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- The boob is working in a country grocery store. One day, a farmer gets in an argument with him. Words lead to a fight and the farmer chases the boob out and up the street. In his endeavor to escape be jumps into an auto driven by a girl from the city who lives near the store. The girl assists him to escape. In the girl the boob sees the girl of his dreams, but in him the girl sees merely a boob. A traveling show comes to town and advertises for extra people for their show. The boob applies and gets the job. After several blunders he gets his part and comes out on the stage. The girl and her father are in the audience and see the boob make an ass of himself. A fire breaks out in the theater during which there is a stampede for the exits. The girl is left in the burning theater. Her father tries to save her but cannot face the flames. The boob rushes in and saves the girl's life. Shortly afterward, the girl and her father leave for the city and leave a note for the boob. The girl tells him that if he ever comes to the city to be sure and call upon her. Enclosed in the note he finds a check from her father telling him to use his own judgment in disposing of the money, but he would suggest that he use it in getting an education. The girl in the city grows tired of society life and longs for a real man. The shallow life and selfishness of the people she comes in contact with disgusts her. The boob has taken the girls advice and secured a college education. He returns to her rejuvenated and she is very much surprised at the change in him. The boob has indeed become another man. With the development of his mind, his character and even looks have changed. In him the girl sees all that she has been wishing for.
- With the help of futuristic technical inventions, a private detective investigates a bizarre murder case involving mysterious messages delivered in a small black box by the killer.
- A woman is in love with a dashing Army lieutenant, but her father refuses to consent to give him her hand. The daughter appeals to her father's patriotism, but when he fails to relent, declares her own independence.
- Mr. Crabb has a wife who is addicted to flirting. A young novelist receives a letter from a woman admirer who signs herself Alice R., and who makes an appointment with him in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. The novelist and Alice R. start out to keep the appointment. As a stranger passes the apartment house of Mr. and Mrs. Crabb, the latter flirts with him; whereupon Mr. Crabb who has seen the action, sets out with his wife to make an example of the stranger. Meanwhile, Alice R. has arrived at the park with the novelist. Mr. Crabb has a fight with the stranger and is knocked down for his pains. The Crabbs continue on and go for a stroll in the park. The novelist mistakes the wife of Mr. Crabb for Alice R. and speaks to her. Mrs. Crabb in the meantime has been flirting with another man and her husband goes for a policeman. The novelist and Mrs. Crabb chat for a few moments and then the latter suddenly leaves him on seeing her husband in the distance. Alice R., who has been taking a glass of soda, leaves the fountain and comes upon the novelist. The latter is doubly surprised to meet her. Mr. and Mrs. Crabb become separated and Mr. Crabb mistakes Alice R. for his wife. Several amusing situations follow in rapid succession, in which Mr. Crabb is nearly arrested. Husband and wife return home, while the novelist again meets Alice R. and tells her that she was the inspiration for his novel.
- A man robs his mill-owning brother-in-law and frames a weaver.
- Jeanne Doré's profligate husband is hopelessly addicted to gambling, and is threatened with expulsion from his club because of his heavy indebtedness to another gambler member. Confessing his disgrace to his wife (Mme. Bernhardt), she offers to save him from disgrace by selling her jewels. With the money thus obtained he goes to his club, determined to pay his debts and live up to the pledge he has made to his wife to gamble no more. However, the lure of the roulette wheel overcomes his resolve; he loses all his money on "just one more turn of the wheel," and rather than face his disgrace, commits suicide. Left with her young son to support, Jeanne Doré is forced to sell her remaining possessions and live as best she can until her husband's uncle takes pity upon her and buys for her a small stationery shop in Paris. Here mother and son prosper until the boy reaches early manhood. One day he falls suddenly and violently in love with a married woman, who comes to his mother's shop to make purchases. An intrigue with the unscrupulous female leads the young man to murder the same uncle who had befriended himself and mother. The youth, with the assistance of Jeanne Doré, makes good his escape. Well clear of immediate capture, the boy comes back to the scene of his crime and succeeds in his efforts to once more affect a liaison with his mistress. By accident he is discovered and captured, thrown into jail, is tried and convicted of the murder and sentenced to the guillotine. Even in these desperate straits he seeks to gain some response to his affection for the woman, who promptly spurned and repudiated him. He prevails upon his devoted mother to become a messenger in his service and her appeals, likewise, fall upon deaf ears. Instead of telling the boy that her quest has been fruitless, Jeanne Doré goes to the prison herself, on the evening before the boy's neck is to be given to the knife, and poses as the woman he had expressed himself, to his own mother, as the one he most wished to see. The boy goes to the guillotine, and the final scene depicts the devoted mother in the extreme agony of watching, from a window across the street, the execution of her son.
