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- "Shows the grand-stand, corner of Broadway and Colfax avenue, with Indian braves and squaws passing; also rough cowboys on half-tamed bronchos."
- The scene is in a free and easy cafe. Young men and girls are sitting about chatting and drinking. In comes a typical Western cowboy, who proceeds to "shoot up" the place. He smashes most of the bric-a-brac and has everyone terror-stricken. He forces the bartender to stand on his head, and then insists upon one of the girls doing the same. The girl goes behind a screen and apparently obeys orders, for a couple of trim ankles are seen over the top of the screen. The cowboy thrusts the screen aside and is astonished to see the clever girl waving a couple of artificial stocking forms in the air, she giving him the laugh, and fortunately he appreciates the joke.
- Picking objects from the ground, lassoing wild horses, riding the buckers, etc.
- Shows a band of mischievous cowboys being chased by Indians. A number of shots are fired at the pursuing Indians by the cow punchers, and the Indians' arrows are seen landing in the water pretty close to the fleeing men.
- Shows method employed in the West for ferrying people across a river. One large wagon loaded with cowboys and Indians is drawn by four mules. On account of the weight the wagon is pretty well under water, and the passengers get a wetting before they land on the opposite bank.
- A cowboy gets involved in the kidnapping and rescue of a pretty young girl.
- A grim reminder of pioneer days, but a story that carries with it the saving grace of honor. The first scene is without doubt the most accurately staged presentation of an Indian massacre ever used in a motion picture, utilizing as it does the services of over 100 real Sioux warriors, mounted on their spirited ponies, we see them swoop down on a wagon train of early settlers. The doomed pioneers fight with the courage of despair, but the odds are too heavy and they are annihilated. The victorious Indians first loot them, fire the wagons, then scamper away to secure the stampeded mules of the murdered settlers, when a party of cowboys rides up to the scene and view this tragedy of the plains. A great fight follows, and they succeed in driving the Indians off to the mountains, and when they return and prepare to give the dead a Christian burial, they are amazed to hear the wail of an infant coming from under the cover of one of the wagons that has escaped the torch of the Indians. A big-hearted cowboy, Joe Dayton by name, clambers into the wagon and reappears with the sole survivor clasped awkwardly in his arms. "What ye go'en to do with him. Joe?" "Adopt him, of course." Answers Joe. When he rides up to his ranch and presents the baby to his astonished housekeeper, that worthy old lady is in a flutter of joy. She soon discovers a note the heart-broken mother has pinned to the infant's clothing, showing that even in the face of death she was hoping against hope that her darling's life might be spared. We next see the foster father of the little infant just about buying out the country store in his awkward attempt at getting together things the baby might want. Then we see Joe wheeling a baby carriage and trying to quiet his little charge, but the hopelessness of his task dawns upon him and he puts into execution a cherished plan. Mabel Deering, the daughter of a neighbor, has won the heart of our hero long before our story opens, but she has other admirers, among them a prosperous Mexican cattle king, and though being courted has hesitated about giving up her freedom. But Joe leads trumps, he pens the following note to his coy sweetheart: "Dear Mabel: Twice you have turned me down, but I am now the adopted daddy of a fine baby boy. Won't you be his mother? Answer quick. The kid is too much for me. Joe." Mabel is listening to the proposal of the wealthy Mexican when Joe's quaint offer arrives. The girl's heart goes out to the motherless child, and Joe gets the answer he is hoping for. The wedding takes place, but the greaser swears vengeance. He determines to steal the helpless infant. An opportunity soon offers. Sing Low, Joe's Chinese servant, has put the youngster to sleep in his baby carriage and loaves him to attend to culinary matters for a few moments. The Mexican's hirelings are on the watch, they grab the sleeping babe, mount their horses and dash away. Sing Low returns, misses him and gives the alarm. Then begins a race for life. Joe gets together his own men and goes in pursuit. The news spreads and soon the whole countryside is aroused and the ranchmen from near and far congregate for the manhunt. Even Sing Low mounts a burro and joins in the chase. Over prairies, up mountains, across rivers, through dense woods, the ranchmen pursue the cowards, until on the bank of a swift-rushing stream the villains, fearing the cries of the infant will lead their pursuers to them, throw the helpless child into the river. But assistance is at hand. Joe and his men arrive, rescue the baby and mete out swift Western justice to the cowardly Mexicans. The baby is once more returned to his adopted home. Sing Low is roundly cursed for his carelessness, and vows never to let the cowboy's baby get out of his sight again.
- A cowboy challenges a magician to catch a bullet in his teeth. Things go awry and the cowboy winds up in jail.
