Moving Picture World (July-Dec 1909)

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THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 389 tlie city," but Esther Is a good Christian girl and will consent to do elopement without a proper wedding. "I'll go with you to Wayne Junction, the county seat— we can be married at the Comnierclal Hotel." Jim is disconcerted and about ready to give up the girl, when be meets a boon companion who travels for another firm engaged in the same trade — and over a quiet bottle Jim tells him of his conquest. "I meant to get her lo I hicago and lose her, but she won't go without having the knot tied in her own town." "Well, that's easy; I'll be the minister. .lust rent the clerical coat at a costumer's the next time you are in Chicago and bring it in a grip." "Yes, but how about the marriage license?" "Why, "I'll borrow the saloon keeper's and doctor the top of it and make.it read 'Marriage' instead of 'Liquor,' and only show her that much of it. See how easy it is?" "By George, I'll do it"— and so the plan to ruin a young girl's whole future is arranged. But as often happens, chance intervenes; Esther before leaving sends a note to Tommy (whom after all she really cares for), disclosing' her intentions and asking him to tell her father she is to be married at Wayne Junction. Tommy rushes to SI with the note. Si gives Tommy his horse and buggy, while he goes to the sheriff and gets his assistance to stop the elopement. Tommy ar rives at the hotel and is an unexpected and unseen witness to the faking of the marriage license. He soon opens Esther's eyes to Jim's real purpose and starts back home with the misguided girl. But Jim and his pal are not so easily balked. They follow in an auto and waylay Tomniy as he crosses the bridge over the Pes Moines River. Tommv is rendered insensible and Jim. fearing that the man is dead, throws him in the river. Esther is an expert swimmer, and as she sees the unconscious man sink from sight, she breaks from Jim's pal who is holding her. springs to the rail and dives fifty feet to the river below to rescue the man she now realizes she loves. The sheriff arrives, puts the rascals under arrest, Esther swims to shore with Tommy and falls sobbing for forgiveness into her father's arms. One Week Later. — Tommy has about recovered from the blow -Jim gave him and has decided to move away from the village, for he can't bear to remain now that Esther is lost to him; but that young lady arrives and makes him change his mind — wants to know "where that ring is. you were going to give me." Tommy fumbles in his vest pocket, brings it forth, slips it on Esther's finger, just as Si and Esther's young sister appear at the door. The tableau they witness proves plainly that their presence is needed. FREEBOOTERS.— The Wells Fargo Company has just suffered a loss of twenty thousand dollars; one of the most daring robberies in the past eighteen years has just been perpetrated. The sheriff and his deputies hurry mysteriously hither and thither hunting for clues. As to the ' identity of the thieves, the little town near where the express was held up is restless with suspense. Eventually the suspense is lifted hy Jack Henderson, county sheriff, who finds a clue that points indisputably to Buck Raynor and his nephew Ralph, two well known freebooters, as the guilty parties! These two. unaware of this discovery, upon reaching a small settlement a few miles from their home, dismount from their horses to make a few purchases. As they leave the store thev are encountered by a United States deputy marshal, who thrusts before their astonished eyes warrants for their arrest. Buck Raynor has two nieces, one unfortunately a cripple: the other, Liraio. a fair buxom lass, high spirited, with all the dasli of her uncle and cousin but lacking the corruptness that has stamped them ■ Mil laws. The Rayilore were half bad. half good. Lizzie loved the county sheriff with all the fervor bred of tier outdoor life, and so he loved her. Naturally, therefore', be felt the awkwardness of the plight in which he was placed when called upon to arrest relatives of the girl he loved. The dominating influence of duty prevails, however, and Jack Henderson, although unmindful of his love for Lizzie accompanies the marshal to serve the warrants. Needless to relate. Raynor and his nephew have determined to make a fight for the booty they have stolen, and as soon as they ascertain the intentions of the officials to take them into custody, a fight ensues in which the desperadoes prove victorious. Exultant, they mount their horses and ride pell moll for their cabin situated in a remote rp'•ess r,f the mountains. There they secure their stolen "swag." with a frenzy born of desperation, remount their now jaded horses and ride frantically through the fastnesses of the forest to a spot already established as a sort of hiding place for their ill-gotten gold. Meanwhile the shell IT and marshal, far from being discouraged, secure a pesse and reach the home of the freebooters, and after a thorough search are convinced that their quarry has escaped. Feeling sure that Buck and his nephew must continue up the mountain trail in order to make their escape, the posse determines to overtake them before they have an opportunity of concealing their plunder. Ike I.ooney. a freckle-faced, bare-footed mountain hoy, on returning home hanpons to see these two outlaws, and with the inquisit iveness of youth. notices that they are carrying heavy bags of metal. He stealthily follows them to the cave far in the recesses of the mountains, where