Moving Picture World (July-Dec 1909)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 731 the newly purchased prrnmbulator, and William, Jr., Is restored to his own. A picture that will make them all scream. Full of funny situations, cleverly acted hy good comedians. THE BEST MAN WINS. — Charles Shea, the handsome young foreman of the liar Z ranch, has won the love of the winsome daughter of his employer, John Graham. Alice and he arc engaged to he married when a telegram announcing the death ot his father and the request thai he Immediately return East, is handed Shea. Promising to return Immediately the eslato is scllled. Shea bids Alice good-bye and leaves for the Fast. A year passes and no word from Charley. The girl is iii despair and. though every COWpuncher on I lie place loves her madly, she refuses each one In turn, declaring Hint she will wait for Charley, whom she is sure will return soon. Graham, her father, however, is growing old and needs some one to take his place. He therefore desires thai Alice marry as soon as possible and urges her to accept the soil of one of his men, all of tin111 being honest, good-hearted fellows. She tells him (hat that is where the (rouble lies. She likes them all and could not marry any one of II 1 without hurling the rest. Finally, resolved to give np Charley entirely, she resolves on a plan to pick the best man." Her husband must be a good horseman. She Informs them that at 8 o'clock sharp the next morning ever mother's son of them must be in his saddle ready tor a swift and important ride. The next morning she lines them np and tells them that they are to race to the county seat, each procure a marriage license and the first man back lo the ranch will have the honor of being her husband. There is a crack of her pistol and the race hegins! Mile after mile they cover, each trying the utmost speed of his pony, until the courthouse is reached. The marriage licenses are procured and the real race back to the ranch begins. In the meantime, the Limited, stopping at the county seat just for a moment, has dropped a passenger, a big handsome fellow— Charles Shea. Charley walks straight to the courthouse, procures a license to wed the daughter of Bar Z ranch, hires a horse and sets off at full speed in an effort to overtake the other cowpunchers. Known to him only is a short cut to the ranch, and putting the spurs to his horse's flanks, he dashes down through rocky defiles and surging mountain torrents and arrives at the ranch several minutes ahead of the foremost of the racers. A minister is waiting, the license is brought out and the surprised and happy Alice marries him immediately. The chagrin of the other cowboys soon melts to laughter at the joke and congratulations and a rousing cheer are tendered the bride, all heartily agreeing that the best man has won. GAUMONT. (George Kleine) A CONVICT'S HEROISM — The story opens with a scene in a prison yard early in the XVII. century. This is manifest by the costumes worn by the prisoners and the uniforms of their soldierguards, who stand by heavily armed, while the unfortunate convicts toil with picks and shovels. There has been a prearrangement among the prisoners to enable one of them to make good his escape. He is a political prisoner of noble character and pleasing personality. One of the convicts refuses to do his work and in order to suppress his rebellious spirit and to prevent the spreading of a possible revolt, the soldiers sieze and hustle him back to the jail. Taking advantage of this temporary absence of his guards, the political prisoner gets away and after running through the woods he falls exhausted among some kindling wood and branches left by the woodcutters. In the meantime the news of the prisoner's escape has come to the ears of the governor, who offers a big reward for his capture and return to the prison. Some peasant children gathering firewood, find the poor fellow and give him some of their lunch in return for which he carries a heavy bundle of fagots for them to their parents' cottage. There < lie peasants attend him and bring him food and drink. While they are gathered together in front of their cottage, a sheriff comes with papers to sleze their home hecause of their debts. The escaped prisoner, who has beard of the reward offered for his capture, urges the peasants to bind him, give him up to the governor, and claim the rewaru which will enable them to retain their home and live in comfort. This they do but are stricken with remorse afterwards at the fate they have brought on the heroic and generous prisoner. A SET OF TEETH.— Mother-in-law has been presented with a new set of false teeth — the gift of her son-in-law. The teeth are much admired by the family, but unfortunately their acquisition enables mother-inlaw to chatter even more volubly than beofre. She gets into a quarrel with a neighbor on the street. In the argument she drops her teeth and loses them. A man passing by finds them. While examining them closely the "jaws" close with a snap on his nose Another person coming along helps him to get rid of the biting teetli and places them on a bench. A gentleman of leisure coming along takes a seat on the bench, but instead of getting the icst and comfort he anticipated, he finds himself lu the same predicament as if he had sat on a sharp jawed rat-trap. His screams of anguish bring two policemen to the rescue, who gingerly remove the dental apparatus. They take it to the police station, but when they get there, in explaining to the chief how the teeth work, they themselves are cruelly bitten. At last the chief of police, with the assistance of a pair of tongs from the stove, succeeds in securing the teeth and throws them out of the window beyond the possibility of creating further trouble. MOON FOR YOUR LOVE.