- Sloane, a retired multimillionaire, disputed the contentions of Van Dyke that clothes and money makes the man, and upheld his views that any man with ordinary intelligence can be made a man of culture and education. To prove his argument, he takes a man from one of the mills of his friends. Larry O'Neill, tall and powerful and young, swung his heavy sledge with powerful blows. Sloane guessed he would do. And so, after a little parley, Larry sat on the edge of a chair in Sloane's mansion that evening while Sloane explained the proposition. And so it came about that Larry was dressed in the latest cut of clothes of the best materials and became Mr. Lawrence O'Neill, with iron and steel interests. He made a hit at the club at the start. Larry made a greater hit at Mildred Harmon's reception, putting Van Dyke and one or two others of the club to rout in the race for Mildred's favors. But he kept his head, and conducted himself altogether in such a way that old man Sloane was proud of him and bore him away to the regret of everybody but Van Dyke. But Larry had started something. It grew and ripened until it was an everyday sight to see Mildred and Mr. O'Neill in the park on their horses. One day while aeroplaning, Larry had a chance to protect Mildred, and under these romantic circumstances before he thought, grabbed and kissed her. Panic-stricken at the enormity of his offense, Larry fled as fast as possible, but Mildred didn't seem to think it was such a terrible thing and from the way she smiled, the coward might have had another, if he hadn't run away. Larry sat in his room thinking hard and lecturing himself. "A conscience is a terrible thing to have to live with sometimes," he said, "I am a blackguard and a four-flusher. It was fun while it lasted, but the masquerade has gone far enough. I will go and tell her who I am and then go back to the anvil." Larry went back to the rolling mills, but one o'clock in the morning used to find him poring over a book on the manufacture of iron, though at times Mildred's face would appear on the page and blot out the words. And one o'clock often found old man Sloane thinking of Larry as he sat in his big, dim library, just as it found Mildred curled up in her big armchair in the firelight, looking with wide eyes into the dying embers. But on her face there was a smile. The hard study began to tell. Pretty soon Larry was telling the foreman how to do some things, and then he invented a process that made the grayheads in the carpeted office sit up and take notice. Within a year it was "Supt. O'Neill." Then followed a note from Mildred. And Larry made a bold stroke for an interest in the firm, and got it. With it all he got the girl of his heart by proving himself a gentleman.
- Nan Brenner is a toiler in one of the large department stores. Her mother, built on a large scale physically, virtually overawes the household. Her husband, failing to make a living in the past, she has taken in washing and forces him to do the labor. As a compensation for his work she gives him ten cents on every dollar that she makes. This sum immediately goes to swell the funds of the liquor trust. Jimmy Ford is a shipping clerk in a large wholesale house. Every evening he catches the car as it comes through the wholesale district and as the crowds usually get on downtown he always has a seat. He has noticed Nan many times and has offered his seat many times. She refuses each time. One rainy day he goes through the same routine and while waiting for Nan to take the seat, a laborer slips into it. Jimmy expostulates and a fight ensues, in which Jimmy throws the laborer out. Nan is weary and thankfully sinks into the disputed seat. When Nan goes to get off, she notices Jimmy has left his umbrella in the seat and takes it to him. He gets off with her and offers to share the umbrella with her. She at first refuses, and then reluctantly agrees. Jimmy gets a promise from Nan that she will go with him for a walk through the park the coming Sunday. At last the long awaited day arrives and the two lighthearted young folks set out. Passing several of her acquaintances. Nan hears them remark that she has a "steady." Near the zoo they see a poor drunken sot who is being baited by a crowd of boys. Nan, with horror, realizes it is her father. Jimmy, not knowing him, takes pity on him and runs the boys off and offers to take him home. Nan tells him it is her father and he tells to go on ahead that he will bring him home. Nan thinks her newly-found romance is over, for when they arrive home, Jimmy will see her home life as it really is. When Jimmy arrives home with the old man, his wife abruptly jerks him out of Jim's hands without even a word of thanks for his kindness. Nan has gone to her room and thrown herself sobbing upon the bed. As Jimmy starts to leave, he hears her and timidly knocks on her door. She bids him enter and he bashfully tells her that they had better go back and finish the rest of the peanuts he purchased. Out in the park later is found a young couple. The girl is shaking with sobs, while her protector has his arms around her vainly trying to soothe her. At last she raises her head and looks searchingly at him. Satisfied with her scrutiny, she surrenders into his eager embarrassed arms and as the story ends Jimmy takes his toll of kisses.