they conceal their loot. He then wends his way back to the patch of timber where he has left an old mule, and starts for tiie settlement. On his way he meets the posse, and upon being questioned by them guides them to the cave. There the gold is discovered, but Buck and his nephew have tied. On a projecting rock just over the cave the freebooters are resting, secure from gun shot and where every movement of the enemy can be plainly seen. Finally, enraged at the loss of the treasure, whii b is now in the possession of the posse, Buck determines 10 "get even" with the sheriff, and acting upon the impulse of desperation hurls a huge stone down a declivity of the mountain. The rock, barely missing Henderson's head, bruises and dislocates his shoulder and collarbone, and he is rendered unconscious. This accomplished, the two desperadoes make their way to where they had tethered their horses, only to find that some of the sheriff's posse had anticipated their maneuver and had confiscated the animals. In desperation, and overcome with fatigue and anxiety, Raynor and his nephew start up the trail on foot. In the meantime 'Henderson, the sheriff, has been placed in a wagon and carried to the home of the freebooters, where Raynor's nieces administer to his wants and do their best to relieve his suffering. Poor, silly Ike is left to assist the girls in their work of mercy, while the posse resumes their hunt. Now. old Raynor and his nephew see the posse leave the cabin, and fully realizing the helplessness of their enemy lying indoors wounded, they enter the cabin, determined to finish their work of vengeance. The two girls plead for the life of the unconscious man. one prompted by love and the other urged by the law of humanity. Buck Raynor and Ralph neither know nor beed any law; the thirst for revenge is too strong. Rudely they thrust the women aside, with the threat of ending their lives should they interfere. Then, as a lightning flash from a clear sky, the unexpected happens. A spy set by the posse to watch the cabin has reported the presence of the freebooters there, and the officers rush into the cabin just in time to prevent the murder of their chief. A brief struggle and the two ruffians are overcome, bound and led away. After a few weeks the sheriff recovers from his injuries, and shortly afterwards he and Lizzie find a minister of the gospel who speaks the words they have both waited to hear. The stolen money is duly returned to the Wells Fargo Express Company, and an ample reward paid to the sheriff, thereby enabling him to provide a comfortable little home for Mrs. Henderson and her sister. VITAGRAPH COMPANY. THE GALLEY SLAVE.— This Is the first of the five art reels to be released by the Vitagraph Company of America dealing with the incidents related in Victor Hugo's masterpiece. "Les Miserables." The present subject deals with the imprisonment of Jean Valjean and the incidents immediately following his release. He is first shown in his humble home, his family utterly destitute. Half-crazed by hunger and the sufferings of his wife and children. Jean breaks the window of a bake shop and steals a single loaf of bread, with which he hurries home to his little ones, who eagerly seize the crusty loaf as the gendarmes arrive to apprehend the thief. Condemned to serve in the galleys, bis sentence is prolonged by his frequent efforts to escape, but at last the governor of the prison sends for him. He is given hi* passport, on which is entered the evil record of tin's law-made criminal, and with a few coins in his pocket he is given his liberty, clad in filthy r.is-s. with matted hair and beard and without a f'-iend in the world. The money avails him little, for the people will have naught to do with a jailbird and they turn him from their doors. He at la t arrives at the home of the rood bishop, who makes him welcome at his own table and offers him a bed for the night, greatly to the alerm of the women of bis household. The clock striking three rouses the ex-convict, and. stealing into the bishop's room, he robs the good man of the household silver. He escancs from the house without detection, but any passing police officer has the right to inspect bis passport, and Jean's appearance makes him an 'object of suspicion to all. no seeks to escape by flight, but is caught and confronted with the bishop in the latter's home. The officers are proud of their capture, but the man of God denies the theft, well knowing what Jean's fate will be if he is returned to the galleys: and to make more convincing his denial of theft, he hands to Valjean his silver candlesticks. "I gave these too." he declares. "You must have forgotten them." The abashed officers retire with the bishop's blessing, and his fervent prayers affect the stony heart of the convict, who kneels in prayer beside his benefactor. It was this incident which gave inspiration to James K. Hackett when he made his vaudeville anpearaneo last Soring, producing a sketch under the title of "The Bishop's Candlesticks." and it forms one of the most tense and thrilling situations in a world-famous work. This production h"s been done with the determination to make it one of the most notable presentations ever offered in picture form, and every* resource of the Vitagraph Company's extensive studios has been taxed to make n noteworthy film, with tiie happiest success. Minute details, which might pardonably be overlooked, are made to add to the effect, the rehearsals have been unusually prolonged and careful, and the exterior pictures made only after careful location of the most picturesque and appropriate surroundings. The actors rfre imbued with the spirit of the story, and any one of the poses might be used as an illustration for the book. The scenic artist has excelled himself, the scenes in the bishop's home passing from one room to another in a triple set which avoids the interruption of the action, and technically the film is a most pretentious example of the best in photographic work. In every sense this subject deserves the title of "Film de luxe." Length, SS5 feet. AN ALPINE ECHO.