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- In furtherance of the will of her father, Irene Bromley is allowed so much annually by the trustee, Sidney Villon, a lawyer of loose morals, but who enjoys a place well up in the list in society. Arthur Colby, a wholesome, straightforward young man, is in love with her, but she treats him indifferently at times. She goes to Villon's office for $10,000. He gives her a check, despite the fact that Holden, his secretary, tells him on the side that she has already overdrawn her allowance, and she goes out reminding him of the dance to be given at the Edgerton home. Rupert Hazard, a struggling inventor, who has been excluded from Villon's office shortly previous, pushes his way into the inner office and scathingly denounces Villon, whom, he claims, stole his invention worth a fortune. At the dance the following evening. Irene, flushed with dancing and in all her resplendent glory and beauty, is seated with Arthur. He proposes, but her chill manner, cleverly affected, freezes the blood in his veins. Later in the evening she gives Villon the same negative answer. Villon, determined to win her, tells her that one word from him and she will he plunged into poverty. His words are heard by Arthur, who happens in conveniently. When Villon leaves, Arthur tells Irene that he heard all, and she gives way to weeping. Arthur leaves, the old clock in the hallway showing the hour to be 12:05. Irene is startled the next morning to read an account of the murder of Villon in his apartment. Colby is arrested for the crime, having been found with a revolver near the prostrate form of Villon. When the jury seems satisfied conclusively that Arthur murdered Villon, Irene is called to the stand. It has been learned from Villon's valet that the watch in the latter's pocket, shattered by a bullet and stopped at exactly midnight, had been in good running order. Very dramatically, Irene tells of her visit to Villon's office the day after the murder, where she learns that Villon has an enemy, Hazard, the inventor. Irene and her lawyer go to Hazard's place at 12 o'clock midnight a day later at Hazard's request. The discouraged inventor tells them how he broke into Villon's apartment and shot the lawyer, later engaging in a scuffle with Colby, who entered a few minutes later. When he completes his story, Hazard is blown to death by a device he had set to go off at midnight. Irene then tells the jury that Colby was with her in her home at the time the watch was shattered in Villon's pocket. Colby is acquitted, after which Irene takes a different perspective of things and Colby's anxiety is brought to an end.
- A young boy, opressed by his mother, goes on an outing in the country with a social welfare group where he dares to dream of a land where the cares of his ordinary life fade.
- Kimura, a drunk and a gambler, has no affection for his daughter Kiku-San, who falls in love with Dick Tower, an American college friend of her brother Okuma. After Suzuki, a geisha house proprietor, meets Kiku-San, he runs up Kimura's bill to such an exorbitant amount, that Kimura readily agrees to give him Kiku-San as payment. Seeing her peril, Tower and his friend Thompson rescue Kiku-San after fighting Suzuki and his patrons. Tower takes her to his home, and because this compromises her, they marry. Kiku-San and Tower are happy until his friends at the American Club snub them. Even Thompson encourages Tower to divorce her. After Tower meets Margaret, a wealthy American widow, he tires of being ostracized, and becomes cold to Kiku-San. Her sadness, conveyed to Okuma, causes him to threaten to kill Tower unless she refuses to go with him to America for Christmas. She does refuse, and Tower sails with Margaret, happy with the belief that Kiku-San wanted the separation, while Kiku-San sits in sorrow among cherry blossom trees.
- Episode 1: "The Perfect Truth" The day after Dolly Desmond had startled the community with the excellence of her graduation oration, Bobby North, a reporter on the local paper, suggested that it would be a good idea for her to write stories and things for his paper. Dolly was delighted with the idea, and started at once to put it into effect. She decided to write a story, which, although ostensibly fictional, should actually give a truthful picture of life about her as she saw it. After a week of hard work, which involved much burning of midnight oil and much weariness for the fair young authoress, the masterpiece was finished. The editor was delighted with it. It was published under the title, "The Perfect Truth: A Story of Real Life" and, at Dolly's request, the name of the author was omitted. On the afternoon of the publication of the story, the Ladies' Home Sewing Guild was engaged in its customary routine of languid needlework and somnolent gossip. One of the members began to read "The Perfect Truth," but stopped with a gasp of surprise, and called the attention of the other members to the article. In graphic, pitiless bits of description, the essential characteristics of each of the members of the Ladies' Guild were set forth so plainly, that there was no possibility of mistaking their several identities. Dolly had used the pen of a satirist with telling effect. The meeting of the Ladies' Guild ended in a furor of confusion. Mrs. Broome, the hostess of the afternoon, who had been particularly scored by the anonymous author, rushed to the newspaper office and demanded the name of her defamer. The editor refused to give her the desired information, but a note from Dolly on Bobby's desk made all things clear to Mrs. Broome. With the spreading of the news, the storm center shifted to Dolly's home. While indignant citizens waited on Mr. Desmond, and threatened to withdraw their accounts from his bank, the infuriated wives filled Mrs. Desmond's ears with their complaints. Dolly's father commanded her to stop the story and make a public apology, but Dolly, for the first time in her life, refused to comply with her parents' wishes. With the fifty dollars her story had brought in, she left for the city to earn her own living. We shall discover later what happened to her there. Episode 2: "The Ghost of Mother Eve" The first thing Dolly did after her arrival in New York was to try to find herself a job. The fifty dollars she had been paid for her story was practically all she had, and Dolly was wise enough to know that such an amount would not carry her very far in the city. At the very time that Dolly went to apply for a position on "The Comet," Mrs. Yorke, a wealthy society woman, was also on the list of applicants. But whereas Dolly merely wanted a position in order that she might feed and clothe herself, Mrs. Yorke desired a sinecure of a post wherein she might indulge her love for notoriety and scandal. As not infrequently happens, the rich and undeserving succeeded, while the poor and deserving failed. Dolly was politely turned away, while the paper agreed to publish a column from Mrs. Yorke's pen under the name of "Mother Eve." Mrs. Yorke noticed Dolly as she was leaving the newspaper office. Discovering the girl's literary ability, she invited her to lunch, and offered Dolly a position as her private secretary. Dolly, naturally enough, jumped at the offer, and entered upon her duties immediately. The main portion of her duties consisted in writing the "Mother Eve" column. Mrs. Yorke had not the remotest idea how to set about her self-appointed task. All she cared for was the money. For some days Dolly was moderately contented and happy. But one afternoon, while she was collecting news of an approaching ball in the showrooms of a fashionable modiste, she happened to encounter Mrs. Yorke. That estimable lady looked over and past and through Dolly, without the slightest trace of recognition in her face. When Dolly entered her room that evening to accomplish her nightly literary task, she fell, sprained her wrist, and promptly fainted. When Mrs. Yorke returned from a dance in the wee small hours of the next morning, she found a copy boy waiting patiently for the "Mother Eve" material. Dolly, roused from her swoon, was unable to work the typewriter on account of her wrist. So the copy boy wrote it to her dictation, while Mrs. Yorke stood by and fumed. After the boy bad left, Mrs. Yorke was highly unpleasant. Dolly, in a few crisp words, told her employer exactly what she thought of her, and informed her that hereafter she could write her own column. Then Dolly went away. Episode 3: "An Affair of Dress" It will he remembered that Dolly was engaged by Mrs. Yorke, a fashionable member of the smart set, to write a society column for the "Comet." Dolly furnished the brains and did the work. Mrs. Yorke received the money. After she had received a few unpleasant proofs of her employer's unreasonable selfishness, Dolly shook the dust of the Yorke mansion from her feet, and departed. In the course of her gathering of society notes, Dolly had met Minnie, a mannequin in a fashionable tailoring establishment. As luck would have it, there was a vacancy when Dolly arrived to ask Minnie about her work, and twenty-four hours after her quarrel with Mrs. Yorke, the girl was engaged at Browngrass' as a mannequin, with the princely salary of twenty-five dollars a week. Let it not be supposed that she was entirely infatuated with her position. She had come to the city to write, and write she would eventually. This was merely a makeshift, a temporary bar to keep the wolf from the door. There were other reasons too, why her situation did not satisfy her. The proprietor was kind, a little too kind, Dolly thought. One afternoon, he tried to kiss her, and she, quite naturally, slapped his face. In the midst of all her little difficulties, Dolly was not allowing herself to drift out of touch with the magazine and newspaper world. A poem sent by her to the "Jester," brought a gratifying return in the shape of a letter from the editor inquiring into her capabilities for a small editorial position. Later, the editor called, and since he was a nice sort of person, Dolly took dinner with him. In the excitement of the moment, she sailed off to the restaurant in the gown she was wearing. As it happened, the proprietor of Browngrass' came to the restaurant, saw the gown, called a policeman, and ordered him to arrest Dolly. Aid came from an unexpected quarter. Rockwell Crosby, editor of the "Comet," was sitting at the next table. He discovered that Dolly had written Mrs. Yorke's column, showed his card to the policeman, and ordered him to remove the angry proprietor. Dolly, he said, had no connection with Browngrass'. She was his star reporter. After the man had been removed and Dolly thanked Crosby for his kind lie, he told her it was the truth. She was engaged. Episode 4: "Putting One Over" When Miss Mindel, president of the Reform League, received a pathetic letter from certain tenants of the Union Realty Company, complaining of unsanitary living conditions and unjust rents, she wrote a sharp letter to the president of the Realty Company, threatening action in the courts unless improvements were made. James Boliver, the president, had put his company into its position of prominence, largely through his entirely unscrupulous method of dealing with any type of opposition to his plans. Briefly summing up the probable results of any action on the part of the Reform League, he decided that it must be prevented at any cost, so he decided to bribe Miss Mindel. Miss Mindel did not understand the carefully couched letter she received from Boliver, asking her to come and see him. She felt that she was getting into deep water, and decided to appeal to the newspapers, before taking any action. At the office of "The Comet," where she went first, Miss Mindel met Dolly Desmond, and with characteristic impulsiveness, told her the whole story. Dolly immediately hit on a plan, which she confided to Miss Mindel. That good lady, after some thought, consented to it. She was personally unknown to Boliver, and there seemed no reason why the plan should not succeed. In accordance with it, Dolly presented herself at the Union Realty Company's office as Miss Mindel. Mr. Boliver was very nice to her, indeed, and, finding her even more compliant than he had hoped, gave her a check for five