- The four young married folks were all cursed with the artistic temperament, but unfortunately, in humoring it, they all got into the same studio unknown to each other. Bill's wife went to look at paintings. Bill went because he saw a swell-looking model going thither, and the latter's husband went because he imagined himself a connoisseur. Bill got confused at so much art and tried to tickle a lady's toes. She turned out to be his own wife and Bill made a quick exit back to the next room where the other model was. Her husband entered at this moment and didn't like to see his wife in draperies and a pleasant smile. He showed his displeasure so strongly that Bill put on a gladiator's suit to avoid the smoke and excitement. This didn't help him as a policeman tried to arrest him for indecency. Bill tried hard to escape. His wife also ran. The other husband and wife also got into the running, followed by two persistent cops who attempted to shield the ladies from the public's gaze with their coats. Everybody fell into a big ditch except Bill, who got out and covered the rest up with wet sand.
- A jealous Scot trails his wife to a café.
- Captain Nelson, in the employ of John Mendon, owner of a ship company, is in love with Virginia Mendon. John Randall, a secret service officer in the employ of the Board of Marine Underwriters, is also in love with Virginia. Captain Nelson, in command of the sailing vessel "Aggie Norde," is about to leave San Francisco for a European port, but before leaving, determines to state his affection to Virginia and is overwhelmed when he alights from his taxicab to see Virginia kissing Randall good-bye. Nelson waits until Randall leaves, then seeks Virginia and tells her of his love. She tells him she is engaged to Randall. He pleads with her for an engagement that evening, but she tells him that she has a supper engagement at Captain Robinson's home. Nelson, depressed, leaves, and to quiet his unsteady nerves, tries to drown his troubles in drink. Two sailors of his crew meet him in the saloon and Nelson tells them of his trouble. One sailor suggests that he capture Virginia and take her aboard the ship, where she will belong to him and him only. Although a good man, Nelson, in a fit of anger and passion, decides to have Virginia kidnapped and assigns the two sailors to the task. She is kidnapped on her way home from Captain Robinson's, and taken aboard the sailing vessel. The following morning her father discovers her absence and is heartbroken. Randall, in the meantime, has been put on the trail of a gang of salvage pirates and is busy on the case while Virginia is suffering the agonies and tortures of the damned. The first mate of the sailing vessel, who has always been a loyal friend of Mr. Mendon, discovers that Virginia is aboard and declares mutiny aboard ship. With a gang of men he tries to save her from the clutches of the captain. A contraband cargo for European disposal is ignited during the battle which ensues between the captain and the mate's crew and the ship is blown to atoms. Virginia is the only one aboard the ship whose life has been spared, and the salvage pirates, seeing the ship wrecked, determine to get whatever gear and equipment can be saved. Arriving at the burning vessel, they find Virginia almost drowned. A battle between the two salvage crews takes place on the high seas, and another battle between the winning crew and the secret service boat, make the story intensely interesting and highly sensational. Virginia, who has been taken ashore to the salvage pirate's camp, is later discovered by Randall, who has finally found the men he is looking for. The men are brought to justice and Virginia is returned to her home, where she again declares her love for the secret service officer.