- In the wild and desolate Western country a cowboy is walking along with his sweetheart, the daughter of a wealthy ranch-man. They proceed direct to her home where we find the father reading as the lovers enter. The purpose of the visit is made known when the young man asks for the daughter's hand in marriage. The parent refuses - our hero takes leave as a villainous but prosperous looking rancher enters. The newcomer speaks to the father pointing toward the daughter. She is called over, presented to the villain. His actions and appearance do not meet with her approval and she leaves the room. The old gentleman bids the rancher follow his child. He goes out, finally meets the young lady, to whom he proposes, his suit is vehemently rejected. As he endeavors to embrace the girl her sweetheart opportunely appears, knocks the villain down and disarms him. Leaving the lovers in fond embrace the rancher returns to the house and relates his adventure to the father. Both return and and the pair making love. Our hero is ordered away while the girl is taken home; the villain following. (Before departure the girl whispers to her lover, who nods in a pleased manner). Outside the house the villain and the father engage in earnest conversation; the girl is sent indoors. Meanwhile our hero secures a horse for himself and his lady love and is seen riding in the direction of the ranch. The girl is waiting and no time is lost in getting away. The angry father and his companion give pursuit as quickly as possible. The scene now changes to a parson's cabin ; the eloping couple ride up and make known their mission. The preacher sends the couple inside. As the father and villain ride up and try to force their way inside the reverend draws his pistol and makes the two men throw up their hands. Their weapons are taken from them. The lovers are called out, kneel before the minister, who holds the pistol in one hand and the Bible in the other and makes them man and wife. After the ceremony the daughter pleads with her father; after much coaxing he relents and forgives them, embraces his child, takes his son-in-law's hand, while the villain slinks away.
- Departure of the Stage-Coach: The schoolmarm from the East arrives at a Western town. Is gallantly assisted to the waiting stage-coach by a cowboy. The Hold-Up: The cowboy overhears a plot to rob the coach. The stage held up. Passengers compelled to give up their valuables. The schoolmarm held for ransom. The rescue. The cowboy meets the stage-coach. Informed of the hold-up and abduction of the girl. He dashes on after the escaping robbers. Finds the schoolmarm's gloves on the road. The Robbers Quarrel: They dispute over the possession of the girl. Shake dice for her. The cowboy discovers them. Warns the girl. Mounts his horse and at full speed picks up the teacher. Is off before the astonished gamblers can stop him. He reaches the stage-coach and puts the schoolmarm aboard. The School-House: Children at play. The preacher seeks the hand of the schoolmistress. His rival, the cowboy, appears. Presses his suit. Discomfiture of the minister. Cowboy and schoolmarm go out riding. The cowboy again seeks her hand with no better result. The Schoolmarm's Home: The preacher calls. Declares his admiration for her. Interrupted by shots outside of the house. It proves to be a drunken cowboy. The minister dresses as an Indian to frighten him away. The cowboy bursts in the door and discharges more shots. Makes the frightened minister smoke cigarettes and drink liquor. He then discovers he is a parson. He forces the minister to marry him to the schoolmarm. The ceremony. The cowboy discards his disguise. Is recognized. The girl rushes to his arms and the parson faints.
- Bud Noble, a handsome specimen of manhood, is foreman on the Circle "D" ranch outside of Circle City, Idaho, and our opening scene pictures Bud as the cowboy roping and tying a steer. With its bucking bronchos, pitching mustangs, bucking steers, and the biggest novelty ever, the acme of all thrillers, "see Bud bulldog a steer." Only three men have successfully accomplished this feat and lived to tell about it. Then Bud receives a shock. The local operator appears with a telegram. "Your Uncle John dead. You are sole heir to his estate valued at several millions. Come to Chicago at once." The astounded cowboys tumble over with sheer amazement. Bud buys and the scene closes with a characteristic rush for the bar. "One year later" Bud tires of society. We see Bud and his new wife entertaining and our cowboy shows plainly that he is desperately weary of the effete East, then Bud goes to the club and the men he meets there and their conversation is getting on his nerves. "After the theater" a return home and Bud longs for the fresh air of the vast West. As he sinks wearily into a chair a Remington painting catches his eye. It is one he had recently purchased, a broncho buster and his locoed horse. The artist had caught the wild spirit of his subject, and as Bud's mind returns to scenes of a similar nature, a happy inspiration comes. "By Jove, I'll do it." He seizes a telegraph blank, rings for his butler, and sends the following message: "Col. Dalton, Foreman Circle 'D' Ranch, "This high-brow life is killing me. Am sending you special train. Bring the whole outfit, band, horses and all. This town needs excitement. Come and help wake it up. BUD." A few days later we see the boys at a swell suburban depot: Bud and his wife in their auto, and the punchers in chaps and sombreros soon create a world of excitement on the city streets. Then Bud takes the boys yachting; next to see a melodrama, where the Colonel takes exceptions to the villain's heartless treatment of "Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl." "Bud, either send those horrid creatures back where they came from or I get a divorce," declares Mrs. Bud. So the boys are next seen in a palatial café car homeward bound. The Colonel gets into an argument with the colored cook and that worthy dives through an open car window to escape the cowboy's wrath. Our closing scene is in the cozy home of the millionaire. He and his wife are enjoying a quiet tete-a-tete when the butler bands in a telegram. It reads; "On root. Everybody enjoyin' theirselves. The Colonel sure some happy, he just shot a coon. Will send the bill to you. THE BOYS." Bud laughs heartily. The wife joins and as she nestles up to her big manly husband, says: "You won't ever want to be a cowboy again, will you, Bud?" Bud turns slowly; looks at the Remington painting which has been the innocent cause of their recent quarrel, and walking over, he turns the picture to the wall, holds out his arms to his wife, and as her head nestles against his shoulder, we plainly catch his words, "Never Again."