thousand dollars, and allowed her to write him a receipt on the typewriter. Dolly made a carbon copy of the receipt, thanked Mr. Boliver, and turned to go. At the door she met Mr. Browngrass, her late employer, who happened to be one of the directors of the company. Since Browngrass recognized her immediately, there was nothing left for Dolly but flight via the fire escape. The enraged directors pursued her, but without result. She got her story in in time to go to press, and we leave Dolly glancing affectionately at the staring headlines of her "scoop." Episode 5: "The Chinese Fan" All newspaperdom was excited over the strange disappearance of Muriel Armstrong and each daily was doing its best to discover the missing heiress first, and thus secure for themselves one of the most sensational bits of news of the day, but no trace of her could be found, despite all efforts. The editor of the Comet ground his cigar and swore impotently and even Dolly, the star reporter, was at a loss for clues. Dolly was pondering over the matter on her way to her evening's assignment: the Chinese theater in Mott Street, where she was detailed to report the play. During the second act a little Chinese pin in the shape of a fan, which Dolly was wearing, unconscious of its significance to the Tongs, started a riot in the theater. As Dolly was escaping down the side street a huge hand protruded itself from a small door, pulled her inside, down a narrow corridor and thrust her into an ill-lighted den. How could she get out? She pounded on the door and called for assistance but all that greeted her was a chuckle and a slushing of soft footsteps down the corridor. She peered around in the gloom and suddenly a frightened bundle of humanity detached itself from the corner and a young girl fell at Dolly's feet, imploring assistance. Dolly raised her gently, looked into her face and discovered that she was Muriel Armstrong, the missing heiress. All fear of the Chinese vanished. Here was the scoop of the year. Fate helped her too, for the half-crazed opium fiend who was Muriel's guard, upset the lamp and set the place on fire. This enabled Dolly and her prize to escape and the next morning the heiress was turned over to her delighted parents. Episode 6: "On the Heights" Dolly's friend, Rockwell Crosby, editor of the "Comet." disagrees with the management and resigned. Dolly was disappointed at the news, but that was as nothing compared to her rage at the attitude of his successor, who was a self-confessed "hustler" and intended to make everybody on the paper "sit up and take notice." The first assignment he gave Dolly was to wander about the streets after dark until she found a story. Dolly was furious. She had made a distinct place for herself on the staff, and was accustomed to being treated with consideration. There was nothing to do but obey, so Dolly started out. To her amazement she ran across Ella Snyder, an old school friend, who was weeping bitterly. She had eloped with a young man named Oliver Allen. Oliver had brought her to a hotel, and had departed in search of a license. Having not come back for two hours Ella concluded that she had been deceived and decided to drown herself. Dolly took the girl home, told her not to be silly, and went to get Allen. She found him at the hotel bewildered at the disappearance of his bride-to-be. Dolly, convinced that his intentions were honorable, took him back with her. They found Ella had disappeared again. She left a note, saying she had resolved to die. In order to repay Dolly, Ella said she was going to jump from the highest building in town, so Dolly could make a scoop of the news. Dolly and Allen rushed to the Woolworth Building, and stopped Ella just in time. Then they repaired to the City Hall, where Ella and Allen were married. Dolly returned to the office and told the editor she had a story, but didn't intend to write it. He was wildly indignant at first, until she had calmly explained she knew perfectly what she was doing. Episode 7: "The End of the Umbrella" The Aqueduct Construction Company has been having a good deal of trouble with certain anarchistic elements, who, anxious to seize any cause of discontent to further the bloody revolution they hoped for, opposed the building of the great pipe which would carry fresh sparkling water to the crowded people of the great city. Finally, after the company had been worried half to death by anonymous threats, a tremendous explosion killed a couple of dozen workmen and completely wrecked the main section of the great work. Dolly Desmond, in the city office of the newspaper, heard of the catastrophe and begged the editor to allow her to investigate it. The editor, who had formed a high opinion of Dolly's character, readily consented, and Dolly set out for the scene of the disaster. As she wandered about the wrecked aqueduct, she came upon a curious umbrella handle in among several pieces of a shattered bomb. Dolly kept her find and said nothing about it to anybody. With some little difficulty, she succeeded in obtaining a position as cashier in the dining room of the little hotel near the works. She had the umbrella handle placed on a new umbrella, put it in the stand where she could keep her eye on it, and settled herself to watch. It wasn't as easy a matter to devote her entire attention to the stand as she had thought at first, for Grant, a young engineer at the works, fell madly in love with her. and insisted on talking to her at every opportunity. At last, when she was on the point of giving up in disgust, a shifty-eyed individual picked up the umbrella, started to go out with it, and then apparently remembering, looked at it, put it down and looked frightened. Dolly recognized him as "Nutty Jim," one of the lodgers in the hotel. That evening Dolly went up to his room to investigate. She had just unearthed several bombs when Nutty Jim entered and sprang at her. She fired at him, but missed. A bomb was knocked off the table and exploded. Nutty Jim was killed and Dolly severely injured. We leave her at the hospital with the anxious Grant at her side, delightedly reading her "scoop" in the Comet. Episode 8: "A Tight Squeeze" When the news came to the Comet office that Mr. Martinengro, the well-known Italian-American merchant and philanthropist, had been murdered, Dolly Desmond was very anxious to have the assignment. To her disgust, the managing editor gave the story to Hillary Graham, the young man Dolly had met in "Mother Eve's" house. Dolly, forced to be satisfied with a Salvation Army wedding. Hillary set off on his assignment in high spirits. He had not made much of a success of reporting yet, but he was confident that his work in this case would convince the Comet management that he was one man in a thousand. Arrived in a dingy little barroom near the scene of the crime, he announced his intention of apprehending the criminals to the interested bartender. As a result, a few minutes later, Hillary was knocked on the head and thrown into the cellar. Dolly, after finishing her report on the wedding, donned a Salvation Army uniform, and accompanied the band about town in search of more material. In the course of her wanderings, she entered the barroom, and saw a necktie on the floor which she had noticed that morning on Hillary. Creeping unobserved into the cellar, she discovered the unconscious Hillary lying on a pile of coal. As she stood in puzzled anxiety, wondering how she could possibly save the young man and herself, she was startled by a sudden rush of coal into the cellar, through the coal hole from the street. Daddy, the copy boy on the Comet, happened to be on the street above, watching the coal men at their task. Hearing a muffled cry, he stopped the men. A moment later Dolly crawled through the hole. She and Daddy rushed for the police. After Hillary had been rescued, the police entered the saloon, and arrested its occupants. A lucky chance resulted in the discovery of the Martinengro murderers. While Dolly was writing her story in the police station, the grateful Hillary proposed. Dolly was non-committal. She was afraid she wasn't quite ready to give up her adventurous life even for so successful a reporter as he was. Episode 9: "A Terror of the Night" Mrs. Winslow, a young widow, owned a piece of property known as "Beach House," for which the Union Realty Company were the agents. The money for the rental of the property meant a good deal to Mrs. Winslow, and when her tenants began to grow few and far between, she naturally called on her agents to inquire into the causes. President Bolivar, of the Realty Company, gravely informed her that "Beach House" was haunted. To substantiate his remarks, he showed Mrs. Winslow some newspaper clippings about the reported ghost at the house. Many complaints had been received from tenants and the property was becoming more and more impossible to rent. In short, Mr. Bolivar advised Mrs. Winslow to accept the Realty Company's very generous offer of $10,000 for the property worth $50,000. Mrs. Winslow thought that her property was worth more and went to consult her friend, Dolly Desmond, the star reporter on "The Comet." Dolly, instantly excited at the prospect of investigating a haunted house, suggested that Mrs. Winslow leave the property to her for the space of a week. Mrs. Winslow made out the necessary papers and then went to Bolivar and told him what she had done. Bolivar, an old enemy of Dolly, immediately planned a trap for her. He arrived at Beach House a little while after Dolly had made herself at home in one of the gray dreary rooms. After his first expression of pretended surprise, he began to make love to her, but the derisiveness of her answer showed plainly that his original plan was useless. So he bowed and took his leave. Dolly slept that night on a sofa in the front hall in the midst of a number of garden implements which had been stowed there for safekeeping. In the middle of the night, she was awakened by a slight noise. Looking up, a terrible sight met her eyes. A shrouded figure, clad in garments of ghastly white, was coming down the stairs toward her. Instead of shrieking and fainting, Dolly turned the hose on the advancing figure. It halted, wavered, and then ran out of the house and into the arms of Malone, who had just arrived to investigate the anonymous letter. The ghost was, of course, Bolivar, who had chosen this means of attempting to get Mrs. Winslow's property at a low price. Episode 10: "Dolly Plays Detective" When Mrs. Cambridge invited Dolly Desmond, and Malone, the managing editor of the Comet, to a dinner party, Malone naturally offered to take Dolly around to the Cambridge's in his car. For in the short space of time in which he had held his new office on the Comet staff, Malone had grown very fond of the clever young girl. When, on their way to the party, Dolly waved her hand to her old friend the policeman on the beat, she noticed a quick frown of displeasure on Malone's face. To tease him, she started to flirt outrageously with all the men present as soon as she arrived at the dinner, among whom was one of society's newest lions, the Count de Rochepierre. In the midst of the dinner, it was suddenly discovered that one of the ladies' necklaces was missing. She had worn it about her neck when she sat down, and it seemed absolutely inconceivable that anybody should have been able to remove it in the brilliantly-lighted room. On the following afternoon, the count called on Dolly, and begged her to accept a beautiful ring as a slight token of his esteem. Dolly, who rather enjoyed leading the count on, told him she should be delighted to wear it. Shortly after he had apparently taken his leave, Mrs. Cambridge and several ladies came to call. At Dolly's suggestion, a game of auction bridge was commenced. As they sat about the table, precisely the same thing happened as on the preceding night. Two of the ladies' necklaces vanished. The fact that Dolly had been present at both occasions when the mysterious occurrence had taken place, seemed a little significant. The ladies left hurriedly, and somewhat coolly. Left alone, Dolly decided to go and see the Count. She was led to this decision by several suspicious little incidents she had observed. In the Count's quarters, she discovered not only