- Professor Schultz invents a mechanical life-sized doll. By pressing the right button on its back it will dance or sing. Now little Lillian, the spoilt daughter of Heinie Gotrocks, reads a newspaper account of Prof. Schultz's invention. She will not let up on dad until he promises to buy this mechanical doll for her nursery. The family go to inspect the toy, and Gotrocks promises Prof. Schultz $20,000 for his invention, to be paid when delivered. Gotrocks and his family depart. Prof. Schultz and his helper, all flustered at the prospect of securing the $20,000, are carefully packing the big doll when the janitor, cleaning the toy shop, carelessly upsets the doll box and puts the manikin out of business. Schultz and his helper are enraged. Something must be done, or the twenty thousand is lost. They then notice that the offending janitor is exactly the same size as the injured manikin. They force him to imitate the doll and don its costume. He rebels to no purpose. They promise to relieve him as soon as the doll is repaired and carry him in the doll's place to the home of Gotrocks. Little Lillian is more than delighted with her new possession. The janitor's imitations of the actions of the real doll get by. It was all very fine at first, but as time passed, it ceased to be a joke. He was made to perform day and night at little Lillian's parties, and his stomach grew more and more empty. His frantic appeals over the telephone to Prof. Schultz only brought him the advice to stay on just a little longer as repairs were being rushed on the real doll. Now, Gotrock's butler had caught the janitor off his guard several times and had a well-founded suspicion that the supposed manikin was a fake. In fact, later events proved to him he was certainly right. The butler's endeavor to prove to Gotrocks got him "in bad," however, for Prof. Schultz arrived in the nick of time with the real mechanical doll, thereby allowing the mighty thankful janitor not only to escape his dreadful position but to get back on the butler for the indignities suffered at the latter's hands. When Gotrocks and his family are shown the mechanical doll is no fake, they put down the recent escapades of the janitor to the fact that the twenty thousand dollar doll must have slipped a cog.
- William Conway, a slave to drink, is at last told by his wife that he will have to leave her for their own good and her own health and happiness. She urges him to fight against the craving for liquor and to try to overcome it. If he succeeds, she promises to take him back and start life over. He accepts the terms and goes to the distant mountains to fight it out alone. In the mountain resort lives Beth, the daughter of the hotel keeper, who has a childish love affair with Charles Vassar, a boy of the mountains. Upon the arrival of Conway, Beth appoints herself his guide. They become firm friends, but Charles grows jealous, imagining it a love affair. After several weeks, the story of his trouble is told to Beth by Conway. She sympathizes with him and in a burst of affection throws her arms about his neck. Charles, seeing this, is driven wild with anger and charges Conway with having stolen his sweetheart, at the same time attempting to shoot him. Conway grabs the gun and pulling a telegram from his pocket, which he has received that morning from the city, shows it to the boy. The telegram reads: "Come home. Your wife and newborn son need you. Lovingly, your wife." Charles realizes his mistake and from a distant rock. Conway sees the happy reunion of the young sweethearts.
- Arthur Graham is confidential clerk to Edmund Stewart, and he and his employer's daughter are very much in love with each other. He receives a letter from his brother, James, who has just finished serving a prison term, telling him that he intends to live a straight life hereafter. There is a happy reconciliation between the brothers and Arthur manages to secure a place for his brother in the same office in which he works. Edmund Stewart is in hard straits for money and realizes that some bonds that he holds in trust would tide him over his financial trouble. He is sorely tempted. Next day at the office he gets a note from a friend telling him that James Graham, who is now in his employ, is an ex-convict. Stewart calls James into his office and while he is questioning him strikes upon a scheme to overcome his monetary difficulties. He tells James that he has some bonds in his safe and that if "someone" were to steal them he could get ready money for them in Europe, and James reluctantly consents to do the deal. That night he makes his preparations and slips to the house. Edmund Stewart has fixed things so James will have an easy time getting in. Arthur and his sweetheart, Mabel, have selected this night to elope, and she is impatiently waiting for his arrival when she hears the noise of an explosion. She runs in with a gun in hand just as the burglar is dropping out of the window and shoots him. He drops to the ground. Stewart has been watching things from the garden and sees his daughter. He runs to them and arrives just as Arthur Graham comes up, having heard the noise of the shot. There is recognition and Mabel stands back in horror, thinking the man she was about to marry is the brother of a thief. James, believing he is mortally wounded, tells them of the agreement between Stewart and himself. Arthur corners Stewart and forces him to tell the truth of the matter. James is found to be only slightly wounded and some time later Arthur and Mabel come to visit him. Stewart pleads for forgiveness, which is freely granted, and the story ends happily for all concerned.