- Two handsome young Americans, cowboys of the "Bar O" ranch, fall in love with Kitty Blair, the pretty daughter of a neighboring ranchman. The two young fellows have been pals up to the time they meet Kitty, when a bitter rivalry rises between them. Kitty presents Stephen Bronson, one of her admirers, with her latest photograph, but shows her impartiality when she gives Stephen Howard, the other suitor, a similar photograph. The two young fellows finally resolve to see the girl together and ask her to choose between them. When they state their case to Kitty, she hesitates but a moment and gives her hand to Bronson. Howard manfully withdraws, after shaking hands with Bronson and wishing the two a happy life together. It is not long, however, before Bronson shows the other side of his nature. Bronson loses money gambling and plans to reimburse himself by appropriating another ranchman's cattle. Bronson takes into his confidence one Will Parsons, another cowpuncher, and when night falls they visit the corral and make away with a half-dozen of the ranchman's choicest steers. Parsons is sent on to sell the cattle while Bronson rides off to visit his sweetheart. In the meantime discovery of the theft is made, and a photograph of Kitty, bearing the legend, "To my friend Steve," is found close to the spot where the cattle were rounded up. A visit to Steve Howard's adobe follows, but Howard's entire ignorance of the entire affair seems to point out his innocence. There can be but one other Steve who could be guilty, and Bronson is hunted up. He is apprised at his sweetheart's home, accused of the theft, and is about to be led away to the lynching tree, when Howard, who has come upon the scene, steps in front of Bronson and shoulders the guilt himself. Bronson is thunderstruck but does not offer to interfere when Howard is led away. He is not quite capable in his black soul of appreciating the nobleness of Howard's sacrifice. On the other hand Howard is firmly convinced that Bronson is innocent and it is to make happy the girl he loves in taking Bronson's place. Bronson, after the party has left, turns to the girl and begs her to go East with him. She consents and goes into the house to pack her suitcase. While she is in the house Parsons, having sold the cattle and returned with the money, calls Bronson aside and tells him he is ready to divide. They are in the midst of this transaction when Kitty comes out of the house and hears them talking about the theft. Immediately she realizes Howard's great sacrifice, for the cowardly knave she has agreed to marry, and in a moment desperately resolves to turn them over to justice and to save Howard's life. They are surprised when they look up into Kitty's revolver, but she forces Bronson to write a confession, clearing Howard, and jumping astride Bronson's horse, gallops off after the sheriff and his posse. She arrives just in the nick of time. The rope has been thrown over Howard's neck and is ready to draw him to his death. The girl's timely arrival prevents this and her screams for them not to hang the man check them. Kitty brings forth the confession from Bronson, Howard is liberated and Kitty goes to his arms. The sheriff and his posse jump on their horses again and ride off in pursuit of Parsons and Bronson. They overtake them finally and the two meet their just deserts.
- The opening scene of this amusing comedy shows peddling Lexy seated beneath a huge poster of a cowboy. He succumbs to Morpheus, the God of Sleep, and is soon imagining he is the living counterpart of the poster.
- In a Western inn cowboys are drinking. On the floor sits an Indian quietly smoking his pipe. Jim, a cowboy, under the influence of liquor, knocks the Indian down. The Indian is just about to strike him with a dagger, when Jack, another cowboy, holds him back and calms him with a few pleasant words. Jim mounts his horse and rides off. He meets the queen of the ranch, whom he tries to kiss. At this moment Jack appears on the scene, knocks Jim down and walks away with his sweetheart. He brings her home and then returns to the inn, where he meets Jim. At this moment an eagle circles over the inn. Both draw their revolvers and fire. The eagle comes down between them. Each one claims having made the lucky shot. A fight ensues, and they agree to let the cards decide who is the victor. Before entering the inn, Jim puts some cards in his boots determined to win the game and thus the glory for having killed the eagle. The Indian has noticed Jim's crookedness and follows him into the inn. At an opportune moment Jim exchanges his cards with those in his boots. He holds the highest hand and wins the game. Jack, enraged, pulls his shooting iron and fires at Jim. He then mounts his horse and rides away, followed by the cowboys, who swear to string him to the first tree they may find. The cowboy rides to the home of his girl and tells her of what has happened. She exchanges clothes with him and rides away, pursued by the cowboys. Thus she hopes to give Jack time to escape. After a long chase she is recognized by the cowboys, who return to her home, where they capture Jack. They take him back to the inn and were just placing the rope around his neck when the Indian reveals the crookedness of Jim. They search him and find the cards concealed in his boots and in his coat. They quickly release Jack and place the rope around Jim's neck, leading him away, while Jack and his girl leave in fond embrace.