the missing necklaces, but absolute proof of how he had perpetrated his astonishing crimes. But even cleverer than her discovery of his method, was the way in which she inveigled the Count into playing a game of '"Forfeits" at the Cambridge's, and at the crucial moment in the game, clapped a pair of handcuffs on him and turned him over to the police. Episode 11: "Dolly at the Helm" When the city editor of the Comet burst into the managing editor's office and told him that his child was desperately ill with diphtheria, Malone, the managing editor, naturally told him to take as much time off as he wanted. Malone himself was feeling very badly at the time, and his resolution to take charge personally of the city editor's department was never carried out. Shortly after the city editor had left, Malone fainted at his desk. Dolly Desmond, the Comet's star reporter, found him there when she came into the room. She revived Malone from his stupor and had him taken home. In nine cases out of ten, both Malone and the city editor might well have been absent without any particular disturbance in the ordinary routine of the office. It was four o'clock on an unusually dull summer afternoon. The likelihood of anything happening seemed extremely remote. However, scarcely had Malone been taken away when things started. A terrible excursion boat catastrophe was the first. Right on its heels came the news that a great hotel was burning. In the excited chaos into which the Comet office was plunged, Dolly showed the stuff of which she was made. Her small hand seized the deserted tiller and with the quick incisive decision which was her chief characteristic, she wearied the legs of messenger boys, and kept the telephone wires hot with the dispatching of her swift Napoleanic commands. When it was all over, and the day was won, Dolly received a letter from home telling her that her father's bank was on the verge of ruin, largely as a result of the hard feeling which had been stirred up by Dolly's story, "The Perfect Truth." Poor Dolly, at her wits' end, went to Malone for advice. She took the manuscript of "The Perfect Truth" with her. Malone' s illness was a blessing in disguise for it gave him a chance to read the story, the first installment of which had had such a disastrous effect. He was amazed by its brilliance of style and theme. In a gush of unwanted enthusiasm he told Dolly that he was willing to publish the story at his own expense as a speculation. So Dolly, with her hopes once again raised, went away with the dim belief growing in her that "The Perfect Truth" might not be so bad a thing for her father as it had at first seemed. Episode 12: "The Last Assignment" When Dolly Desmond left the home of her youth to embark on a journalistic career in the city, she left the town in a state of furor behind her. The story called "The Perfect Truth," the first installment of which Dolly published in the town newspaper, aroused so much resentment against Dolly that the townspeople revenged themselves by withdrawing their money from her father's bank. Two or three months after Dolly went away, the bank was in such straits that suspension of payment seemed only a matter of hours. Then "The Perfect Truth" in its complete form was published as a book. It met with an immediate and startling success. Dolly attained to fame and wealth almost overnight. The echo of her success reached her native town, and people began to sit up and take notice. It was one thing to feel themselves the butt of the joke of an immature schoolgirl, and quite another to know that they had been the material from which a famous authoress had drawn her inspiration. In the midst of the excitement, Bobby, at the newspaper office, suddenly received word that Dolly was coming to town. The news was not an unmixed pleasure for Bobby. He had an evil conscience. He had been madly in love with Dolly before she left town, and believed that she cared a good deal for him. After she left, he fell in love with another girl. However, Bobby's first duty in the matter was perfectly clear. So he wrote up a headline article for his paper announcing Dolly's arrival. The town went wild with excitement. Fame was about to fall upon it again for the first time since Hank Bowers had been lynched for horse stealing many years before. All hatred and jealousy was forgotten and Dolly was welcomed by a tremendous popular demonstration. The first thing she did was to set her father's bank on its feet again, partly with the help of the money she had made and partly by the use of her extremely persuasive tongue. In the midst of the excitement, a stranger arrived in town, James Malone, the enterprising business manager of Dolly's paper. Everybody wondered who he was, and Bobby was the first to find out. For when he went to Dolly's house, with hanging head, to explain how matters stood, she told him that she was going to marry Malone. And that is how we leave Dolly with one career behind her, and another and far finer one ahead.
- D'Artagan leaves home to seek his fortune. Armed with his father's sword and a letter to the Captain of the King's Musketeers, he rides forth boldly to face the world. At a wayside inn he arrives just in time to rescue a young woman from the clutches of several of the Cardinal's spies. He arrives in Paris shortly after and presents his letter to Captain de Treville of the Musketeers. Here he catches his first glimpse of the famous Three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and decides to fight his way into the Musketeers. In leaving, he runs into Athos, who berates him for his stupidity. This is more than he can bear, even from a Musketeer, and a duel is arranged for one o'clock at the rear of the convent. Hastily turning from Athos he comes into violent contact with Porthos, tearing his cloak from his shoulder and disclosing his ragged jerkin beneath. D'Artagnan bursts into violent laughter at this unexpected disclosure and is challenged to a duel at two o'clock at the convent grounds. Upon reaching the street he spies Aramis chatting with two musketeers and decides to join them, when he discovers that Aramis' foot is resting upon a beautiful lace handkerchief. Wishing to ingratiate himself in the good will of Aramis, he calls his attention to the handkerchief. Aramis denies ownership, but D'Artagnan insists that he saw him drop it and, picking it up, hands it to him. D'Artagnan is again soundly berated for his stupidity; the result is another challenge at three o'clock at the convent. D'Artagnan has lost so much time quarreling that he finds it now time for his first duel. He hurries to the convent only to find all three musketeers waiting. Hardly has he crossed swords with Athos, however, when a company of the Cardinal's guards appear and attempt to take them into custody for dueling. D'Artagnan volunteers to fight on their side and is gladly welcomed. The fight proves a glorious victory for the musketeers, who gather up the swords of their fallen enemies and march triumphantly from the field, arm in arm with D'Artagnan, their sworn friend. They are all brought before the king, but when he hears of the odds against them he not only rewards them, but promises to make D'Artagnan a Musketeer.
- It was in the early spring of 1861 that Boyd Peyton came home to Mobile after his first cruise as an officer in the United States Navy. Coming home to Mobile meant a very great deal to Boyd. It meant coming back to his father, to his brother, and to his mother, but above all, it meant coming back to Mary Annan. Mary Annan was divided in her affections between Boyd Peyton and Robert Darrow. She liked and admired them both so much that it made her heart bleed to think of giving up either for the sake of the other. But before Boyd had been long in Mobile, a love for a new idol sprang up in Mary's heart, which completely overshadowed her feelings for both men. The name of this new idol was The Southern Cause. After years of misunderstanding and bitterness, the Southern States had at last decided to sever the bonds which held them in the Union. Mary, a Southerner, welcomed the rupture. So too did all the other loyal citizens of Mobile. All, that is, but Boyd Peyton. His love for the South was more than counterbalanced by his love for the country, and his duty as an officer of the United States Navy. At her birthday party, Mary Annan, rising in answer to a toast, bade none to drink to her who did not love her, and forbade any to love her who did not love the South. Boyd drank the toast. After the dinner, Mary, believing that Boyd would enlist in the Southern Cause, promised to marry him. That night, the young officer suffered tortures of indecision. On the one side was Mary, on the other nothing but that ugly word, Duty. If he chose that, he would lose with Mary the love and respect of family and friends, everything that seemed desirable. But in the face of all temptation, when Boyd arose the next morning, he was firmly resolved to follow the bitter road of duty and honor. When the local company of militia came to the house before breakfast, and announced to Boyd that they had elected him their captain, he told them that he was, and always would be, loyal to the government to which he had sworn allegiance. In the face of the horrified remonstrance of his family and Mary, Boyd remained steadfast in his decision. So, even while he was being cast forth from his father's house, Mary threw herself into Darrow' s arms, and promised to marry him when he returned from the war. But Mary regretted her decision, for in the days that followed, love for Boyd grew and grew in her heart. At last, when she felt that she could no longer honorably keep silence, she wrote to Darrow, breaking their engagement. Darrow got Mary's letter on the eve of the battle of Chickamauga. He opened it smiling, read it and went forth to die like the brave man and honest gentleman he was. His heart was already dead before the kindly bullet found him. As the cruel years dragged on, Mary learned to repent bitterly of her girlish desire for war and its attendant deeds of glory and bravery. Besides Darrow, her father had fallen fighting for the Cause, and Beverly, her young brother, the last of the Annan line, was stationed in Fort Morgan, in imminent peril from the guns of the Union fleet which was threatening the Confederate forts and fleet in Mobile Bay. In the terrible battle which resulted from Farragut's successful attempt to pass the forts and attack the Confederate fleet, Beverly Annan was killed. Boyd Peyton, on Farragut's flagship, the "Hartford," performed a miracle of valor in saving men from the dynamited "Tecumseh" beneath the guns of the fort and the eyes of his father, who commanded it. Desperately wounded by a shell, Peyton was removed to shore, and nursed back to health and strength by Mary Annan. Through her intercession, the outcast was taken back into the family that had disowned him. Then peace came upon the sorely-stricken land, and a far greater peace to the hearts of Mary and Boyd.
- In a succession of splendidly enacted scenes, we are led, step by step from the beginning of the dissatisfaction of the Indian troops at Lucknow. Finally the outbreak occurs and we are shown the night of May 12th, 1857, and just what occurred on that memorable evening at Lucknow. At the beginning of the mutiny we are shown the burning of the officers' houses, the news of the outbreak received by Sir Henry Lawrence and also the manner of Sir Henry Lawrence's death, his burial at night, midst shot and shell and, like Sir Thomas Moore. No useless coffin enclosed his breast. Nor sheet nor shroud rebound him, but he lay like a warrior taking his rest with his military cloak around him. Hospital scones are shown giving one an idea of the work that befell the women during the siege. General Havelock is also introduced and he is shown starting for the relief of Lucknow from Cawnpore. This all eventually leads up to that never-to-be-forgotten moment at Lucknow when hopes had deserted them and each moment they thought would be the last. Then comes the shrill notes of the bagpipes. And in the closing events we are shown the fight in the streets of Lucknow when General Havelock forced his way through those narrow lanes to the relief of those heroic men and women.