- Harry was hungry but the store man was unsympathetic and told him to beat it. Harry then sent his dog after provisions, but a cop interfered and the dog bit him on the calf. Harry escaped, but the cop had him spotted for future reference. Meantime, Hank was having disagreements with his girl's father and his rival. Both were quarrelsome and it was not until Hank got a couple of kicks in the face that he realized it was useless to try and make up with them. He met the girl in the park after father had thrown him out the window. Another annoyance arose here when a gink tried to horn in and flirt with his girl. Hank got this intruder safely disposed of when Harry and his dog appeared. The cop who was trailing them also appeared. Hank hit Harry. Harry bit a bystander and the dog bit the cop again. All of them went into the lake except the girl and she went off with another fellow.
- A squire's son and a miner's son join the Scouts and foil a gypsy spy supplying petrol to U-boats.
- Jane and her brother live in the north woods. Jim, a ne'er-do-well, is in love with Jane and she reciprocates his affections. Jane's brother, Tom is a member of the Northwestern Mounted Police, and while on a furlough, notes the growing change in Jane. One day he surprises her while in Jim's arms. Tom recognizes Jim as a card shark and drunkard and warns his sister of the man. Jane, lover like, refuses to believe any ill of her sweetheart. Tom goes back to his patrol and one day receives a summons to arrest a murderer. Jim has engaged in a card game, is caught cheating, and kills his accuser. He escapes and goes to the girl's home. While he is trying to get her to help him get away her brother Tom comes on the scene. He tells Jane of the man's record and she tells him she knows it and that he must help Jim escape Tom thinks of his oath and refuses. He and Jim engage in a fight. Jane gets Tom's gun and is going to hold him while Jim escapes. The murderer gets a knife and is about to attack Tom when the call of her blood rises within Jane and she shoots her former lover thus saving the life of her own blood brother.
- Harvey Clay is called "The Stranger" in Boulder. He is well liked by the young folks for his happy-go-lucky ways, but the parents, suspicious of his silence, will have none of him. Jim Daley is especially prejudiced, for his son, Bert, has taken to drinking and gambling since the "stranger" arrived; he has also made inroads in the affections of Bliss Daly. The sheriff of Boulder County loves Bliss and wishes to make her his wife. Lucy Kent arrives home from college. She is the daughter of the wealthiest rancher in the valley. The Kent and Daly ranches adjoin and in their childhood, Lucy plighted her troth to Bert, so it is natural that when she returns, a beautiful young lady, Bert feels he has a claim on her. She encourages Bert till the "stranger" crosses her path, when she transfers her affections to him. At last Clay urges Lucy to elope. She consents but later backs out. Bert comes from hiding, confronts Clay and accuses him of evil intentions. Clay taunts him; Bert jumps upon him. A struggle takes place between them. In the tussle Clay's gun drops to the ground. The "stranger" throws Bert from him and with a sneer at Bert's poor showing as a fighter, walks away. Bert finds the gun and is about to shoot when he thinks better of it. But later, under the influence of liquor, the murderous inclination again passes him. He starts out determined to find Clay. Hidden in the brush, he sees Lucy about to depart with Clay. He becomes crazed, levels the gun and fires at Clay. Lucy, however, makes a sudden move away from Clay and receives the bullet. She falls apparently dead. Bert is horror-struck. He throws the gun from him and runs away filled with terror. A crowd of ranchers soon gathers. Clay is dazed at the sudden turn of affairs and remains silent; the gun is found and proves to belong to the "stranger." The crime is naturally attributed to him and he is arrested. Bert returns home to Bliss, looking for money with which to clear out of the country. He breaks down, and confesses to Bliss. She is heart-broken but helps him to get away. Later she learns through the sheriff that Harvey Clay has been arrested for the crime. An immense mob surrounds the jail intent on lynching Clay. The sheriff asks Daly to assist him in restoring order and again Bliss is thrown into a panic, for she realizes how futile their puny efforts will be. By careful maneuvering, she leads the sheriff into a love declaration. While in his embrace she contrives to get the keys to the jail. Another urgent call is made for the sheriff and he tears himself away from his love-making. Bliss, on horseback, loses no time in making a cross-cut to the jail. She creeps along the rear of the buildings, sees the guards called off duty to assist in holding the front of the jail against the mob. She enters the rear of the jail, finds Clay's cell and leads him out to liberty. Bert has reached the nearest large town. He sees an account in the newspapers of the shooting, learns that Clay has been arrested and that mob violence is feared. He has a conflict with conscience and decides to return and face the consequence of his act. The crowd in front of the jail is beyond the control of the law-abiding. Guns are drawn and the sheriff, seeing that other lives are in danger, promises to hand over the prisoner. He reaches for his keys, finds them gone and is puzzled. The mob will not wait, however. They wreck the jail and force an entrance followed by the sheriff. They find the prisoner gone and abuse the sheriff. The sheriff decides to return to the Daly ranch where he remembers having the keys last. Poor Bliss meanwhile has started her long journey home, making desperate haste. She hears a horse's hoofs behind and scrambles into hiding. She sees the sheriff gallop by and fear possesses her but she goes on. The sheriff reaches the ranch, sees the evidence of Bliss' hasty departure and a terrible doubt takes hold of him. He has been tricked by Bliss so she could set her lover free. At this critical moment Bliss staggers in and falls fainting. His suspicions confirmed, he takes the keys and, heart-broken, is about to leave when Bert bursts into the room. He gives himself up to the sheriff, confessing his guilt. He in turn learns there is a chance for Lucy's recovery. The sheriff is overcome on learning that Bliss' concern was really for her brother's sake. He tenderly lifts her up and places her in her brother's arms. He tells them as far as he is concerned Bert's confession shall never be used against him. In the due course of time Lucy recovers and Bert devotes his life to her. Bliss has also learned her lesson and can appreciate the true worth of men like Sheriff Howe.