- The opening scene shows Dick bidding his sweetheart Jane good-bye in front of her log cabin home. She playfully scolds him and waves good-bye as he leaves. Black Folsom and his hard-looking gang of cowboys ride on the scene and he attempts to flirt with Jane. She modestly withdraws into the cabin, while the cowboys ride on to the village tavern, where we see them enjoying themselves, and after leaving the saloon they go back to the log cabin, where Black Folsom goes in and finds Jane just putting on her hat, about to leave. He attempts to kiss her, which she resents by slapping him in the face, and he, in his rage, grabs her and rushes outside, where one of his mates binds her arms and lifts her up onto Folsom's horse, and they ride away. Dick returns, finds the cabin deserted, indications of a struggle, and horses' hoof marks outside, and follows on his horse. We then see the cowboys riding through the woods with Jane, and in this scene Folsom, in his half-drunken condition, lets Jane slip from his arms to the ground while galloping at full speed. He returns and picks her up without dismounting, and then proceeds. We then see Dick coming over the same ground in pursuit, and the next scene shows Folsom and his gang in camp, with Jane bound and lying on the ground. The cowboys are asleep, with the exception of a sentry, who is making up the camp fire, when Dick crawling on his hands and knees, appears on the scene and, knocking the sentry down, releases Jane, who runs to the horses and, mounting one, rides away. Dick is about to do the same when the sentry, recovering from the blow, gives the alarm, and Folsom and his gang rush to him before he can draw his gun. They capture him and some of the boys hold him while Folsom is about to shoot him, when a diabolical plan enters his head and he decides to have him put in quicksand, which is near at hand. The next scene shows the quicksand, with the cowboys approaching with Dick in the midst, and going as near the quicksand as they dare, they push him forward, and in spite of his struggles he lands in the place where they desire him to be and is seen slowly sinking as Folsom's gang go off the scene. Jane has been watching the operations of the gang, and as soon as it is safe, she approaches on her hands and knees and attempts to help Dick, who is in the greatest agony, but he values the life of his sweetheart more highly than he does his own and he begs of her not to come near him. She discovers a lariat which one of the Folsom gang had left, and making a noose she draws it about his body and attempts to haul him out, but it is too much for her strength, and discovering the limb of a tree hanging over the quicksand, she draws it over the limb and makes it fast to the tree and then rushes away for help. We then see her galloping back to the settlement in search of help, and then see her riding with friends of Dick to his rescue. They arrive at the quicksand, and while two of them haul him up with the rope, Jane and another one throw a rope about his back and drag him from over the quicksand. They lower him to hard ground, and the picture closes with Jane and Dick in loving embrace, receiving the congratulations of the other cowboys.
- A bit of the West: cowboys, lassos, bucking ponies and all. An unusually fine exhibition of dexterous handling of the lasso is given in the first part of the picture. This particular cowboy certainly has perfect control over the rope and when he lassos man or beast he has them in a net for sure, as shown in the near view given of the cow puncher and pony he has just caught. The bucking broncho in this picture is a fine specimen of its class, possessed of all the "buckiness" that is coming to him. The cowboys attempt vainly to get a saddle on the little fellow's back and just when they seem to have finally accomplished the feat he bumps himself just at the psychological moment and sends saddle and boys flying. In the end, however, he is conquered and the triumphant rider swings himself into the saddle, but before his body touches the latter the little vixen is off like a shot, the plucky Westerner sticking on, however, as if glued to his back.
- A settler, accompanied by his wife and little girl, who are making their way through the wild western country in search of a spot in which to build their home, are attacked by marauding Indians. After a brave fight the father and mother are killed and their wagon burned. Fortunately the child had been sent with a bucket for water, and so escaped death. The Indians are frightened away by a trio of cowboys who have been attracted to the spot by the shooting. Big Jim and his two companions find the child weeping over the bodies of her dead parents and Jim, moved by the pitiful situation of the little orphan, declares that he will take care of her. Fifteen years pass, and Nell has grown up into a beautiful woman, courted by many, admired by all. Jim is about to go on a journey, and he writes a letter to Nell telling her that folks think she ought to be married. Will she marry him? He enters to find Nell embraced and being kissed by Dick, the favored suitor. He tears the letter. Nell, turning quickly, sees him. Jim places the torn letter into the pocket of his old coat. The noble-hearted fellow conceals his great disappointment and blesses the young couple. While Jim is away a strange woman denounces Dick as the husband who had deserted her. A month later we find Nell sewing up a tear in Jim's old coat. Jim's letter to her, written months before, falls upon the floor. Nell reads it. Jim enters, and Nell answers his proposal with a loving embrace and kiss.
- Although a somewhat stern father, John Dentworth aimed to be a just one, but now he felt at a loss just how to proceed. The mortgage which Jake Schroder held would be foreclosed to-day unless Jane consented to marry the young man, and that she would take Schroder in preference to the Easterner, Bob Henderson, Dentworth doubted most seriously. Then if she refused, what? Besides lifting the mortgage, would he not be securing his daughter's future happiness if he forced her to accept Schroder? An honest, wholesome, good-hearted young man whom everybody liked, and who, Dentworth argued, would surely make a better husband than the Easterner. At this juncture his daughter appeared and he braced himself for the ordeal, and an ordeal it proved, for Jane, as he had feared, absolutely refused to obey even his commands and he found that instead of going to her room, as he had ordered, she had evaded him with the aid of her brother's hat and coat and hurried out to meet Bob Henderson. Fortunately he and Schroder discovered the lovers before they had an opportunity to get away. So, sending Jane to the house, he struck Bob a stunning blow with the butt of his whip and would have repeated his attack had not Schroder interfered. The Easterner, however, bore him no grudge, but hastened to his hotel to await Tim's arrival, as Jane had promised to send her brother to him should she need his aid. And need it she did, sooner than she had expected. For both her father's anger and Schroder's jealousy bad been aroused in finding her with Bob, so that her final appeal to them had fallen upon deaf ears, and she found herself locked in her room to await their cowboy-preacher. Bob had, therefore, scarcely arrived at his hotel and gotten horses in readiness for immediate flight when Tim came panting up with the note from Jane which she bad succeeded in throwing out of the window to him. And though he and Tim made all possible speed, they would scarcely have arrived on time, bad not the cowboy-preacher insisted on removing his "preacher outfit" and solemnly hiding his Bible before he would accept a drink, and then quite solemnly turning back into the "preacher" before he would allow the prospective bride to be admitted. As it was Jane had hardly gotten to the bottom of the ladder placed at her window when her father appeared above. But although she and Bob had had but a few moment's start, they succeeded in getting out of sight, dismounting and sending their horses adrift to throw her enraged father and Schroder off the scent, and stealing back to the house, where, as they expected, they found the cowboy-preacher. For the moment Dentworth and Schroder galloped away in pursuit the cowboy-preacher all at once became all cowboy. However, having finished the bottle, he again donned his clerical robes and. feeling in a jovial mood with the world in general, Bob and Jane, aided by Tim and another cowboy, had little difficulty in persuading him to perform the marriage ceremony. Only the mortgage remained now to worry the young bride. But Schroder, upon finding he had lost. lived up to his reputation of big-heartedness and actually insisted upon Dentworth accepting the mortgage as Jane's wedding gift.