- Workers in a pottery factory labor in unhealthy, unventilated and dangerous conditions, but the plant's wealthy owner doesn't see any need to change things. It's not long before one of his workers falls ill to tuberculosis, and soon the owner learns the meaning of the old adage, "What goes around comes around".
- We show Lord Nelson leaving the admiralty room where he makes his famous speech and then introduce him with his captains giving the details of that wonderful plan of attack which was carried out to the letter at Trafalgar, the inspirations of the captains and their enthusiastic toast. We are then carried along to the day before the battle when the men are writing their last letters home. Here a beautiful scenic and photographic effect is introduced as the vision of the sweetheart of one of the lieutenants fades into view. This gives an opportunity to introduce that famous episode of the letter in which Lord Nelson called back the mail ship for a single message and which is endeared to the hearts of all those who sail the sea. We are then carried along to the morning of October twenty-first, Eighteen Hundred and Five, when the fleet of the enemy is sighted. The decks are cleared for action and the hoisting of the colors is portrayed with all the solemnity of the occasion before entering the battle. The correct incident of the hoisting of the famous signal "England expects every man to do his duty" is splendidly portrayed and carried out in every detail, and we note the pathetic touch in Nelson's life in bidding farewell to his captains having at the time a presentiment of his own death. We now get to the little human touch in his life and learn the true character of the man, for, in his last entry in his diary before the battle, he makes peace with his maker. And now we come to that wonderful spectacular picture of the real battle of Trafalgar. We see the ships in action, the firing of the guns, the ships caught on fire and then the camera switches to a close view of the deck of the Victory where human life is sacrificed by the hundreds, the fighting top of the Redoubtable, the fatal shot and Nelson's fall. We then see that wonderful character in his death, the solemnity, the beauty and the pathos of it all being carried out by the Edison players in all its grandeur; his farewell to Captain Hardy, the last kiss, the news of the victory and finally his death.
- Thomas Brainerd, a Civil War veteran, is an enthusiastic old soldier and a firm believer in discipline. His household, which consists of his married daughter and his beloved grandson, Dick, is run on strict military rules, and if Dick objects to the early arrival of bedtime it needs only a word from grandpa on the subject of a soldier's first duty to bring the youngster to strict obedience. As Decoration Day approaches, Brainerd and his C.A.R. comrades meet and discuss the plans for the annual parade in the village. But Brainerd has been falling of late and, in spite of the doctor's efforts, seems to be getting weaker as time passes. The eventful day arrives and Brainerd, dressed in his best is ready to take his place in the line with his comrades, but as he takes his beloved rifle from its place his weakness is so apparent that his daughter finally prevails upon him to give up his idea of marching in the parade. He will watch from his chair in front of the house and insists that his daughter and little Dick take their places in the parade. Reluctantly they leave him and report his illness to his waiting comrades. The march to the soldier's monument is begun. As the stirring sound of fife and drum reaches his ears, Brainerd starts up, rifle in hand, and there comes to him a vision of battle. He is in the midst of the charge, the bursting shells, the cheers, the groans all come back to him. Only a moment and it passes away, but the sound of fife and drum are real, for there, passing before him, is his little band of comrades on parade. They cheer the old man as they pass on their way. At the monument the roll is called and many a name is left unanswered, but little Dick cannot remain silent when grandpa's name is called and bravely steps out and answers in his stead. Brainerd, too, has answered roll-call, but it is one of long ago, the vision comes back to him as if but yesterday as he steps out and answers to his name. At the monument they now fire a salute for their departed comrades. It sounds to Brainerd like the booming of "The Sunset Gun." He sees again the sinking sun of lung ago, the officer gives the command, the gun booms out and slowly the stars and stripes flutter to the ground. The vision disappears and Brainerd sinks exhausted into his chair. The exertion has been too great. There now floats to him from the monument the sounds of taps. How many times has he beard it in the stillness of the night! He sees it all once more, the bivouac at the end of the day's fighting. The trumpeter steps out. How sweet the notes sound upon the night air! The last call. All lights out. With a smile he sinks back and closes his eyes. His light is out, he has answered the last call. His returning comrades find him serene but cold, and reverently cover him with the tattered old battle flag.
- The action opens in the humble home of Betty Hampton, whose mother is very ill. Tom Driscoll, a typical "Green Mountain Boy," to whom Betty is engaged, brings her the coat of his new Continental uniform, to have the buttons changed, when they are interrupted by a hail outside. Hastily hiding the coat, lest it be seen by some enemy of the cause, they are much relieved to find that their caller is none other than Ethan Allen, the leader of the Green Mountain Boys. Allen has just received word of the battles of Concord and Lexington and decides to take steps to aid the revolt against Great Britain on his own responsibility. He imparts to them his plan to capture the British strongholds on Lake Champlain, the first one to be Fort Ticonderoga. He and Tom go to a well-known glen in the woods, having sent Neshobee, an Indian scout, to call in all the leaders for a council. This meeting results in their eagerly following Allen's lead and they depart to collect their followers. Allen, Tom and Neshobee are on their way to the village when they come across Betty, who is being annoyed by several of the soldiers of the fort. Quickly putting them to rout, they send Neshobee home with Betty and continue their way to the meeting place. Arriving home, Betty finds her mother in a very serious condition. She sends Neshobee for a neighbor, who, upon arriving, says a doctor is needed at once. The only doctor in the neighborhood is at the fort, so Betty goes to him, taking Neshobee as escort. She is ushered into the Commander's presence while the officers are banqueting and all more or less the worse for liquor. She states her errand, and while the doctor has gone for his kit, they attempt to make her drink the King's health, which she indignantly refuses to do. Arriving home she finds her mother has passed the crisis safely and at once resolves to tell Allen of the conditions at the fort and urge him to attack at once. Allen upon hearing her news, decides to attack at once without waiting for reinforcements and, gathering his men about him, eighty-three in all, they silently make their way across the lake. Creeping silently up the steep slope to the fort they overpower the sleepy sentinel and enter the fort unmolested. Beating upon Captain De La Place's door, Allen rouses him out of bed and when the sleepy commander opens the door, he finds himself confronted by Allen, sword in hand, demanding "Surrender, in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!" and his stronghold in possession of the Green Mountain Boys. He surrenders the fort and without firing a shot, the American heroes gain possession of the strongest fortification on Lake Champlain, together with all the stores of munition and cannon, a great number of which were afterward used to drive the British out of Boston. Allen leads Betty out before his men and publicly thanks her for her share of the night's work which is echoed by cheers from the men, while she blushingly hides her head on Tom's shoulder.
- Prince Arthur is in love with the fair princess Lena. He asks for her hand, and is accepted. Zamaliel, supreme monarch of all that is evil, decides to come upon earth from the lower regions to prey upon mankind, in his peregrinations, his first victims are the joyous Prince Arthur and the Princess Lena. His evil eye covets the beauteous damsel, and he begins his cruel machinations to accomplish his selfish purpose. Fantasma, the fairy queen, Queen of Good and Light, whose realm is not far distant, has her subjects safeguard the lives of young lovers. They observe Zamaliel's coming upon earth with two of his infernal sprites, quickly the news is sped to Fantasma. All Fairyland is in a turmoil, and the Queen, with her retinue, goes forth to protect the Prince and princess and pay Zamaliel his deserts. We follow Arthur through his wanderings over hill and dale, and finally to his descent beneath the sea, before he rescues his betrothed. Fantasma has created Pico as Arthur's companion in the rescue, and with their faithful goat, they pass through many and varied experiences. Good finally triumphs over evil, and we see the two lovers sailing away on the Sea of Happiness.
- Jack tells two people, privately, on a blind date that each of them is hard of hearing and wacky hijinks ensue.
- A printer and his young assistant take over a local newspaper while the editor is away.
- The eighteenth day of April, 1775, still lives in the hearts of all loyal Americans, as the birthday of our country. It was the day the first shots were fired against the British at Lexington. Throughout the years of privation and suffering which followed, that same spirit of the "minute men" endured up to the very last, when Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army on the nineteenth day of October, 1781, American independence was assured. Of all the characters of our Revolutionary period, none is more endeared to all than that of Paul Revere, whose exploit has been immortalized by Longfellow so effectively that the lines of the poem and the incidents portrayed are graven more deeply, perhaps, upon the average American mind than any other character or exploit of our American history. When Revere learned of the British commander's intention of attacking the patriot's base of supplies in Concord, and told his friend to, "Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch of the North Church tower as a signal light." He little realized that the tiny light would serve as a beacon of liberty for future generations but so it has proven and we follow him today as he clattered along the country-side rousing the men to fight for their life and our liberty and our pulses beat with each stride of the mount.
- When his daughter Princess Ameena died, Rameses, the Egyptian Pharaoh, placed a necklace about her neck and swore that whoever took it thence should never rest in peace until it was returned. Some thousands of years later, Ameena's mummy was unpacked in the New York Art Museum and the necklace was discovered. The news of the discovery of the priceless relic reached the ears of a band of thieves and '"Diamond Mary" was dispatched to steal the necklace. She was successful in her mission, but the tremendous sensation caused by the theft made disposing of the jewels in America absolutely impossible. Accordingly Mary sailed for England, where she was joined by accomplished criminal "English Jim." Detective Imbert was engaged by the museum to conduct the search for the missing relic. Imbert followed Mary to England and had her arrested, but not before she had given the necklace to her confederate. The pair escaped to Paris, and there Imbert had "English Jim" arrested with equally futile results. Then he followed them to Venice, where they overpowered him after an exciting chase in gondolas. Then to Rome, where "English Jim" paid the penalty of his ill-spent life by falling from a roof in an attempt to escape the relentless sleuth. How Imbert gave up the chase in Naples and how he finally recovered the gems in New York there is not space to tell. Nor is there room to describe the wonderful historic settings in which so many of the scenes are laid. We can only mention Notre Dame in Paris, the Grand Canal, the Campanile and the Doge's Palace in Venice, the Forum, the Colosseum, and St. Peter's.
