The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

26 THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY "The Committee On Credentials*' -pi EMARKABLE Three-Reel Bison Western Drama, adapted by Harvey Gates from a Peter B. Kyne story. Produced by Harry Carey. A tough prospector stakes out a claim which he is unable to hold and jeopardizing the lives of his wife and girl, goes to his death in one of the most sensational accidents ever accomplished in the movies. T HE Camp of Pinon had sprung into existence over night. A prospector seeking the elusive metal had overturned something that glittered and the news spread fast and the population came in over night. Ballarat Bob is the owner of a gambling establishment. Bob's reputation for fair dealing is known throughout the country. He bunks with Doc Bleeker, a doctor by profession and gambler bv taste, and Chuck Walla Bill, an old desert rat. Doc and Bill are both old enough to be Bob's father and both take a paternal interest in him. The three are more than bunkmates — they are pals, and it is indeed a happy time when Doc and Bill beat the game and win their partner's money. Clem Hardy, a victim of the gold fever, arrives in the mining camp, accompanied by his wife, Josephine, and their child, Peter Boy. They stake a claim near the camp of the three pals. C 1 e m's first visit, after staking his claim, is to the gambling hall. As Bill and Doc approach their home they see the new neighbors and are annoyed by the crying of the child. The child's crying gets on their nerves and when Bob arrives Bill is in Boh pleads with the a t o w e ri n g widow. rage. They de CAST. Ballarat Bob Harry Carey Doc Bleeker George Berrell Chuck Walla Bill Neal Hart Clem Joe Rickson Josephine Olive Fuller Golden Peter Boy Elizabeth James cide that the noise is unbearable and Bill, as a committee of one, goes to the tent to remonstrate. Bill enters blustering and bullying, but one glance at Josephine calms him more than a six-shooter would. Clem, angry at the intrusion, hits Bill and knocks him out. Bill starts to retaliate, but, seeing Josephine, retreats in fierce anger. He returns to his friends and tells them of the incident. The next day, as Bob is returning from the hall, Peter Boy is plajdng in the road. Bob snatches the child from death underneath the oncoming stage, but the child receives a minor injury to his hand. Doc is nearby and hurries out with his medicine case. Bob is especially thanked by the woman, and immediately the two find interest in each other. Clem at last makes a rich strike of gold and at once starts on a wild career of gambling and drinking. At first Bob bars Clem from his tables on account of his family, but realizes if he does not take his money someone else will. Bob revokes his rule in Clem's favor. Josephine has come to look upon Bob as partly responsible for Clem's condition, and she believes that Bob encourages the latter to play. At last comes the time when Clem loses everj-thing. After he leaves Bob goes to the safe, consults a notebook, takes out a sack of money and goes to the Hardy tent. Josepine at once accuses him of leading her husband to ruin. Bob then presents her with the sack of money, explaining he knew the gambling would fall hardest on her and the child, and that he had kept account of Hardy's losses. He gives her the money, telling her it belongs to her entirely. He then meets Hardy and threatens him with an awful death if he does not brace up and treat his wife and child decently. Later on Clem finds that Josephine has received the money and accuses her of playing with Bob on the side. He strikes her dovra and leaves for the hall to find Bob. He picks a quarrel with Bob, but for the wife's sake the latter holds his hand. Peter Boy is ill and Doc goes tO' visit him. Clem sees their shadows on the wall and thinks that Bob is there with his wife. He shoots through the tent and Doc falls. Bob comes running to the spot and Clem wounds him in the shoulder. Then he jumps into his wagon and drives furiously away. The whole town rides after him. On the edge of a cliff he is lassoed and wagon and all falls headlong down the side of the steep incline and Hardy is killed. Bob is left to comfort Josephine.