Paramount Press Books (1919)

CAST AND STORY OF “THE POPPY GIRL’S HUSBAND” For Use of Exhibitors in Their House Organs or for General Publicity in the Exploitation of William S. Hart’s New Photoplay AN ARTCRAFT PICTURE William S. Hart a Convict in His Latest Artcraft Photoplay, “The Poppy Girl’s Husband” Story Deals With The Great Love of a Man for His Erring Wife Which Turns to Revengeful Hatred and Which is Curbed by the Convict’s Love for His Son. Hairpin harry dut TON, in the tenth year of a fourteen year sentence for burglary, sits despondently in his “solitary” cell. This prematurely gray prisoner is spending most of his time in “solitary” because of his unshakable faith in the constancy of his wife. In his prison reverie, Hairpin Harry sees once again a banquet table in a certain flashy underworld hotel in San Francisco. He is in evening dress, and beside him sits the girl of his heart — the Poppy Girl. Hairpin Harry is wrapped up in this pretty, shallow creature, and announces his faith in her to his crook friends, and says he will play square with her. And then his memories drift to a criminal court. He stands before the judge. Polly, with her year-old baby in her arms, accompanied by Boston Blackie, nervously awaits results. Nearby, Mike McCafferty, a detective sergeant, evinces much interest as the judge pronounces the sentence — fourteen years. After a scene with his wife and baby, Hairpin Harry turns them over to Boston Blackie, his pal, for safe keeping. The Pardon Board paroles Hairpin Harry, but the only person who waits near the prison gate is Boston Blackie. Where is Polly, the Poppy Girl — his wife? Boston Blackie finally tells him that he is not going to find Polly waiting for him when he gets to Frisco, as she had married big Mike McCafferty the year after he was sent to prison. The stricken man is dazed. Slowly his heart is filled with a savageness which presages a terrible vengeance. Nightfall at Mother McGinnis’ hotel, the Fris “THE POPPY GIRL’S HUSBAND” The Cast Hairpin Harry Dutton, a convict William S. Hart Polly, the Poppy Girl, his wife Juanita Hansen Boston Blackie, Harry’s Pal Walter Long Big Mike McCafferty, a detective Fred Starr Montana Kid, a convict David Kirby Donald Dutton, Harry’s son Georgie Stone co Mecca of West coast crooks. Boston Blackie has his hands full restraining the ex-conv5ct from killing big Mike McCafferty, the man who sent him up and stole his wife. At the home of the Poppy Girl, now Mrs. Mike McCafferty, a great and growing fear dominates the heart of the guilty woman. Hairpin Harry’s son, Donald, enjoys little love in the home of his step-father. As the days trail by, Hairpin Harry spends most of his time in his room, working on a copper plate. Hairpin Harry spends his days near the public school. The only joy left to him is to feast his eyes on the boy he knows to be his son. The father and son are drawn to each other. The little chap has an Indian cave in the park, and he wants the big fellow to play Indian with him, and so every day Hairpin Harry goes to the little cave to meet the “big chief” — his son. Meantime, the guilty Poppy Girl suffers the fear of vengeance. She persuades her cop husband to frame the man she fears, and big Mike fixes it with his partner. Little Donald overhears the conversation and asks his mother embarrassing questions. At the cave the father and son have a talk, and little Donald reveals that the bad man from jail who has been worrying his mama, is going to be sent back to prison that night. Hairpin Harry, heartbroken, bids his little son goodbye. The Poppy Girl has betrayed him again. Cold, reckless, sinister purpose pervades his soul. At mother McGinnis’ hotel the crooks inform Harry that a “leak” at headquarters has informed them of big Mike’s frame to be pulled that night. Hairpin Harry resumes work on the copper plate. Big Mike and his fellow “bull” await Hairpin Harry’s coming, but he escapes to attend to his one last duty. Polly, the Poppy Girl, dolls herself up in her boudoir. Framed in the doorway stands Hairpin Harry Dutton— the man she has betrayed. The picture of a convict being pushed into an open grave by a woman — this is the copper plate he has fashioned. In exchange for what she has taken from him he proposes to take her beauty. He is going to brand her pretty cheek for all the world to see. He laughs at her desperate struggles as he chloroforms her. Little Donald has learned that Hairpin Harry is his father, and when the man goes to him, pleads to be taken away. Vengeance is gone. The little boy kisses his unconscious mama good bye, and the copper plate is cheated of its victim. The 'father and son make ithejir home in a cabin in the mountains, and both play baseball. 5