— Antoine, a Swiss peasant boy, lives with his grandfather, his parents being dead, and is learning the wood carving that seems to he an inherited talent with the Alpine Swiss. They are startled while at their work by the roar of tiie avalanche and rush to the window In time to witness the destruction of the cottage of their nearest neighbor by the majestic rush of snow and rocks. It is with scant hope that they hurry to the scene of the disaster, but little Lena has lain preserved by the massing of the heavy timbers of the roof above her frail body and she is taken out, senseless through fright but without bodily hurt. Her parents have been killed and the good old man makes Lena a member of his household. She is a merry playfellow for Antoine and a splendid housekeeper, but with the passage of the years a deeper sentiment develops between the two and it seems the most natural thing in the world that they should love each other. Antoine. a sturdy young fellow, acts as a guide in the tourist season, and while he is escorting a party up the mountains he becomes enamored of a pretty American girl, who jokingly encourages his dumb worship. She pretends to have sprained her ankle that she may have an excuse to leave the party, and Antoine carries her back to the hotel in his strong arms. Later he declares his passion, the scene being accidentally overlooked by Lena, and is promised his answer that night, for the heartless little coquette knows that her party is leaving and sends him a letter saying that she is returning to America and hopes that if he ever crosses the Atlantic he will come and see her. The invitation is merely a thoughtless effort to make the refusal seem less unkind, for the girl never dreams that he will follow her across the seas and she has forgotten even the note when it is brought her in her Aemrican home some months later. Her memory refreshed, she vigorously denounces Antoine for his presumption and orders him out of the house. The dying grandfather urges Lena to go to America to find her foster brother, and when she fails in her search and her money is all gone she decides to sell the music box with its exquisite carvings that is her sole remaining treasure. She takes it to the shop of a dealer in carvings where Antoine is employed. At the sound of the song he knows so well Antoine sees visions of his Alpine home with which the melody is so intimately associated. He rushes into the shop from the workroom to learn the source of the melody and in another moment Lena is in bis arms. The kindly proprietor, who has paid handsomely for the music box. presents it to them as his wedding gift and makes their happiness complete. The subject is a well-balanced production in which the stage director, scenic artists and players unite in the presentation of a story of absorbing interest. The Alpine views are notably good and the avalanche is a new departure in picture making. Length, 990 feet. THE FISHERMAN. — Those who go down to the sea in ships walk hand in hand with death, and their wives know no peace of mind while they are on the water. No one better appreciates this fact than the brave and loving Nettie Bourne, whose husband. Ben. is a fisherman and must face the elements in bis tiny cockleshell of a boat even when danger threatens. He and little Ben. his son. rre about to start on a fishing trip. The sun is shining, but there are signs of an approaching storm, and poor Nettie seems oppressed by a sense of impending danger as she accompanies her big, brave husband to the shore and aids him in launching the skiff with little Ben sitting in the stern to aid his father. Even little Lucy, their fouryear-old daughter, seems to share her mother's dread as she stands upon the shingle and watches the boat put out to sea. Danger is forgotten in the excitement of a good catch, but a sudden gust of rain warns them to put back to safety. Bourne lavs down the lines to grasp the oars, but he has waited too long; the storm is upon them, and presently the boat is seen to have been overturned. Bourne has clambered upon the keel, but in the fierce onslaught of the squall poor Bonnie has been swept out of reach of his father's aid, and the horror of poor Bourne's situation is intensified by the thought of his loss. When night falls and the boat does not return. Nettie takes little Lucy and with a lantern seeks the shore. Here she finds an empty boat and in it she rows out to sea In search of her loved ones. She finds her husband alive, but weak from exhaustion and exposure. He barely is able to climb into her boat, where he collapses on the stern as she turns its stem toward the shore. There is no use looking for Benny in the vast expanse of cruel waters. But Benny has clung to a floating log and he is washed ashore, where he is found by two fishermen, who tenderly bear his body toward his home. Nettie and Ben. slowly toiling across the sands, spy the men with their inanimate burden, and with a cry tiie mother rushes toward them, Ben following as rapidly as his weakness will permit. She takes her son from the sympathetic