the young man, and that she would take Schroder in preference to the Easterner, Bob Henderson, Dentworth doubted most seriously. Then if she refused, what? Besides lifting the mortgage, would he not be securing his daughter's future happiness if he forced her to accept Schroder? An honest, wholesome, good-hearted young man whom everybody liked, and who, Dentworth argued, would surely make a better husband than the Easterner. At this juncture his daughter appeared and he braced himself for the ordeal, and an ordeal it proved, for Jane, as he had feared, absolutely refused to obey even his commands and he found that instead of going to her room, as he had ordered, she had evaded him with the aid of her brother's hat and coat and hurried out to meet Bob Henderson. Fortunately he and Schroder discovered the lovers before they had an opportunity to get away. So, sending Jane to the house, he struck Bob a stunning blow with the butt of his whip and would have repeated his attack had not Schroder interfered. The Easterner, however, bore him no grudge, but hastened to his hotel to await Tim's arrival, as Jane had promised to send her brother to him should she need his aid. And need it she did, sooner than she had expected. For both her father's anger and Schroder's jealousy bad been aroused in finding her with Bob, so that her final appeal to them had fallen upon deaf ears, and she found herself locked in her room to await their cowboy-preacher. Bob had, therefore, scarcely arrived at his hotel and gotten horses in readiness for immediate flight when Tim came panting up with the note from Jane which she bad succeeded in throwing out of the window to him. And though he and Tim made all possible speed, they would scarcely have arrived on time, bad not the cowboy-preacher insisted on removing his "preacher outfit" and solemnly hiding his Bible before he would accept a drink, and then quite solemnly turning back into the "preacher" before he would allow the prospective bride to be admitted. As it was Jane had hardly gotten to the bottom of the ladder placed at her window when her father appeared above. But although she and Bob had had but a few moment's start, they succeeded in getting out of sight, dismounting and sending their horses adrift to throw her enraged father and Schroder off the scent, and stealing back to the house, where, as they expected, they found the cowboy-preacher. For the moment Dentworth and Schroder galloped away in pursuit the cowboy-preacher all at once became all cowboy. However, having finished the bottle, he again donned his clerical robes and. feeling in a jovial mood with the world in general, Bob and Jane, aided by Tim and another cowboy, had little difficulty in persuading him to perform the marriage ceremony. Only the mortgage remained now to worry the young bride. But Schroder, upon finding he had lost. lived up to his reputation of big-heartedness and actually insisted upon Dentworth accepting the mortgage as Jane's wedding gift.
- "A Revenuer!" The one word that strikes terror to the heart of the moonshiner. So that a stranger who wanders too near the vicinity of the illicit distiller is apt to receive a gentle warning in the form of a bullet that he is on dangerous ground. It was one of these "warnings" that Frank Parmeley had received from the Nelsons, father and son, when Nelson met him and after satisfying herself that he was not a revenue officer took him to their cabin, dressed his wounds and was about to advise him to profit by the lesson when she became aware of a face in the window. It was that of her sweetheart. Jack Geering, although this she did not learn until he came to her aid in preventing her brother Jim from again firing upon the retreating form of the stranger. As a result of his interference, however, Jack was ordered from the place, but this did not keep him from calling whenever he found the coast clear. Nance would not have had him otherwise, still the young mountaineer's masterful manner of wooing led her to believe he might think her too easily won, and as a consequence, when a few days later he attempted to put his arm about her the girl feigned anger and ran into the house. This piece of coquetry, however, came near turning out rather seriously. for at that moment Frank Parmeley appeared with a book and a box of candy for the young lady, but upon meeting the stern glances of Jack hastily remembered a previous engagement, while Nance, humiliated and angry at his cowardice, threw his presents after him. This little incident had consumed so much time that Bob Nelson now returned to find Jack again upon his premises, and, although he was allowed to depart with merely another warning, Nance knew from her father's tone that this would be the last. It was small wonder then that she turned pale with excitement when a couple of days later she beheld her father and brother gazing earnestly through the spy-glass and getting their rifles in readiness. As her father passed into the house she managed to slip the glass from his pocket and as she looked her worst fears were realized! It was Jack, coming up the mountain! When her father had looked a few moments before, it had not been Jack, but Frank Parmeley he had seen. Ignorant of this, Nance grasped the rifle which stood by the porch and with a rock quickly knocked off the hammer, rendering the weapon useless. Then when her brother appeared she distracted his attention while she took the revolved from his holster and tossed it into a clump of bushes. And this was very fortunate for Frank, for scarcely had Nance started down the mountain to warn her sweetheart than the valley man came strutting on, but seeing the Nelsons' intention, although they were powerless to harm him until they could get into the house for other weapons, he took to his heels and only stopped to beg protection of the lovers. Being assured that he was not a revenuer and not wishing to see innocent blood shed, Jack commanded the terror-stricken man to lie down while he fired a shot in the air, and as the father and son came hurrying up declared that they had arrived too late. It so pleased the Nelsons that Jack had sided with them that they at once gave him their hands and all enmity was at an end, while Frank, as soon as they were safely out of sight, lost no time in making good his escape.