— The story is enacted amid scenes of the Middle Ages and the costuming and settings are appropriate and most pleasing. A poor young student loves a fair girl who tells him (hat she will only love him if he brings her the moon out of (he sky and puts it in her apron. Nothing daunted, the gallant scholar is about to sell his school books in order to get money to secure the services of an enchantress who will be able to get the moon for him. He consults a good fairy, who leads him to the witch's cave where they undertake his mission and flit through the skies on (heir broomsticks. They Capture the moon and bring it back with them to earth. Our hero takes the moon to his sweetheart and she accepts it witli his love, which terminates happily in the advent of a beautiful baby boy. VISIONS OF A NAG.— A poor old, broken-down cab-horse is taken to his stable, where he dozes off to sleep and, in a comatose state, he dreams the whole story of his past life. First, he sees the fields where he appears as a lively colt, frisking around his mother and nibbling for the first time the juicy shoots of the tender grass. Then he sees himself as a handsome young yearling disporting with other graceful young horses of his own age. Next, comes a vision of the Derby where he triumphs as the winner of the season. Later he spends his declining years in the country and is finally sold to a cab company where he leads a hard and wearisome life on the streets drawing a heavy, old-fashioned cab. Evidently the last part of his dream is too much for him for as his driver conies for him in the morning he finds the poor beast breathing his last. KALEM MFG CO. THE PALE FACE'S WOOING.— The first scene opens with a view of a little stream of water that starting in a tiny spring at the bottom of the foothills wanders slowly down through the valley and out over the plain. Down the bank rides Bud Dawson, the pale-face of our story, a young cowboy of the E. Z. outfit. Reaching the stream Bud throws himself from his pony and kneeling down takes a long drink of the cooling water. The pony follows his example. Both having satisfied their thirst. Bud again mounts the pony and moves on down the little gully. Around the next bend we find Silver Moon, a beautiful young Indian maid awaiting him. This is their trysting place and here they have met almost every day during the few weeks her tribe have had their tepees pitched along this valley. She glances around expectantly. Ah, here is Bud. Both faces light np with pleasure. Drawing from his pocket a string of "Nation" beads Bud places them around Silver Moon's neck. Now what will she give him for them? Shyly she tells him she has nothing to give. Bud tells her all he wishes is a kiss. Farther down the valley is the tepee of Silver Moon's father. Up to the tepee stalks Eagle Feather. In a few grunted words he tells of his to lay his treasures before the old brave. The old man sits watching in stoical silence. As a rifle is added to the pile his eyes glisten. When finally the pony is led forward, he gives his consent to the match. The pipe is solemnly smoked. The old brave calls Silver Moon. He tells her she is to marry Eagle Feather. Silver Moon starts back then straightens up and dramatically refuses. The old brave is astonished. He demands to know why. Silver Moon tells tbem she loves a paleface. The next day Eagle Feather Is returning from a visit to his line of traps when he hears someone approaching. It is Silver Moon and Bud Dawson. Bud's arm is /iround her waist and Silver Moon's head is on his shoulder. As soou as they have gone. Eagle Feather comes from his hiding place and stands looking after them. Lifting his arm he swears vengeance against Bud. Back to the tepee of Silver Moon's father hurries Eagle Feather and tells of having seen Silver Moon and Bud. The old brave's anger flames up again. He and Eagle Feather are busy planning how they can rid themselves of the cowboy, when Silver Moon is seen returning from her meeting with Bud. The old brave calls her forward and tells her she has been seen with Bud. He commands her to give him up. She refuses. The old brave takes her by the shoulder and puts her inside the tent. Calling the old squaw he tells her to keep guard over Silver Moon. The two now hasten away to intercept the cowboy before he returns to the outfit. Prone on the ground they crawl along and hide themselves behind a bush. Dp the path comes Bud. Past the two silent, motionless Indians he goes. Not a sound do they make as they rise to their feet. Down comes the club and Bud drops from his pony senseless. In a few seconds the senseless cowboy Is bound hand and foot