- Tom Ripley, a cowpuncher from the Circle A ranch, wins the hatred of Jim Simpson, another cowpuncher, when he defends Lightfeather, a pretty squaw, from the insults of Simpson. The affair occurs in the Silver Dollar saloon in Bisbee. Some few days later Lightfeather goes to her protector's cabin and presents him with a pair of fine moccasins. Tom is duly grateful and advises the little Indian maiden that if she is ever annoyed again, not to hesitate to shoot the persecutor. Not long after this meeting Simpson encounters Ripley out on the range on the brink of a precipice. A fight ensues in which Ripley is thrown over the cliff and frightfully wounded on the rocks below. Ripley's riderless horse gallops away and is later seen and recognized by Lightfeather. The squaw mounts the horse and follows the tracks back to the top of the cliff where she finds her good white friend. After much difficulty she assists him back to the cabin and cares for him in his convalescence. Simpson, who has vowed to "get" Ripley at any cost, watches Tom's cabin day and night but the wary Lightfeather has seen him skulking about and keeps a sharp lookout after Tom. Later when she sees Simpson slipping threateningly on Ripley and about to fire at him, she draws her own weapon and a timely shot kills the would-be murderer. Ripley turns to find Simpson lying dead, just behind him, when the little squaw comes from behind her hiding place in the nearby bushes, confessing that she had killed Simpson to save him. Ripley brings up his horse and swinging into the saddle, pulls the squaw up behind him, just as a party of cowboys, who have heard the shot, run upon the scene. A lively chase follows. By numerous tricks Ripley throws his pursuers off the trail and after a long ride draws rein at a little creek, the boundary line of two counties. When he crosses this he knows he will be safe from the sheriff, at least. Pulling a notebook from his pocket Ripley scribbles a line to the sheriff, which be ties to a weed at the water's edge. Some time later the sheriff and his posse arrive at the crossing and find the note. It reads: "Buck Brady, Sheriff: We have crossed the boundary line forever. Good-bye. The squaw only killed a cur, and you know it. Tom Ripley." The sheriff reads the note aloud and turns to his men. "Tom's right," he says, "that Simpson was never no account, nohow." And the little party of cowboys swing leisurely into their saddles and turn their horses' heads toward home.
- Mona Semple refuses Bob Thornby, the ticket agent, as gently a possible, for, though she does not love him, she rather likes him. The same disappointment is accorded John Wilbur, following his proposal in her upon her return to the ranch from the station. With her refusal of John, she tempers encouragement because she likes John more than Bob. Still she doesn't say "yes" to either of them. Bob and John have been chums, until the affair with Mona made them enemies. A natural frequency for two men loving the same girl, despite the strongest bond of friendship existing previously. When the disappointment is keen, it will serve to ignite the latent spark of innate evil smoldering in the breast of the rejected one. Such is the case with Bob Thornby. Ranchman Semple having sold a great number of cattle, sends Mona with the money to the express office to be placed in the safe until sent on to the bank. The station, usually filled with cowboys happens to be empty of all but the agent Bob, who again presses his attentions upon the girl. She refuses him so emphatically this time, that he grows threatening and surly, so much so that she becomes alarmed and endeavors to take up the money and leave the office. But Thornby, anticipating her move, and realizing that he is in for it whichever way the wind blows, seizes her, binds her to a chair, writes a note implicating John Wilbur, pins it to her waist, and then, grabbing up the money, mounts the girl's horse and dashes off toward the canyon. Meanwhile John has seen Mona riding toward the station, and thinking she was going to see the agent, but not knowing her mission, he jealously presumes her visit is a friendly one. He mounts his horse and follows her. Arriving at the depot he sees Thornby riding away on Mona's horse, and hurrying into the office, discovers the bound girl, releases her, and takes her home upon his own horse. Leaving her in the care of her parents he hurries to the outhouse and soon a crowd of cowboys are on the trail of the fleeing agent. They find the horse returning riderless. Dashing on they discover Thornby climbing the rocks of a steep canyon. Firing into the air more to alarm him than to hit him, they endeavor to bring him down. In the frenzy of desperation the agent turns and empties his revolver at the cowboys who return his fire. One of the bullets strikes him on the arm, causing him to relax his hold whereupon he slides down into the arms of the cowboys below who immediately secure him. Upon their arrival at the ranch they learn of the note implicating John in the theft but none give it it credence. They are all for peremptorily finishing Thornby, but the rancher intercedes and gives him one hour to get out of town. Then he gives his daughter to Wilbur with his blessings.