- Two couples en route to Catalina Island on a steamer became entangled. The young man, engaged to an old maid, flirts with a young girl. The father objects. He tries to have the girl kidnapped, but the old maid is carried off instead.
- John Arnold is a fugitive from justice, charged with a crime of which he is innocent. One night be pays a visit to his home town and sends a note to his sister to meet him at an appointed place. In her excitement, Mabel tears the note in two, one-half of which falls to the floor as she hides the portions in her dress. Throwing a shawl over her head, she hurries from the house to meet her brother. Scott Mabel's husband, is of a very jealous nature. Returning home in the absence of his wife, he finds the part of the note which Mabel had dropped, reads it, and believes his wife guilty of being untrue to him. On returning, Mabel is confronted by her husband, who demands that she tell him the name of her lover. In order to shield her brother Mabel refuses to talk. Scott goes to his room, packs suit case and disappears. The following morning Mabel finds letter from Scott, saying he has drowned himself. A searching party, on dragging the river for his body, come across Scott's hat and coat (which he had purposely placed there) and all believe him dead. Two years later, Mabel, having to look around for a means of livelihood, becomes governess to the six-year-old child of Doctor Robert Ford, a widower. The child loves Mabel at once, the doctor later. He gains her consent to lead her to the altar. In the meantime. Scott and the fugitive brother have met in the mines in the Colorado mountains and neither knowing the history of the other, by an inscrutable decree of Fate, they become partners and close friends. Both remain in ignorance of each other's past life. Mabel, having learned at last of her brother's whereabouts, writes to tell him of her husband's (Scott's) jealousy and suicide, enclosing in the same letter the other half of the letter which had caused so much pain. Scott, upon seeing the handwriting and postmark upon the envelope, believes John to be the lover of his wife and he endeavors to get John's gun with which to shoot the supposed-to-be destroyer of his home. After a severe struggle, Scott is subdued and explanations follow. Scott compares the half of the letter he has always carried, since discovering what he thought his wife's perfidy, and finding the words and indentures complete, is broken in spirit, and in penitence starts for the east, a race with time, to repair the ruin his jealousy has wrought. Heart failure, which he has contracted through his passion and brooding during the interim, prevents him making great speed, and he arrives upon the day of the wedding of Mabel to the doctor. He witnesses the ceremony through the window and attempts to ascend the steps leading to the house, but the shock has aggravated his complaint and he passes away upon the doorstep of the man who has just claimed Mabel for his wife.
- After a quiet honeymoon, Mr. Newly Wed and his wife settle down. Newly Wed's mother is interested in Spiritualism and during a big meeting she decides to surprise the newly-married couple with a long visit. Mr. Newly Wed makes the acquaintance of Jim Smith, who spends the day being a "blind man," while at night he dresses in imitation of the "devil" and carries an advertising sign through the streets. Mother-in-law arrives at the Newly Weds' home, while Mr. Newly Wed is away, and changes the arrangement of the different rooms and Mr. Newly Wed arrives in the midst of the confusion. He protests but he receives scant consideration, and mother-in-law asks to be shown about the house. She picks out Mr. Newly Wed's bedroom for her own and in spite of vehement protests proceeds to take charge. To cap the climax she informs the Newly Weds that on that night she intends holding a party for her friends with demonstrations from the spirit world. To quiet his raging temper Mr. Newly Wed proceeds to a local bar and soon is filled with spirits himself. Outside he runs across his old friend, Jim Smith, dressed in his "devil" suit, and through the medium of a ten dollar bill persuades Jim to fall in with his plan. At Newly Wed's home Mother-in-law has her chosen companions and is entertaining them with manifestations of the spirit world. She tells them that as a grand finale she will request a visit from a well-known personage of the spirit world. All are waiting expectantly when suddenly the door opens and Smith, in the costume of the "devil," enters. There is a general stampede and Mr. Newly Wed shows Jim his mother-in-law, requesting that he keep on her trail. Mother-in-law makes a hasty retreat with the "devil" in close pursuit.