wit hhis own lariat and carried back to the tepee. The two Indians begin the discussion of how they shall make way with the cowboy. Eagle Feather (ells of the deep pool in the river back of the camp. Throw him Into this with a stone tied to him, no one will ever know what became of him. Silver Moon overhears the plot to kill her lover and hurries to his aid. Arriving a( the river bank the two Indians throw the bound cowboy into the bottom of their birch bark canoe moored there. Quickly jumping in they push off and are soon paddling away. Tilings look very black for poor Bud. But far up the stream we see brave little Silver Moon coming to his aid. Now she is speeding down to the place where she knows they will land. Ah, she hears them coming and from the water's edge she watches them land. Out of the canoe they lift Hud. Picking up a piece of rope they start off leaving him lying bound. But Silver Moon is hurrying down the opposite bank to his aid. If she can only reach him before the two Indians return. Bud left alone Is tugging desperately at the rope that binds him. Suddenly brave little Silver Moon rushes in. From her buckskin leggins she draws her little hunting knife and in a second Bud Is on his feet and free. But Eagle Feather is upon him. Desperately they struggle. Now Bud has the knife. A quick downward thrust and Eagle Feather drops mortally wounded Into the shallow water of the landing. But the old brave has heard the noise of the struggle and lias returned. He and Bud grapple. Bud's knife is uplifted when Silver Moon rushes in and stops the blow. She pleads witli Bud to spare her father. Bud consents and takes her in his arms, while the old brave crouches in fear. He knows his daughter Is lost to him and his people and the pale face has triumphed. G. MELIES. THE RED STAR INN.— A sailor who has returned from the war, receives a letter from his sick mother asking that he come home at once. On his way he meets his sweetheart and he tells her he Is going to see his mother. As It takes more than a day to arr've at his destination he stops at an inn, called the Red Star Inn, where he asks for lodging for the night. The innkeeper informs him that all tbe rooms are taken but that he may sleep in the main room. It being a dreary night and very hard to travel, other wayfarers ask for lodging over night. Among them Is a pay warrant broker and another who appears to be a questionable character. They are told by the hostess of the Inn that there are no rooms unoccupied but that If they would slep In the main room on the chairs they would be welcome. Tbe sailor noting that the claim agent is rather weak, offers him the use of the couch for the night. The sailor passes a sleepless night and goes out for a little while to have a smoke and to pass the time away. When he goes out the other man who was apparently asleep, gets up and steals from the pay warrant broker a belt in which he carries money. The broker awakes as the money is extracted, and seizing a gun is about to shoot. Lo and behold! He drops dead at the feet of bis assailant. Being a sufferer from heart disease, the shock was so great that it killed him. The thief places the broker on the conch and covers him carefully to make it appear that he is still asleep. He also replaces the revolver near the dead man. The thief then rests his head on the table in the same position as he was before. The sailor returns and goes to sleep again. Early in the morning he gets up and makes his departure. A little later the other lodgers awake and all are assembled in the main hall. The claim agent is still lying as if he were asleep. Tbe efforts of the hostess to awake him are in vain. They. for the first time, do all realize that he is dead. The next thought immediately is. who is responsible for his death? Of course it is the sailor, is the verdict of all those present. Who else could it be If not him? The hostess had seen him going out during the middle of the night and he departed before anybody else. Immediately an alarm is sent out for his arrest. Imagine his surprise when a policeman hails him and places him under arrest. He is brought back to the inn and Identified. He swears by the American flag that he is innocent, but in spite of his assertions he Is taken to jail. His sweetheart comes to visit him in the prison, and when she arrives he tells her all. She believes In his honesty and integrity. His mother writes him that she believes that he is innocent and asks him to place his faith in God and to pray to Him. His sweetheart is deterimned to trace the man who is responsible for the death of the broker and goes In pursuit of evidence. She arrives at the inn and finds a simpleton there who tells her that he saw the thief hide the money and that he had taken it out of the thief's hiding place and concealed it elsewhere. He leads her to his place and returns to her the money and the gag. She then rushes with the boy to the court room and when all hope is lost for the sailor and the judge is about to deliver the verdict, which is quite evident would be against him, the girl rushes in and places before the judge and the "jury the new facts. Of course, the new evidence proves conclusively that the sailor is innocent.