- Jess Wilson, a young and pretty school teacher of the "Golden West." is just leaving the little schoolhouse in which she teaches, when Joe Blackburn, a man with a "bad reputation," meets her and forces his attentions upon her, finally proposing marriage. Jess is insulted and orders him away. Blackburn, angry and vindictive, swears he will get her yet. A few nights later, Jim Brady, a cowboy, who is courting Jess, proposes marriage and is accepted. As Jim is slipping an engagement ring on Jess' finger, Blackburn appears and again makes his threat, saying, "You haven't got her yet and you never will." Young Deer, an Indian, and his squaw. Red Wing, are trying to sell some beadwork, when Blackburn, who has been drinking very hard and is in a fighting mood, attacks both of them. Jim Brady, seeing the plight of the Indians, comes to their aid and drives off Blackburn, who is now more determined than ever to get revenge. The next day, as Jess is riding along the road on her way home from school, Blackburn and his pals surround and force her to ride ahead of them at the point of a revolver. Young Deer and Red Wing, who have pitched their camp along the side of the road for the night, see the whole occurrence. Young Deer, perceiving the situation, tells Red Wing to follow Blackburn and his pals, instructing her to drop some of the beads at every turning point along the trail, while he goes to warn Jim of Jess' danger. Red Wing, who follows the trail, dropping the beads as she goes along, falls exhausted, just as Young Deer and Jim overtake her and pick up the trail, which proves to be long and hazardous, but finally ending after a hard gunfight between Blackburn and Jim, who makes a daring rescue, saving Jess from death at the hands of Blackburn.
- Nora, who is the president of the Bachelor's Club, receives a letter announcing the death of her uncle in the west and that he has made her heir to his immense fortune. Including a ranch at Grey Oaks. Nora decides to go west and take charge of the ranch and run it herself a la suffragette fashion. She invites all the girls to go with her and they start for their new home. Arriving at Grey Oaks they pay no attention to the cowboys who greet them at the station but go at once in the old stage-coach to the ranch. The cowboys follow, approach the ranch, offer their services and are rewarded by being driven from the premises. The boys make up their minds to "get next" to the girls and devise a scheme. Two of the girls on their way to town are attacked by some of the cowboys and two of the bunch rescue the girls from the "desperadoes," the trick works and the two fellows gallantly escort the girls on their way. Two more of the girls no fishing, one of the boys fixes up like a bear, attacks the girls, who are saved from "instant death" by the cowboys. The girls are deeply grateful and reward the boys by allowing them to escort them back to the ranch. Nora is the only one left. She is indignant to think the girls have forgotten all the rules and by-laws of the club by paying attention to men. She starts on a wild ride to town, declaring she will have none of it. We watch her riding a rough and unfrequented road where we see a "Mexican greaser" lurking. He hears Nora approaching, jumps on his horse and rides to meet her. She eludes him but he follows as she urges her horse at a mad pace, he goads his animal in the chase until he comes alongside Nora and snatches her bodily from the sadly. She struggles, they both fall to the ground and she fights with the Mexican for her life. The remaining one of the cowboys coming that way hears her screams and with a lash and a plunge he hurries to Nora's assistance. He flings the ruffian aside, but before he can pull his gun the villain attacks him with a knife which the cowboy succeeds in wrenching from his hand. This places the greaser at his mercy which be shows by allowing him to escape without further ceremony. It is right here where the leader of the bachelor girls denounces her allegiance to the club's principles and falls into the arms and gives her heart into the keeping of the leader of the cowboys who so valiantly saved her life. The hero and Nora go to the ranch where they are met by the rest of the girls and boys with a laugh, a shout and a hurrah.
- A shot during a struggle, and Frank Morrison is branded with the mark of Cain, but by his own efforts the real murderer is discovered.