- Ruth Hoagland grows up on an island off the Massachusetts coast with no companion other than her father, a half-witted fisherman who spends most of his time hunting for buried treasure. Vacationing yachtsman Bob Winthrop and Ruth fall in love, but Winthrop returns to New York, and after a year, has forgotten Ruth. After finding two chests in a cave, Ruth locates her father unconscious from a fall. She goes to the mainland for help, but returns with the Reverend Josiah Arbuthnot and Dr. William Strong, to find her father dead. Strong, out of kindness, offers to marry her, but Ruth declines, sure that Winthrop will return. She offers to divide the chests with Strong and Arbuthnot, but after Strong discovers they are worthless, he withdraws his savings, and gives Ruth money to develop her voice in New York, saying that it came from selling the chests' contents. After Ruth learns of Winthrop's affair with a musical comedy star, she returns to the island to prepare for her Broadway debut, where she discovers Strong's sacrifice.
- D'Artagnan having discovered that the girl he has rescued on his way to Paris is none other than the Queen's confidante, Constance, loses little time in becoming better acquainted. The Queen has a secret love affair with the Duke of Buckingham and as a token of her love, she gives him a set of twelve diamond studs. Richelieu's spy, Milady, discovers this and at once reports it to the Cardinal. He sends Milady to steal the studs and persuades the King to give a state ball and ask the Queen to wear the diamond studs, which he does. As soon as she hears this request she writes a note to Buckingham, but finds she has no messenger whom she can trust. Here Constance comes to her aid. The Queen gives her the note and also her handkerchief as a token and she leaves to find D'Artagnan. He is not far away, so she tells him his mission, gives him the note and handkerchief and bids him God-speed. Richelieu's spy has overheard their plans and hurries to report the matter to the Cardinal. He sends the spy out on the road ahead of D'Artagnan with instructions to prevent his reaching Buckingham. D'Artagnan in the meantime has confided to his comrades that he is on a dangerous mission and all three decide to accompany him. The spy manages to leave D'Artagnan's three friends disabled, but our hero arrives safely at Calais, where he finds the port has been closed. Buckingham's boat is about to lift anchor. He forces the Captain of the port to have him rowed out to the ship, where he meets Buckingham and finds that Milady is also on board. Milady manages to cut off two of the diamond studs and hurrying out of the cabin jumps into D'Artagnan's boat, and is rowed ashore, realizing that Milady has taken them they hastily call for a boat to go ashore, but Milady has taken the last one, so there is no way but to swim. Taking two valuable studs from Buckingham to replace the stolen ones, D'Artagnan leaps through the port and swims ashore. He wins the race to Paris, arriving in time to have the two studs set and delivers the twelve intact to the Queen, who generously rewards him by giving him a valuable ring and also his heart's desire, Constance.
- Ralph Valentine and his father are musicians of proud and aristocratic ways and are so wrapped up in their art as to be oblivious of their poverty. Their faithful servant, Joseph, has been wont to withhold the threats of debtors from them, but there comes a time, shortly after the father's death, that Ralph must be told the truth. Joseph tells everything and suggests that Ralph accept money that he has saved and go to Paris, where he may show the world his art. Ralph does so and goes to live with the Gardins. His uncle Victor Valentine, wealthy and fond of gay life, invites him to live at his home provided he will leave behind his foolish dreams and fancies. Ralph refuses, preferring to remain where he is. He wins the love of Pauline Gardin and is quite content. Through his Bohemian acquaintances he meets Mme. Flora Margot. This tired, blasé young woman makes a pet of him and enraptured by her dazzling beauty he longs to satisfy her every desire. Attempting to do so, he becomes indebted to impatient creditors, who demand immediate payment or his arrest. Pauline, ignorant of his infatuation with Flora, assists him out of his present difficulties with her own savings. Realizing Flora's fast waning affection, he resolves to regain it by buying a certain antique necklace which he knows she covets. The antique dealer demands an exorbitant price which he is unable to pay. He is further disheartened when one day he finds her in the arms of his uncle, and he rushes forth intent upon suicide. About to throw himself into the river, a vision of Flora appears before him and he resolves to secure the necklace at any cost. The dealer of the antique shop is busy when he enters and Ralph wanders into a room where there are curios upon the walls and tables. Curiously examining the various articles, his hand suddenly touches a secret panel which springs back, revealing a marvelous painting of the Christ. A spiritual influence comes over him, so profound is its impression upon his mind. While awaiting the attendance of the dealer, he becomes greatly interested in a peculiar skin which has writing upon it in Sanskrit. Sitting down he becomes drowsy and falls asleep. The writing changes into English, which reads that the possessor of the skin has only to wish and his wish will be granted, but that with each desire the skin shall grow smaller and the days of the possessor grow less until death is the penalty at the last wish. The dealer approaches and Ralph is amazed to behold him now in the form of a devil. The devil asks if he desires the skin and Ralph, fearfully undecided, suddenly thinks of Flora and agrees to take it. What are his desires and his terrible anguish as the talisman grows smaller have been woven into a story of weird and mystic situations.
- Mr. Grayson's claim to greatness lay in his invention of a magic hair restorer; Mrs. Grayson was remarkable for the curious manner in which her brain worked. She was never able to set her mind on whatever she happened to be doing. One morning, she took her small son, the pride and hope of the family, off on a shopping tour. After making a few purchases in a drugstore, Mrs. Grayson opened her pocketbook and took out a roll of bills. Then she looked in the pocketbook again: her money was gone. The excitement which intervened between the time that she made this horrifying discovery and the time that the clerk pointed out to her that she was still holding the money in her right hand, was so intense that Mrs. Grayson swept out of the store with never a thought about her son. By the time she reached home, she had completely forgotten that she had taken him with her, so when she looked for him upon her return and found no trace of him around the house, Hence when she looked for the infant upon her return and found no trace of it about the house, she immediately jumped to the conclusion that he had been kidnapped. Hectic times followed. While Mr. and Mrs. Grayson tore frantically about town, the baby was found by one of the policemen who had been detailed to search for him. To keep him out of mischief until the family returned, the Graysons' maid placed him in a large packing case. A considerable quantity of Mr. Grayson's wonderful tonic had been spilled in the packing case that very morning. When the boy was restored to his mother's arms, he rejoiced in a mustache and beard that a man of 40 might have envied. It was a great advertisement for the hair tonic, anyway.
- Jimmie has a good job in an office where there is a bevy of pretty girls, but being at that age where his appreciation of the fair sex has not developed, he considers them inferior to him. So it is his pleasure to make all the fun he can for himself at their expense. This time he reckons without his host. There is plenty for Jimmie to do, errands to be run and dust to be kept off the furniture in the office. Lunch time comes around; the girls all chip in and get Jimmie to buy their lunch, but not a minute does he do it without "getting his" in the shape of a generous tip. Soon in he comes with an armful, ginger ale and bananas for himself, ice cream, pickles, crackers and what not for the girls. It is a royal feast and they enjoy it. There is one pretty girl in the office who powders her face too often to suit Jimmie and he consequently chides her about it. She daubs his face with the puff. This is too much for his boyish pride and he decides to get even. He does so, and so do they. It won't spoil your fun to say that Jimmie goes out to buy cigars for his boss and in passing a paint store sees a sign advertising the sale of lampblack. Now you'll say, "I know, the powder box." That, however, isn't all. When you see it you'll have one good, hearty laugh at what the girls did to Jimmie.
- Weary Willie, wending his way to the main thoroughfare of the town, starts his panhandling at a bakery, where he is thrown out. He then tries his luck at the cobbler's, clothing store and barber shop, and in each instance meets with severe treatment. He is half famished when he meets two young men about town who for a joke invite him to have a drink. Entering a café, they behold the barkeeper fondly gazing at two suits of ancient armor mounted upon pedestals. They repair to the bar and the tramp indulges to his heart's content, after which he curiously examines the knights' armor and falls asleep on the chair. He dreams that the knights come to life and offer their services as his body guard. We now see him leading the knights forth. First he goes to the baker's cellar, where he commands the knights to throw the baker into a vat of dough while he gobbles down pies and cakes. Next to the cobbler's, where he confiscates a pair of shoes, while the knights hammer the tall, protesting cobbler down, reducing him to a dwarf. In the clothing store he succeeds in securing a new outfit. They next proceed to the barber shop, where the knights coerce the frightened barber into shaving the tramp and cutting his hair in the latest fashion. Weary Willie drags the barber under the shower bath and receives a goodly portion of the spray himself. At that moment he is rudely awakened by the barkeeper's siphon playing a forceful stream on his face.
- Retelling of the famous incident in the 1854 Crimean War when a British cavalry unit, because of a mix-up in orders, charged an almost impregnable Russian artillery position and was decimated.
- This tale is filled with human love and tenderness of the hearty frontier man for his girl wife and shows the tender struggle of the woman to be a helpmate to the man she has followed into the wilderness, where together they build their little home and fight that awful struggle of isolation and loneliness, where it means miles and miles to their nearest neighbors. Together they fell the first log of their little home and so on with patience and love each one carries out his daily work, and at eve by the campfire with the wife's head resting upon the husband's knee they talk and plan of the future of their little home, which is in the building. At last it is finished and the rough interior is made beautiful in a simple way, by the hands of the woman. Never a cloud has entered their lives until one day the cows go astray. The husband comes home wearied with his daily toil, harsh words are spoken, supper is eaten in silence; it is their first quarrel. What a tragedy it is to those who love. So through the long night and at the breakfast table the silence between the two continues and when John leaves with never a good-bye kiss the wife's heart is wrung and it is little that John knows that it is the last chance that he will ever get to kiss the woman he loves in life. That eve when he returns from work he finds a tender little note saying the cows have gone astray again and that she had gone to bring them home. A fire breaks out in the forest and so through smoke and flame and burning brush she searches and finds the stray cattle and brings them home, but when he finds her she cannot answer to his call, nor feel the kiss that she so longed for at the morning hour. The flames had done their work; the cattle were safely home and the dead body of his young wife lay cold and still in his arms and so the picture ends with the First Settler telling his tale of tender human pathos.
- A beautiful and intelligent horse is carried off North after his master, a Confederate soldier, is shot and left for dead. After many unusual and cruel adventures, Beauty is discovered by his former master and returned home to the South.