- Mutt and Jeff are seen in their room, confronted with the serious problem of procuring breakfast. After some very deep thought, Mutt hits on a plan, and Jeff is dispatched to a neighboring grocery store, full of instructions as to how to bring home the eggs, to say nothing of "the bacon." No distance is too short, it seems, to provide adventures for this adventurous little cuss, and the usual comical situations and obstacles appear, and are also as usual, met and overcome in the usual comical manner. Returning to the expectant and hungry Mutt, picture Jeff's dismay and Mutt's disgust upon the discovery that, the purloined hen fruit is "of a vintage," and has acquired everything in the way of odor to offend the sensitive nostrils of Mutt: Jeff "gets his." They must eat, however, and it's up to Mutt. A newspaper "ad" for waiters catches his eye and looks good to him; waiters surely have a chance to eat. So sallying forth hopeful and determined, the café in question is reached, and jobs secured, and then trouble and fun begin, and things move fast and furious, climaxed by the arrival of an escaped lunatic with an appetite. Jeff, in the meantime, has been made chef, the former incumbent having been removed through the machinations of Mr. Mutt. The lunatic engages the funny fellows as his personal bodyguard, with promise of large sums of money in return for faithful service, which is eagerly pledged by the enthusiastic Mutt. The arrival of the keepers from the asylum, is the signal for a general mix-up. The head waiter decides that everybody is crazy, and even fears for his own mental equilibrium, if the new help is not immediately disposed of. On his complaint, Mutt and Jeff are also seized as lunatics, and in a frenzy of funny fits, are dragged off to the foolish factory. This is one of the best of the "Mutt and Jeff" pictures, which by the way, are showing marked improvement with each succeeding release. Their popularity is still growing, and deservedly so.
- Jack and his party are camping near the Mexican border, and while riding near the camp, he saves Mr. Rice, the owner of the Silver Dale Mine, from the hands of ruffians, who had been hired to take a certain document from him by Don Pedro, owner of a rival mine and a villain in heart. With the aid of this document, Don Pedro hoped to gain possession of the Silver Dale Mine and drive Mr. Rice from the town, but the arrival of Jack in the nick of time saved the day, and Mr. Rice returned to Jack's camp as they were about to move on to the town of Silver Dale. Arriving at the camp they are surprised by the bad men, who try to make a raid in order to get the papers. The villains are beaten and return to their master, Don Pedro, who flies into a rage and insists that by hook or crook he must have the deeds. The leader of the villains asks for one more chance. The old Don hits on a plan and unfolds it to his hirelings. He writes a fake message to Mr. Rice to come at once to the mine, and gives it to the villains. They bribe a boy to deliver it to Mr. Rice. The boy does so, and Mr. Rice hands it over to Jack, who is in the office with him. They decide that it might be a hoax, but they can do no better than go over to the mine and see, so giving strict orders to the bookkeeper to keep a close eye on everything during his absence, he and Jack leave and are no sooner gone when the three villains enter, and overpowering the bookkeeper after a terrific struggle, they find the paper they are looking for in the safe and lose no time in getting away, As they are leaving they are seen by Jink's two partners, who give chase. Mr. Rice and Jack on the way to the mine are surprised to see the three villains go by chased by his two partners. They join the chase. On returning to town with them they see Don Pedro and his two friends. So, hiding behind a tree, they send the leader of the villains out in the center of the road at the point of their guns and the old Don, riding up asks for the paper that he ordered him to steal. Jack rides out and captures him and his party. The prisoners are handed over to the Sheriff and taken away to jail. The deeds for the mine are once more returned to the mine owner.