- George Monroe and his son and daughter, after settling themselves in the ranch house that they had secured for a couple of months, decide to take a stroll through the little old western town and see the sights. This is what the inhabitants thought and that is what the Monroe family wanted them to think, but their object is to size up, as it were, their prey, for this respectable-looking family of father, son and daughter, was nothing less than a family of card sharks who had come from Denver for the purpose of fleecing the cowboys. The girl, tall and beautiful, acts as the magnet to draw the victims to the ranch. They were successful. The most constant visitor and heaviest loser in their gambling den is Wilson Moore, a handsome young cowpuncher, and the support of his widowed mother and his little sister Aggie. Belle Monroe leads him on until the poor fellow is head over heels in love with her and firmly believes that his love is returned. She plays with his affections while her father and brother rob him of his money. Belle often takes a hand with them and it is while playing opposite him at the table that she is suddenly made aware of the startling fact that she is really in love with the man she has been fooling. The shock of the discovery unnerves her and she wants to leave the game, but a stern glance from her father and an exclamation from her brother brings her to her senses and she, with hysterical laughter, continues the game, winning all of Wilson's money. Meanwhile the widow Moore is grieving over the actions of her adored son. She is unused to his leaving her every evening as he is now doing and his daily drawings from the strong box where their money is kept, alarms her. Being present when her son receives a letter from Belle's Indian maid, she reads the request from the Monroe's to come up for a big game, she decides to put a stop to this ruining of her son. Hurrying to the ranch of the card sharks, she is admitted to the presence of the girl. With tears streaming down her old cheeks she implores the young woman to give her back her son. Her pleadings are not in vain, for the love that is consuming Belle needed only such fuel as this mother's love and the two women unite to save the one man. Lowering her Indian maid from the window she tells her to go for the cowboys if she can't find Wilson before her father and brother get him. At this moment she hears them coming and secretes the old lady just as the three enter the room. With an assumed gaiety she stealthily removes the revolvers from her father and brother and when a prearranged quarrel takes place the brother is about to brain Wilson she stops them at the pistol's point. Ordering them to "hands up" site holds them so until the cowboys arrive and carry them off to jail. Wilson and the widow then take the weeping girl home with them to live in a purer atmosphere as his wife.
- Mary, fearing that mayhap her lover might follow in the footsteps of her father and become a drunkard, exacts a pledge from him that he will not touch liquor as long as he lives. The father cannot appreciate the seriousness of the pledge and during the festivities of the betrothal coaxes the cowboy into taking just one drink in honor of the occasion while Mary's back is turned. Mary, however, unexpectedly sees the man she is to marry drain the glass. She shudders with fear as she realizes that her lover, not strong enough to resist temptation and weak enough to break his pledge, might take to the path of her father. Her forebodings come true. Her sweetheart and father become constant habitués of "Pete's Saloon." Day after day, night after night, both can be found drinking or drunk. She determines to break off her engagement and signals her state of mind then she snubs her fiancé when he and her father stagger from the barroom while she and her younger sister are passing on horseback. The old man and the cowboy, after a moment's pause of stupefied consternation, link arms and seek consolation at the bar. It does not take the young fellow long to become a drunken sot. Indian Joe carries the news of the father's debauch to Mary and her mother. The women mount their horses and gallop to the saloon to save the father and husband and punish the lover. The wife arrives in time to support the head of her dying husband, who has fallen to the floor, and Mary to stare with accusing wrath at the man she was to marry. In an instant she grips her whip, and with well-directed blows, smashes bottle after bottle to atoms, until the place reeks with the odor of spilled liquor. The cowboy at last attempts to stop the frenzied girl in her destruction, but she recoils from him, and before he realizes what she is doing, brings the whip down upon his head, face and shoulders. After the funeral of the old man, Jack goes to see Mary for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation, but she will not listen to his pleadings and he decides to go away and try to atone. She tells him that if in two years he becomes a man and finds he still loves her to come back. And now the two years are passed and she wonders, as she leans against the tree where they parted, whether he will come back to her. Scarcely has the thought been formed when she hears his steps upon the gravel, and with bursting heart, throws herself into the arms of her cowboy lover, come back a parson.
- Bob loves Mab, and his love is returned, but as usual, the course of true love fails to run smooth. Bob and two of his cowboy friends go on a fishing and hunting trip in the Platte River bottoms. On their way they stop at the Post Office. An eastern lady out horseback riding stops to ask Bob for directions. Mab sees Bob apparently paying marked attentions to the lady. Her jealousy is aroused. Bob follows her home, explains, and the cloud blows over. Bob pops the question. Mab accepts and the ring is given. The eastern lady's horse runs away with her. Bob makes a heroic rescue and Mab for the second time in one day finding cause for jealousy, returns Bob's ring and goes away in anger. Bob's companions come upon a bear, and as Steve's gun fails to work, the boys return to camp and find Bob in a good humor to vent his anger on a bear or anything else that will prove an outlet for his feelings. After finding and shooting the bear, Bob hits on a happy scheme to square matters with Mab, and it is this plan that gives our picture story its name, "A Cowboy's Stratagem." It's a "corker" and for genuine merit and scenic environment will he found a true Selig, consequently in a class by itself.
- Jack, one of the cowboys on Circle L Ranch, is in love with a neighboring ranch girl, Lucy, and he starts out on his piebald broncho to see her. Leaving the horse on the road he and the girl wander away through the forest. Meantime a ne'er-do-well, Dick Dazers, coming along and seeing the horse, mounts and gallops to the crossroads, where he arrives in time to hold up the coach as it comes along the rough road and separates the passengers from their money and jewels. His horse, however, runs away back to its master, and Jack finds it where he left it. Suspecting nothing he starts on his way back, and arriving at the crossroads sees there a black mass dropped by Dick; he is handling it, wondering how it came there, when the sheriff and his posse, accompanied by an Englishman, who was a passenger on the coach and who had given the alarm, arrive on the scene. Everything points to Jack as the guilty one, and he is bound and led away. On the way they pass Lucy, who does not believe that Jack could he guilty of such a crime. She seizes the Englishman's horse while he is getting a drink and gallops back to the Circle L Ranch and tells Jack's friends. They follow and catch up with the sheriff's party just as he is about to lock Jack in the calaboose. On hearing the evidence things look black against Jack, and they ride homeward to consider what is best to be done. Meantime the Englishman in his wanderings meets Dick, who again tries to hold him up. At this moment Jack's friends come along and capture him and lead him to the sheriff. Lucy tells the sheriff that she believes Dick is the man who really held up the coach, and asks to be allowed to act as his jailer so that she may find out. The sheriff finally consents to her plan, which we will not divulge here. We can assure you it was a very novel idea, and worked out to perfection, with the result that full evidence of Dick's guilt was obtained, and Jack was freed through the efforts of the girl he loved.