- Sally and Genie Castleton have just received a letter from their father, a Confederate general at the front, advising them to abandon the Castleton farm and come to Richmond, where it will be safer for them. Genie is very enthusiastic, as George, fifteen years old, delivers the letter, but Sally, the elder, is serious. As they are discussing the letter, Philip, Genie's sweetheart, rides up exhausted and hands Sally a letter addressed to General Lee. His horse expires from exhaustion and Philip, physically worn out, is assisted to the house. George is sent with the letter, which he delivers in good order. Hardly has Philip been assisted to the house, when a detachment of Union cavalry, in command of General Haverhill, approaches the house. The girls hastily push Philip into the huge stove, and admit the men. After searching the house thoroughly, they are convinced that the girls and Claben, the man-servant, are the only occupants. From a window upstairs Sally sees Captain Radcliffe approach the house. She is impressed by his imposing physique, and Radcliffe is also struck by Sally's beauty as he catches a glimpse of her in the window. After an unceremonious entrance, Radcliffe, a Union spy, attired in civilian dress, tells General Haverhill that he must make a hole through the Confederate outposts so that he (Radcliffe) can get to Richmond and secure plans from a spy there. Full plans are discussed, as Philip, inside the stove, listens attentively. When the Union men leave, Philip tells the girls all and they start out at once, Sally and Genie for Richmond and Philip to impart what he has heard to the Confederate commander. Outside of Richmond Radcliffe, posing as a cotton broker, is held up by the Confederates. He overhears a Morse code telegram to the effect that his captors have a man in custody resembling Radcliffe, the spy. He remains, however, determined to get through to Richmond. Sally's party arrives at the outposts, and when she identifies Radcliffe, she is ordered to accompany him to Richmond so that the spy in that place can be trapped. Reluctantly she acquiesces, and she and Genie, accompanied by Radcliffe, leave for the city. On the way Radcliffe confesses his love and Sally also admits her affection for him, but does not tell him she's a spy. They stop at a farmhouse overnight, and by a clever ruse, Radcliffe gets out and goes to Richmond, arranges to have the plans turned over to him, and returns without Sally knowing it. In Richmond, Radcliffe is cornered after receiving the plans of which he has two copies. He is pursued to the house Sally is stopping at and secretes one copy in a bag of love letters Genie always carries around. As he is leaving be encounters Philip and there is a hand-to-hand struggle. Sally orders Radcliffe to give up the plans and he gives her the package and rides swiftly away. A couple of weeks later, after the girls have returned home, Radcliffe comes to the house, takes the plans from Genie's love letter bag, gives them to a Union officer, and his duty is done. He then assures Sally he is no longer a spy, and there is no barrier to prevent their marriage.
- Eddie, all dressed up for the party, is admonished by his mother not to get his clothes soiled and she also tells him that if he does be cannot go to the party with his little sister. Well, the same thing that happened to you in the past or, if you are young, very recently, happens to poor little Eddie and no one but Rowdy did it. Consequently he is not allowed to go to the party with his little sister. Eddie's little heart is broken. As a punishment, his mother forbids him to leave the house. He sits on the front stoop and confides to Rowdy the weariness of this world's troubles and Rowdy, like the good playfellow that he is, listens. Eddie gets a pencil and paper and writes a farewell note to his mother; slips it under the door; whistles to Rowdy and together they leave for the woods. Eddie seeks a high place on a granite boulder. Rowdy, full of spirits, wants to play, and in the scuffle Eddie falls down the front of the sheer cliff. Rowdy comes down the winding path at the cry of distress from his little master and taking the hat which Eddie gives him, runs home to tell his mother. We see the intelligent animal on a dead run to Eddie's home and when he gets to the front door he yelps and scratches till someone comes. Then he brings the mother and the maid straight to the place where Eddie is hanging, head downwards, caught by his heel. He is rescued and taken home, where a doctor pronounces him more scared than hurt. He sits up and begs forgiveness for disobedience, a trait of which he is undoubtedly permanently cured.
- Mrs. Wethersby comes to the police station with the complaint that several thefts have been committed in her house, and Detective Kate Kirby is allowed to undertake the investigation as her first case. Accordingly she enters Mrs. Wethersby's house as her private secretary. She subjects the inmates of the house to a severe scrutiny. Besides Mrs. Wethersby, the household consists of a dissipated son and three servants of suspicious appearance. While writing invitations to a house party in Mrs. Wethersby's room. Miss Kirby discovers a revolver in the drawer of the desk, which Mrs. Wethersby explains she keeps on hand for protection. An inspection of the desk and the wall of the room causes a peculiar expression to pass across Miss Kirby's face. With the aid of a piece of chewing gum, she takes an impression of the key to Mrs. Wethersby's room, and has a duplicate key made for herself. The guests arrive at the house party and go to their rooms to dress for dinner. Miss Kirby, sitting at Mrs. Wethersby's desk as the hostess makes her preparations, is aware of a subtle delicate perfume, which is markedly different from the odor of the cologne with which Mrs. Wethersby is liberally spraying herself. Immediately the girl's suspicions are confirmed, and she sends immediate instructions to the police. That night after the guests have retired, Miss Kirby steals along the dimly lighted hall, and listens with her ear against the wall outside Mrs. Wethersby's room. Suddenly she glides to the door, unlocks it with her duplicate key, and enters. Taking the revolver from the drawer of the desk, she waits quietly. After a few moments, the wall of the room slides out of place without a sound, and Mrs. Wethersby, herself the thief, enters through the secret panel, carrying the jewel boxes of the young heiress, whose room is next to hers. Confronted by the quiet figure of her secretary, Mrs. Wethersby rushes to the desk drawer. The discovery that the revolver is missing leaves her no other alternative than to await the arrival of the police, who quickly answer the young detective's signal.
- Jimmy Carter, a millionaire, leading an idle, indulgent life, gets an urgent message from his friend, Reginald Travers. Travers, who is dying, has been ruined in the stock market by Mortimer Reynolds, and penniless, he leaves his little daughter in care of Carter, who promises faithfully to look after her. After the death of Travers, Carter takes Ruth to his luxurious home and gives her to the motherly care of Mrs. Jenkins, his housekeeper, Mortimer Reynolds, anxious to add Ruth to his list of unfortunates, instructs his mistress, Edna Morris, to make her acquaintance and to gain her confidence. Carter and Reynolds become bitter enemies because of Reynold's sarcastic reflections on the relationship between Carter and Ruth. As time passes, Ruth, by her winsomeness and innocence gradually changes Carter's mode of life. He no longer feels an interest in the gay life of former days, and even loses his taste for the morning nip. Unconsciously, Ruth is transforming his sympathetic dutiful interest in her to love. In a moment of ecstasy he crushes her in his arms. At the Charity Ball, where Ruth is taking part in a tableau, she meets Edna Morris. Fearful of Reynold's wrath should she fail, the unhappy girl works her way into the graces of Ruth. Carter sees this and immediately takes Ruth home, refusing to explain his conduct to her. Meeting Ruth in the park the following day, Edna denounces Carter for his action of the previous evening, "Why should he object to me, pray? Everybody knows that your father didn't leave you a penny, and that you are living on the, shall I say, generosity, of Mr. Carter." Stunned by the revelation that she is looked upon as Carter's mistress, the impetuous little girl rushes to the house, and in a burst of fury, screams her hatred of Carter. In the still of the night, she makes her way out of the house to Edna's apartment. It is here that Reynolds finds her. Impelled by a fiendish lust, he forces her to partake of his wines, and slowly they begin to work their effect. Carter, who, in desperation, has been searching for her, finds her in the apartment, stupefied and disheveled. Disgusted and heartsore, he looks upon her contemptuously and leaves, feeling that she has gone the way of Edna. Mrs. Morris, Edna's mother, prompted by a subconscious feeling that all is not well with her child, comes to the house from her little cottage in the country. She takes both penitents back home with her, hoping that they may forget and begin life anew. Meanwhile, Reynolds, whose financial affairs have taken a turn for the worse, and who is being sought by the police for forgery, attempts to make his escape. He is caught by the police and so made to pay for the misery and misfortune which he has brought upon others. Miserable and despairing because Carter has mistaken her, Ruth can find no peace. But Edna, she who has dragged her to darkness and degradation, succeeds in lifting her once more to the light of hope. The once impetuous Ruth is again folded in the arms of Carter, knowing that there only will she find eternal happiness and peace of soul.
- Phyllis Boggs is courted by two suitors: the stuttering Mr. Carter; and Mr. Johnson, who has a very disturbing mannerism. Colonel Boggs, her father, is of the opinion that worthy men's affections are being trifled with and orders her to choose between them, emphatically forbidding her to entertain both. Between the stuttering of one and the funny mannerism of the other, Phyllis is not inclined to choose either. While Colonel Boggs is puzzling out some means of bringing matters to an issue, Phyllis, unbeknownst to her father, becomes acquainted with a masterful fellow, Mr. Graham. They are attracted to each other immediately and a love affair results. The colonel, under the impression that Phyllis is still in love with stuttering Carter or mannerism Johnson, summons them to his library and lays his plan before them in the hope that Phyllis will show her preference for one or the other. In order to win his daughter they must each in turn make their declaration of love to her without uttering a single word. In the drawing room adjoining the library Phyllis by chance overhears her father's plan and immediately telephones Mr. Graham, the hero of her dreams, that his proposal of marriage will now be accepted, providing he present himself at once and feign dumbness. Returning to the drawing room she finds Carter, who falls on his knees before her, frantically gesticulating in an attempt to convey his love. She drags him behind the screen to wait for his answer. Seemingly the coast is clear for Johnson, who enters boldly and makes a most laughable pantomimic proposal for her hand, but he too is hustled behind the screen. The masterful Mr. Graham now arrives, takes Phyllis into his arms, and without a word plants a resounding kiss upon her lips as a token of his sincere desire for her heart and hand. The loud kiss brings her father upon the scene; after receiving due explanations in sign language, he approves of his daughter's choice, much to the discomfort and consternation of Carter and Johnson, who make a hasty and extremely laughable exit.