- How easily things go wrong; but two short months ago they had all been so happy, then Sid was hurt in the mine and, although, for the sake of their feeble old grandmother, both landlord and grocer had been most kind, now they were growing inpatient and Bess saw only one way out of the difficulty. She must get work. Easier said than done, for at each place the girl went she always received the same reply, "We want men, not women." Returning after a hot, weary search one evening, Bess found Granny at work upon Sid's clothes. If she only dared! With just a little alteration the things would fit, and then she would be that gladly accepted wage earner, a man! Quickly donning the suit, the girl looked at herself in the mirror; but alas and alack, her hair still betrayed her, it was such long, curly hair too, but with a sigh she realized that there was no other way. So, snatching up Granny's big shears, she set to work, and the next morning an eager-eyed "boy" was quietly stealing out of the house when Grandmother Lorey stopped "him." Explanations were reluctantly made, and then, although the old lady begged her granddaughter to give up the wild project, Bess darted out and sped toward the Cooper ranch, where she had called the previous day. Once there and finding that they needed a plough-boy, Bess boldly asserted that was what she could do best, and John Cooper, taking the lad at his word, sent him off to the field. The plucky girl found, however, that though "the spirit was willing, the flesh was weak," and, when the day was done, she staggered into the kitchen and tumbled down in a dead faint. It was then that young Mrs. Frank Cooper, with a keener eye than her men folks, discovered Bess' secret; but, upon the girl's entreaties, promised to keep silent. The kiss and embrace of the two women had, nevertheless, been silently watched by Frank, and the moment his wife left the room the angry husband seized his horsewhip, determined to teach the impertinent "boy" a good lesson. Bess managed to beat him to the door, but was overtaken upon the hill and, in trying to save herself from the quirt, backed off the cliff. Running quickly around the hill, Frank picked up his unconscious rival only to find he had been jealous of a girl. Luckily, when carried back to the ranch, Bess was found to be merely stunned, and it was unanimously agreed that she was to remain and help Mrs. Cooper until her brother was well enough to again be the man of the family.
- Robert Lee is deeply in love with Margaret Ellison. Both are undemonstrative, and Robert, not feeling quite sure that he possesses Margaret's heart, delays his proposal. He is called imperatively to New York and writes a letters to Margaret asking her to be his wife and this he places in his pocket to mail. But his valet points out that he has his wrong coat on. He changes it hastily and starts for the railroad station. Arriving in New York, he awaits patiently for the answer which never comes. Robert is terribly grieved and decides that Margaret did not love him sufficiently to marry him. He instructs his valet, Parker to close the house, to remove everything to New York and to offer the place for sale. Margaret wonders why she has neither seen nor heard from the man to whom she is so deeply attached and is shocked when she sees the empty house and the "For Sale" sign, as she drives up to inquire the cause of his absence. The years pass and Margaret accepts a rich suitor, who later dies She still cherishes the memory of Robert, who also is constantly thinking of days gone by and of her. One day he decides to rummage through old trunks, and finds the letter be wrote to Margaret thirty years ago. He decides to call upon her and in her own home to at least explain. The years have not stolen any of Margaret's charm. She is surprised and pleased to see him. He explains the missing letter. They decide to remain inseparate forevermore.
- Catching butterflies out in the country on a summer day is a pleasant occupation; Rosamond and Claude Eclaire find it so. An elusive butterfly lures Claude away from his girl. Desmond appears in an auto, captures Rosamond and honk-honks past the butterfly chaser. Realizing his sweetheart's peril, Claude calls the United States troops to the rescue. Uncle Sam's boys enthusiastically answer the call. Half-burnt cigarettes bearing Desperate Desmond's initials, and which the villain had carelessly thrown away, give his pursuers the only clues to work on, and Desmond is trailed at last. Cornered, he leads Claude and the soldiers to the wigwam wherein Rosamond was hidden. Leaving the boys on guard, the villain enters the tent and before Claude and the troops can gather their wits, the wigwam moves rapidly away. Another mad chase follows, but Desmond in his auto-tent makes good time and keeps the hunters at a safe distance. They dare not shoot for fear of hitting Rosamond, and the villain goes merrily on. What the boys cannot do, Desmond's own harmless cigarettes unwittingly accomplish. The villain soon finds himself in a trap. Flames to the front of him and soldiers to the rear of him. He cannot escape this time and, like the coward that he is, he does not care to die. Surrender is the only alternative left him. He surrenders, curse the luck!