Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1916)

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS LOLA McTODD. daughter of Silas McTodd, the pickle king, is known as "The Pearl of the McTodds'' because of her beauty. When she was young, a gypsy made the prophecy that if, when she was eighteen, she placed a wishbone over the door,' the first man to pass under it would marry her. As her eighteenth birthday arrives, she finds herself with many suitors, chief among whom are Duke Penruddock and Harold de Yere, a young millionaire. Lola believes she should marry the duke, though she has never met him face to face, and her father favors the match. Charlie Chaplin, who has long sought his favorite brand of pickles, learns that they are made by McTodd, and applies to the pickle king for a place as night watchman at his plant. By mistake Charlie is the first man to pass under the wishbone, and Lola is greatly excited. Charlie secures the position, and starts work. The duke arrives unexpectedly, and Lola, who is unprepared, hides in the factory. She is caught in some machinery, and Charlie saves her life. McTodd offers Charlie a position in" Samoa as special representative of the firm, hoping to thus remove him from the sight of his daughter, but Charlie refuses. The duke tries to do away with Charlie, but Harold de Yere proves the man of the hour, and saves the hero. Later Charlie again saves Lola's life. McTodd gives a ball to announce the engagement of, his daughter to the duke. Charlie bides in a bank of palms, and sees Major Bright steal the famous tiara from Lola's neck. He accuses Bright of the theft, but McTodd explains to him that it is part of a prearranged plan to securing valuable advertising for the McTodd pickles through the newspapers — as they plan to give out a story about the jewel being stolen. A fire breaks out in the house, and the* guests flee in panic. Bright steals the tiara again during the confusion — this time in earnest. He also attempts to take McTodd's life, but Charlie is on hand to rescue him. Harold also becomes a hero by saving McTodd's stenographer. Gwendoline. Charlie is hired by the pickle king to trail Bright and secure the tiara, thus postponing his trip to Samoa. As Charlie begins his search, he learns that Harold is also after Bright. They decide to work together, and their combined investigation leads them to suspect that the Duke and Bright are working together, and are a pair of crooks. They trail Bright to Bunkum & Brawley's circus, where both secure work. They pretend not to recognize Bright, who is a fire eater with the show. The stampede of an educated pig causes Bright "to drop the tiara in front of Charlie. A fight follows, in which Charlie vanquishes Bright and two friends who come to his rescue. Harold seizes the tiara, and flees. Charlie quits the circus and sets out after Harold. He loses the trail his friend has followed at a farmhouse, and remains at this place ten days, feeling sure Harold will come to him. One morning he sees Bright, in disguise, heading for a near-by village, and follows him. Bright comes upon Harold, also in disguise, in the village, and the two fight in a box car of a train which is pulling out of town. Charlie comes to Harold's rescue, and forces Bright to tell all he knows about Duke Penruddock. From this information our heroes learn he is in reality Jack O'Bryne, a noted bank robber. Harold tells Charlie he has read in the paper that Lola McTodd is to be married to the duke that afternoon. They figure that the train will arrive in time to save the Pearl of the McTodds, but just as they reach this decision the train is wrecked. Unknown to them, the workers in the pickle factory, where the wedding was to have been held, strike, and boldly declare they will prevent the ceremony unless their wages are Raised. McTodd sends for the police. CHAPTER XXXVI. BOGGSYILLE, FORTY MILES AWAY ! CHARLIE opened his eyes, sat up, and thoughtfully pushed a dent out of the crown of his derby hat. The branches of a lordly oak shielded him from the rays of the morning sun. Between him and the base of a high embankment was a heap of kindling wood and twisted iron rods. On the top of the embankment stood many freight ears, some on the rails and some crosswise of them, and showing a tendency to totter into the right of way. A locomotiYe, considerablY demoralized,