- Ruth Chalmers, head saleslady in a department store, is in love with architect Harry Edmonds. Rather than wait until Harry has made good, they decide to wed at once, and both work and save to buy a house. One evening after work they are married, and the next morning Ruth returns to work. The female employees are informed that all married women are to be discharged, so Ruth and Harry decide to keep their marriage a secret. Harry is visited by wealthy businessman Henry Allison and ordered to prepare plans for a large residence. In the course of his business with Allison, Harry meets his daughter Alice. To keep up the appearance of being single, Ruth still lives with her grandmother. Some months later, Gardner, the floorwalker, falls in love with Ruth. Harry's calls upon Ruth become less frequent, and she finds that he is paying attention to Alice. The work on Allison's house is about to start, and Harry is waiting for the final plans to be approved. Ruth calls at the office and tells Harry that their baby will soon arrive. Alice enters as Ruth leaves, and Ruth overhears Harry tell her that she is the only one he loves and that Ruth is nothing to him hut a friend. At this she is heartbroken. Finally the baby arrives, and Ruth returns to the store to make money to support herself and the child. The girls shun her, not knowing that she is married. Despite her supposed misstep, Gardner is still in love with Ruth and treats her as he always has, and Ruth realizes that she loves him, but she still doesn't tell him of her marriage to Harry, who has virtually disappeared from her life. Harry, who has not seen Ruth for some time, goes to the Allison house, which is under construction, and is injured in an accident. He is taken to a hospital, and knowing that a grave operation is confronting him, calls for Ruth, realizing at last that he loves her and not Alice. Ruth leaves the store, being summoned to the hospital, and comes to Harry's bedside. He begs her forgiveness, which she grants, telling him that she has ceased to love him. Harry's injuries proves fatal. Ruth returns to the store, where she shows that she is under great excitement over the affair. Gardner offers to walk home with her after work, and asks her to let him share her troubles. Then Ruth tells him of her marriage. Later, after the last vestige of grief has vanished, Gardner proposes to her and is accepted.
- Abner Stebbins, Martin's crony, has a daughter, Helen, whom he wishes to marry to the bank clerk. Richard Willis, who is a "swell dresser," but addicted to the use of alcoholic beverages, unknown to Abner. Abner's clerk, Harry Matson, and Helen are simply "made for each other" and Helen does not take to the idea of tying up with the bank clerk as she knows some of his bad habits Abner, however, can't see things that way and insists that she marry him. He also takes occasion to "bawl" Harry out for daring to think of marrying his daughter. The two youthful lovers seek out their mutual friend, Martin Lowe, and find him engrossed in a very interesting magazine story. He puts his book aside and they pour their tale of woe into his sympathetic ears. He agrees with them and promises to use his utmost efforts in bringing the girl's father to their way of thinking. Martin finds his old friend engrossed in a magazine story and eating peanuts "by the peck." He is welcomed in and offered some of the "fruit." Martin tactfully tries to talk Stebbins into letting the two youngsters have their way, but in vain. At last, desperate, he tells Abner of a seemingly true story wherein a father forces his daughter to marry a man of his own choice, who turns out to be a drunkard and abuses his wife shamefully. Both old men are touched by the story and wipe the tears away. Just as the story is finished, Willis comes in with a "jag" on. They tell him he has been drinking and he indignantly disavows the charge and leaves. The two lovers some along and give him the merry ha! ha! which insults his dignity more. The two lovers come into the office to learn their fate, and so diplomatic has been the work of "the fixer" that her father grudgingly agrees to the match. Martin then takes out the two to a celebration at the soda fountain. Stebbins, although he appears to have been taken in by Martin's story, is not so dense as he appeared and, slyly going to Martin's room, finds the identical magazine he had been reading telling the story that Martin claimed as his own. In a spirit of fun he marks across the page the word "plagiarist" and, Martin, coming home from his celebration with the two lovers, finds the book. His poor old brain whirls when he tries to figure out the word. As the story closes the old man is seen painfully searching out the word in the dictionary.