- Feodor Turov, chief of the Russian Czar's secret police, orders his Cossacks to attack a village he believes to be infested with rebels. The Cossacks attack the village and massacre almost everyone, and the young Katerina is whipped to death. Before escaping to England, her sister Darya swears to avenge her sister's death. Years later--now one of the world's most famous prima ballerinas--she returns to Russia. Turov falls in love with her and manages to secure a meeting. She coyly asks him to take her to see a prison first. As it turns out, what he has planned for her is nothing compared to what she has planned for him.
- A wealthy young American, bred to class distinction and racial intolerance, enters the Marines during the First World War. In the course of his training and his experiences in the trenches fighting, being wounded by, and being hospitalized with Germans, he comes to a recognition of the equality and brotherhood of men.
- A monk tells a tale about a woman who can only surrender her heart to a man who can offer her jewels. A poor man falls in love with her and steals jewels off a statue of the Madonna to give to her.
- Unable to name the feeling, all of Gilchrist's companions felt a certain restraint when he came around. He diffused an air of gloom that was very depressing. They didn't realize that an unhappy marriage had embittered his life, and despite the fact that his wife and child were in want, he had forsaken both. Grace Gilchrist made a last appeal, realizing she would have to make her way in the world. She decided to impress Gilchrist's responsibilities on him by leaving their baby daughter in his care. She crept into his quarters and left the sleeping child on his bed with a note saying that he needed to provide for her until she could secure employment. The unexpected sight of the child startled him, but after reading the note he decided to shift the burden to someone else, and so he placed both child and note in Bootle's room and returned downstairs to watch the result. Bootle was astonished when he discovered the child. Adjutant and Mrs. Gray arrived while he was explaining matters, and as Gilchrist had made a remark about sending the baby to an orphan asylum, Bootle sought Mrs. Gray's advice. Her motherly heart caused her to take a great fancy to the child and it was arranged that she should find a nurse for her. Meantime Grace secured a position as companion to Countess Gourbolska. "Bootle's Baby" became the talk of the garrison and Bootle came in for a bit of gossip, while Gilchrist fanned the flame. Countess Gourbolska was invited to a house party, and as Grace accompanied her she was suddenly confronted with her own child. Her emotion was evident, and Gilchrist smiled sardonically as he watched Bootle assist her into the house. Bootle became interested in Grace, which was noticed by Gilchrist, and when she made another appeal to him he taunted her with Bootle's attentions. Matters were in this state and Bootle had even proposed to Grace, when the day of the regimental race arrived. Gilchrist's horse took an awful fall and before anything could be done the young officer expired. Later Grace decided to send for her baby. When Bootle brought her to the hotel he was greeted with a surprise, finding out Grace's real identity. Bootle renewed his suit, and was made happy by Grace's blushing assent never to separate Bootle from his baby.
- The third picture of the "What Happened to Mary" series, takes our interesting little heroine into the glare of the footlights where she gets her first introduction to the trials and pitfalls that beset the path of many girls who become disciples of Thespis. There is the typical manager who finally secures an "angel" (backer) in the person of John Chase, a rich young man-about-town. Each serves the other's purpose. Through a kindness done to poverty-stricken chorus girl Daisy, Mary is engaged as a "showgirl" in a musical comedy. During rehearsals Mary hears Daisy in her part so often that she learns it herself and when Daisy is taken ill on the opening night, Mary is given the part and makes a hit. Her fresh young face and unsophisticated ways have not escaped the eye of John Chase, the show's rich backer, and his pursuit of her is characteristic of this type of human vulture; she is flattered by being kept in the part, even after Daisy's recovery. He is continually by her in the wings, sends her flowers, and in 100 different ways tries the wiles of the man-of-the-world upon the innocent girl. At a banquet which Chase gives to the company Mary is lauded by Chase for saving the performance. Influenced by the wine she has taken, Daisy takes this personally and accuses Mary of stealing her part. Chase, also the worse for wine, condoles with Mary and at last tries to forcibly embrace her, to the others' amusement. The horror of the situation comes over Mary and she leaves in a burst of indignant wrath. Alone at home she sees two paths open to her: the wide, "Primrose Way" of the banquet she has just fled from; and the narrow path of honest endeavor. Which does she choose?
- Young Henry Clay Madison, a clerk, falls in love with Flossy Wilson, a prostitute from New York's East Side. Although she reforms under his influence, Flossy believes that she is unworthy of Madison and rejects his marriage proposal. Seventeen years later, Madison's nephew Bert, a social worker, falls in love with wanton Fifty-Fifty Mamie, reforms her and elicits her help in his work. Bert falls ill, and when Mamie tries to visit him, Madison, who now is concerned only with money, convinces her to give up the idea of marrying Bert. Mamie goes to work in Madison's canning factory to investigate conditions. In addition to employing children, Madison's factory has no fire escape and only one staircase, which catches fire, many children die and Mamie is seriously injured. Madison visits Mamie, who cries Bert's name in delirium. When Madison brings Bert, now recovered, Madison notices a photograph of Flossy, Mamie's mother and realizes that Mamie is his daughter. She dies in Bert's arms, and Madison resolves to toil for the welfare of workers and the end of child slavery.
- The forerunner of all serials, "What Happened to Mary" was a series of 12 monthly one-reel episodes, each a complete entity in itself, revolving its immediate dramatic and melodramatic problems within the framework of a single episode and designed more for story and suspense situations than action. Episode Titles (q.v.): #1: "The Escape from Bondage"; #2: "Alone in New York"; #3: "Mary in Stage Land"; #4: "The Affair at Raynor's"; #5: "A Letter to the Princess"; #6: "A Clue to Her Parentage"; #7: "False to Their Trust"; #8: "A Will and a Way"; #9: "A Way to the Underworld"; #10: "The High Tide of Misfortune"; #11: "A Race to New York"; #12: "Fortune Smiles."
- At the express wish of her father, Lucy Martin marries Leo Noakes, a stingy man and one twice her age. When they are at church one Sunday a fire breaks out and everybody manages to escape with the exception of Lucy, her husband and her former sweetheart, Walter. While Noakes sinks tremblingly upon the floor, Walter seizes Lucy and brings her to safety. Regardless of his many burns, he dashes back into the roaring flames and drags out old Noakes, But upon investigation it is discovered that he is dead. Even though he had been cruel and harsh to her, Lucy bewails his loss. Some time after the obsequies Lucy succumbs to the wooing of her former sweetheart.
- Some very greedy and selfish relatives are all after the failing old Martin Chuzzlewit's money. He is surrounded by all these sycophantic relatives that he truly despises whilst ill, each one only interested in getting their hands on his estate.
- The theft of an important document from the ambassador's residence leads his daughter to investigate the crime.
- Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke belonged to that curious group of people known as flat dwellers. They lived in a comfortable little apartment in the outskirts of the city, and were very happy. Unfortunately, they didn't know it. Mrs. Van Dyke had long cherished a desire to live in the country. Her imagination pictured the most charmingly Arcadian scenes wherein she and Van should live lives of angelic ease amid the peaceful clucking of chickens, and the lowing of kine. One day, overmastered by her desire, she went to a real estate agent, and told him exactly what she wanted in the way of a farm. The real estate agent nearly fainted, but his natural savoir faire came to his rescue and allowed him to brace up sufficiently to assure Mrs. Van Dyke. A few days later, the real estate agent sent word to Mrs. Van Dyke that he had exactly what she wanted. Mrs. Van Dyke was so delighted with the agent's glowing description that she persuaded her husband to rent the place on the spot. They made immediate arrangements for leaving, packed their furniture on an automobile van, and set out for their new home, without ever having seen it. When they did see it, they had their first real shock. To say that it was not exactly like the agent's description, is extremely mild. It was battered and weather-beaten, and tumbledown and everything else a self-respecting house should not be. After Van Dyke had fallen through the front porch; after they had wrestled vainly with a stubborn door; after they had suffered from the simple curiosity of their new neighbors; after they had attempted to cook their dinner on a smoking stove; after a night of inconceivable torment; after a two-mile walk for drinking water in the morning after all these things, the Van Dykes arrived at the sudden conclusion that the country was all very well in its way, so they went back to their apartment in the quiet, peaceful, city.
- A foreign spy poses as a chauffeur to obtain a secret letter.
- This is the fourth story about "What Happened to Mary." When Mary walked into the office of Raynor and Jones she basically caused a magnetic disturbance: Raynor badly needed a stenographer, and his trusted clerk Wilson instinctively disliked Mary. Wilson had been losing steadily at the stock game until he was almost wiped out, and his last hope lay in somehow securing enough money to carry his margin. He knew that it was customary for the collector to allow himself a half-hour to get to the bank, so at first chance he stole over to the collector's coat and set back his watch 30 minutes. As a consequence, the collector arrives at the bank after hours and is compelled to return with the money. Mr. Raynor is forced to put the money into the safe, and, watched by Wilson, he now proceeds to put the safe combination memorandum in his pocket, which hangs on the rack. Later, Wilson, in helping Raynor on with his coat, drops it. Wilson apologizes, takes the coat to the outer office to brush it, and steals the memorandum and hurriedly stashes it behind the washstand. Later, after Mr. Raynor has gone and Mary is preparing to go home, she chances to see the stolen memorandum, and like a flash Wilson's intention dawns upon her. Quickly she makes another memorandum, and changing the figures, replaces it. Wilson unsuspectingly gets the changed slip and asks Mary if she is going home. She makes an excuse about working late, and Wilson leaves. Mary now prepares for her vigil by procuring a revolver and switching off the lights. Hour after hour drags by and Mary gets weary. Suddenly she hears a key in the door and sees Wilson's shadow; she starts up and darts behind the screen. Wilson stealthily enters and Mary, tensely grasping the revolver, breathlessly waits. Swiftly he gets to work; back and forth the combination knob turns and now he tries the handle. Locked. Again and again he tries, the while feverishly consulting the false memorandum. He is beginning to despair. Suddenly he gets up and rushes into Raynor's private office. He must get that combination. This is Mary's opportunity. Stealthily she reaches the telephone and calls up Raynor's club. Explaining hurriedly the situation, she gets back behind the screen just in time to avoid Wilson, who rushes in like an infuriated beast. Again he tries the safe and again he is unsuccessful, and ripping out an oath, clenches his fists. This so startles Mary that she inadvertently makes a noise, which Wilson hears. Quickly turning, he rushes to the screen, only to find a revolver poked in his face. Nonplused for the moment, now he begins arduously to plead, but the revolver never wavers. Becoming frantic, he beseeches and implores. Mary feels that she cannot hold out much longer. She throws the screen toward Wilson and the fight is on. Suddenly the door is thrown open and Mr. Raynor, his brother and an officer rush in. Mary collapses. Wilson is arrested and the next morning Mr. Raynor's brother, whose admiration for Mary is unbounded because of her pluck the night before, succeeds in getting Mr. Raynor's consent to her going to Europe on a private diplomatic mission for him.
- Joe, the hostler at the "Magpie," wooed and won fair Annie and through years of cloudless sky a baby crept into their house and grew into childhood. One day down the lane chanced a gentleman to roam. Little baby laughed and smiled at him and the child that Joe and Annie had prayed for brought about the mother's sin. 'Ostler Joe came home one night to find the house deserted. Fair Annie had listened to tales of a great city and, forgetting everything, love, honor, child and husband, she had gone with the handsome gentleman who had passed by one day. Years passed by and Annie rose to fame and glory, but the law of compensation followed out its course. One day Joe read in the paper that the woman he had loved and who had deserted him, was dying in a London garret, destitute, poverty-stricken and alone. Death found her locked in those strong arms that had held her as a bride, and whose love had never faltered; a great, strong love that was higher and deeper than sin and a woman's weakness, greater than doubt and hatred and revenge, and so it is that the stone above her grave bears the sacred name of wife.
- In this story the daughter of a Tory squire, in sympathy with the Continentals, is made to assist the operations of General Washington through her sweetheart, a young officer and scout, serving in Washington's army. The sweetheart receives a note from the girl to the effect that General Rahl will entertain her father at the Hessian headquarters on Christmas night. The young officer calls to see the girl while on a reconnoitering expedition and finds one of the Hessian officers at her home. The Hessian attempts to capture the American scout, but is wounded in a desperate hand to hand encounter, after which the officer hastens to give the signal to General Washington, which brings the army to Trenton. Washington and his soldiers defeat the Hessians and capture the entire force. The capture of the officers while at their feast forms a dramatic climax to this interesting picture. The girl's father is among them, but through her sweetheart, the young scout, she successfully pleads for his freedom which Washington grants. The old Tory is so grateful that he withdraws his opposition to the young scout's suit for his daughter's hand and they receive his paternal blessing.
- This is the first of a series of stories concerning a girl called Mary, and it shows her first adventure at the age of a few weeks, when she is brought in a basket and secretly left in the store of one Billy Peart. The note which accompanies her, promises Billy that if he provides for her and finally sees her married to some village boy, a thousand dollars will be sent to him in addition to the five hundred which is left with the child. Of course the note is unsigned and of course Mary's parentage is therefore in doubt. After this prologue the story takes up this action. Mary is eighteen years of age and Billy has made up his mind that it is about time to fulfill the suggestion of the note and marry her to some village chap. He finds a young country lad, Tuck Wintergreen, who shows a decided preference for the girl and invites him to go ahead and win her, promising his own influence as backing for his suit. But Mary has become a dreamer and is in no mind to marry. She has made a friend of an old fisherman and sails with him in his boat, listening to tales of the great world. On one eventful day a magnificent yacht anchors in the harbor and Mary hears of the life of people who own such boats. The old fisherman, gives her a twenty-dollar pocket piece of his, telling her to keep it until the time comes when she goes forth to see the great world, and that it will help her on her way. When she returns to the ice cream parlor kept by Billy Peart, she finds the yacht people to be served with ice cream and while admiring their smart yachting suits and good breeding, she thinks of the twenty-dollar gold piece. Billy Peart sees her fondling it and takes it from her, the result is a quarrel which drives the yacht folk away from the store and sends Mary, hot for revenge, to the sitting room upstairs. There she remembers seeing Billy lock something in a drawer and in her frenzy she tugs at the drawer until the front, which has not been firmly glued, comes off and she finds herself in possession of a roll of money and a note. The note which she reads, makes her realize that she does not belong to Billy Peart, and that she has a right to flee from the life of the little country store. She defies Billy and runs to the wharf, where she begs the old fisherman to take her to the mainland. When Billy follows her, her staunch friend holds him on the pier while Mary sails away with the boat to freedom and the future, which will be told in some other stories.
- Becky, a child, is left an orphan by the death of her father and is consigned to the tender mercies of the Misses Pinkertons, who conduct a fashionable school for girls. Becky feels keenly the semi-charitable nature of her life, and, when kindly-hearted Amelia Sedley invites her home, she eagerly accepts. It is then that Becky, the child, becomes Becky, the adventuress, cold, calculating and selfish. With the entrance of Becky into the peaceful Sedley home comes misfortune. Sedley goes bankrupt. Old man Osborne promptly breaks the engagement between Amelia and his son, George. Becky lays her traps for Joseph Sedley, Amelia's brother, and nearly succeeds in her designs on that self-satisfied young man. Urged by his faithful friend, Captain Dobbin, George marries Amelia. This change throws Becky into new surroundings. She goes to Queen's Crawley and enters the most active sphere of her existence. Her adventures with old Pit Crawley, her marriage to Rawdon Crawley, their poverty Becky's flirtation with Lord Steyne and her subsequent separation from Rawdon, the Battle of Waterloo and the death of George Osborne are all faithfully portrayed incidents of Thackeray's novel.
- Fred Bowers, a fisherman, is going out to the fishing grounds in his motorboat one morning when he sees an aeroplane in trouble. The aeroplane falls into the water, and Fred, going to its assistance, saves George Almy, the aviator, from drowning. Almy repays his rescuer by proceeding to fall in love with the girl Fred intends to marry. Ruth, the girl in question, is at first unable to make up her mind, but Almy's polished manner and suave ways soon begin to have an effect, and she finally decided to elope with him. Fred, in his motorboat, sees them starting out in another boat, and follows them. Almy, discovering that they are followed, puts on all speed in an attempt to escape, but finding that it is useless, puts Ruth in a deserted shack on the shore, and with her wraps still in his boat, sets out again with the idea of leading Fred astray far down the coast, and then of landing and making his way back to Ruth by automobile. Fred, seeing Ruth's wraps in Almy's boat, believes she is still there, and follows. Finally, after a desperate chase, he overhauls the ex-aviator. A terrific fight ensues in which the brawny fisherman is eventually victorious. Meanwhile, Ruth, shut in the shack, discovers that the tide is beginning to overflow the floor. As time passes, the water grows higher and higher. She is boxed in like a rat in a trap with no possibility of escape. Fred finally succeeds in forcing Almy to confess where he has left the girl. Overcome with horror at the realization of what the rising tide will do, he bends every effort to get to the shack in time. He gets there just as Ruth has given up all hope, and rescues her from the hungry waters. Needless to say, Ruth realizes that she has made a mistake, accepts Fred, and dismisses the ungrateful Almy from her affections.
- It is about midnight. A gathering of sports is watching a cock fight. After two "rounds" the small game cock whips the big "rooster" and the party breaks up. Waddy and Arty, farmhands, are in the neighborhood of the chicken house early the next morning when Nora calls them to mail a letter. In the meantime, Mr. Rogers, owner of the place, observes the many chinks in the chicken house and leaves a notice for the men, which he tacks up on the house. It reads: "Close up all the chinks in the chicken coop." After delving into various lexicons and soliciting opinions from the authorities on the place, Waddy and Arty decide that "close up" means to "shut up" and "chinks" means "Chinamen." Accordingly, they corral a Celestial and lock him up in the chicken house. The unfortunate Chinaman has a battle with the big rooster with the honors about even. Then the farmhands go in search of another chink. They find him and after a chase succeed in shutting him into the chicken house. As they push him in, however, Chinaman No. 1 slips out and there is another chase. The native of the Orient proves to be quite an acrobat, and even a tight wire walker. He is captured in front of the house he has entered by way of an upper window, after walking along a telegraph wire at a dizzy height. After knocking him unconscious in a very indifferent manner, the farmhands carry him back to the chicken coop. While they are busy making the last catch, Nora has hied herself to the henhouse for eggs. The entrapped Chinaman uses her for a target when she opens the door and "spills" a few eggs all over her, Mr. Rogers appears on the scene as the farmhands reappear with the unfortunate Chinaman. Explanations are in order, and when the farmhands learn their stupidity, there is a very ludicrous scene. The Chinamen, having found money dropped by Mr. Rogers, are rewarded by him as the farmhands gaze with open mouths.
- The only thing in the world old Grouchy, the stage-door keeper at the Zephyr Theater cared about was his little granddaughter, Dolly. Dolly loved the theater. The music, the bright lights, and, above all, the beautiful dresses worn by the actresses, filled her with delight. One day Dolly heard Paul, a boy actor, who played the part of a little girl, complaining bitterly upon the distastefulness of his task. His masculine sense of superiority was offended by the necessity of wearing girl's clothes. Dolly heard him and was astonished. It seemed absolutely incredible to her that anybody should object to the inestimable privilege of wearing the beautiful dresses assigned to Paul's part. That evening the leading lady was late for the second act. Making up hastily, she forgot to remove her jewels, until she was on her way to the stage. Since there was no time to take them back to her dressing room, she put them in the first object that presented itself, the coat of Paul's costume, which was hanging on the wall of another room. That night when she had finished, the actress went home, completely forgetting all about the jewels. That same evening Dolly stole into Paul's dressing room and abstracted his clothes. She ingenuously argued that since he did not want them, there could be no possible harm in her taking them. The next afternoon she arrayed herself in the clothes and set out for a walk. Shortly after she had left, the actress remembered her jewels. When she went to look for them, and discovered that the coat was missing, she insisted on an immediate clearing up of the mystery. When Dolly came back from her walk she was just in time to extricate her grandfather from the embarrassing position, the finding of some of the clothes in the closet where Dolly had hidden them, had placed him.