- Three boys love the one girl, and when they all call upon her at the same time she becomes befuddled and tells them to come back on the morrow. The boys leave and stop on the way at a cigar store. Neal makes a sneak back, but is missed and they chase him to the door, dragging him back. Next day they are all in suspense. Ben is a believer in the old adage: "The early bird gets the worm," and leaves early for the house. As he is reconnoitering around he sees a man tacking up a big yellow diphtheria quarantine sign nearby. He gets a brilliant scheme and stealthily removes the sign, placing it on the girl's door. He then goes in and pleads his cause. The other boys come around, see the sign, and retreat in haste. After hearing Ben's story of mistreatment by the boys the girl finally consents to marry him. Meanwhile, the health office guards have arrived at the house reported as quarantined, but find an error in the number, so take it for granted that the girl's house is the one meant to be quarantined. They surround the house just as Ben and the girl start out. They are halted at the door and ordered back. The same treatment is given them at the rear. Finally, in desperation, the boy, in order that the girl will keep her promise, gets her out the window and they make a getaway, closely pursued by the guards and the boys, who have wandered back to the scene. The old doctor arrives at his patient's house and finds the sign removed. He is in a rage when he learns that the sign has been placed on another house. Just at this time the guards arrive with Ben and the girl. The other boys, realizing that he has "double crossed" them, manage to lay the blame on him and the doctor orders him to be taken in and given the extreme penalty. The girl decides she didn't want to marry after all, and celebrates her freedom by taking both boys to the ball game, while her erstwhile lover is being cast into the dark dungeon.
- In Ruritania, the King's son grows up and avenges his father's murder.
- A framed inventor flees to England and catches a spy at Epsom.
- The little cow-camp of Rawhide is slumbering under the desert stars. Suddenly the doors of one of the saloons bursts open and Fred and Jack back out of the saloon shooting. They leap upon their waiting horses and dash away, a body of citizens in pursuit. Out on the desert's edge stands the lonely little cabin of Pauline, "The Girl of the Desert." On the night in question, she has retired for the night when she becomes aware of a pounding on the door and a man's voice asking her to open it. She takes her revolver from under her pillow and waits. Slowly the door is forced open. Pauline draws herself back into the shadow and when one of the intruders lights a match, he finds himself looking into the muzzle of a revolver. Pauline orders them out. The two men are Fred and Jack, who have sought refuge from the pursuing cowboys. They leave the cabin good naturedly but camp nearby for the night. The pursuers, baffled and thrown off the track, divide into several small bands and start scouring the country for the fugitives. One of these stumbles upon Pauline's cabin and demands entry. Pauline, thinking that they are the two refugees who first broke into her cabin, warns they away and when they persist in trying to force an entry, opens fire and slightly wounds one of them. They return the fire through the door and when one of the bullets from their guns shatters a lamp chimney near Pauline's head, her feminine nature asserts itself and she dives under the covers. Frank and Jack, startled out of a sound sleep by the shots, investigate and find that their would-be captors have broken into the cabin and are subjecting the girl to insult. They immediately champion her cause and succeed in taking their pursuers captives. Out of gratitude, Pauline offers to show the two fugitives the trail across the desert to the border. They set out early next morning, leaving the three members of the posse tied up in the cabin. Owing to a wound which Fred has sustained in the encounter, he becomes delirious and they finally lose the trail. But after many hardships, the border is reached. Pauline says good-bye to the boys, sets out on the back trail across the desert to her little cabin and the incident closes.