- Colonel Austin's daughter, Grace, a charming young girl from the east, is made a great favorite by the boys attached to her father's ranch, who shower candy and flowers upon her, regardless of the fact that her father prohibits such attentions. Bob, while riding through the woods comes upon Grace, fastens her loosened saddle and assists the girl to mount her horse, when the Colonel appears. He does not credit Bob's story and he himself escorts his daughter back to the ranch. Grace, much perturbed at her father's actions, writes a note of apology to Bob and incidentally plans for a meeting at the creek. They meet, and Bob fearing his sweetheart might catch cold, ties his handkerchief about Grace's head, which she wears back to the ranch. This act of chivalry reveals to the father that she had disobeyed his instructions, and in consequence he plans to send her back east. They start the next morning. After riding a short distance their Indian driver discovers they are being pursued by a band of hostile Indians. They try to cover their trail, thus outwitting their followers, and finally enter an old shack. The Indians come upon their place of refuge, take possession of horses and wagon, and begin to fire upon them. Blue Cloud, the Colonel's servant, escapes from the shack, returns to the ranch and gives alarm. Bob loses no time in going to the aid of the Colonel and his daughter, the other cowboys following after. Bob arriving first on the scene shows great heroism in fighting the Indians single handed, and the timely arrival of his comrades saves him from being slain. The Colonel, in gratitude for their rescue, forgives his daughter, and as the cowboy's reward gives him the hand of Grace.
- Percy is a ladies' man, the sort of chap the girls think real cute but who makes real men excessively weary. Percy has that effect upon his prospective father-in-law, who promptly runs Percy out of the parlor when he catches him making love and commands the butler to throw him the rest of the way out of the house, a task the butler performs with a thoroughness and evident enjoyment of the job that does not conduce to Percy's comfort of mind or body. But father is soft of heart where daughter is concerned and he sends a note to Percy informing him that if he will go west for two years and make a man of himself he can marry the girl of his choice. Percy is delighted and togs himself out in glad raiment that would make even a stage cowboy shriek with delight. To a khaki riding suit he adds the sweetest bow and his sombrero is decked with a scarf that looks like a rainbow on a three-day drunk. A huge holster houses a tiny revolver better suited to the watch chain and a dainty bow of pink ribbon gives to it an artistic touch that a .44 completely lacks. Bravely he bids farewell to his admiring sweetheart and promises not to kill any more men that he absolutely has to. Out on Curly S ranch the Boss gets a letter from his eastern friend announcing Percy's advent and the riders scent some fun, though they do not then realize how great will be their joy. The foreman drives off to the station to meet the expected guest, but is taken aback when Percy minces along the platform and gushingly greets him and some of the station loungers. They start for the ranch and Percy gets his first taste of roughing it, for the buggy has poor springs and the rocks in the road are so thick that they have to lie on top of each other. To add to his distress there is no top to the buggy and he is getting frightfully tanned. The punchers make him welcome and when Percy proudly displays his gun they go wild with delight. One of the men shoots a companion with it and the latter gets quite cross when he finds it out. Meanwhile they are making things pleasant for Percy and by way of training him for the buck jumpers they ride him on a rail, a ride that ends up on the bank of the river where Percy has to swim for it. Two years later the eastern sweetheart is delighted to get a letter telling her that Percy is due to arrive almost as soon as the note. Father does not share her joy at the prospect of having "that thing" around again and is frank to say so. A commotion in the hall rouses them and the servants with upheld hands come backing in, the chef, the butler, the housekeeper, the chambermaid and all the others. Bringing up in the rear is an alert and reliant young fellow with springy stride and erect carriage. He chases the servants out and there is a joyous reunion. Then it occurs to Percy that he and father ought to have a little talk. Father is not in a conversational mood and he has taken refuge behind a table, but Percy makes one grab for him and Father comes in a hurry. As well as he can with the black muzzle of a six shooter half way down his throat, he utters the conventional "Bless you, my children," and when the first shock is over he is rather proud of the result of his experiment.
- Hartley is a rancher. His daughter, Bess, is the sweetheart of Jack, a fine, manly fellow. Bosco is a card sharp who inveigles Hartley, while under the influence of liquor, into a card game. Jack catches Bosco cheating, stops the game, and after an encounter with Bosco takes Hartley home, where a scene of pathetic tenderness is enacted with Bess. In revenge, Bosco and his partner carry Bess away. Jack rides in pursuit while Hartley assembles a posse and follows. The two renegades quarrel, and during the ensuing fight Bess makes her escape. As Bosco is about to recapture her, Jack arrives on the scene and a terrific encounter follows, in which Bosco falls over the cliff. In the meantime the posse is riding hard and comes up in time to escort Jack and his sweetheart back. Hartley is stricken with remorse over the trouble his drinking has brought on and takes an oath never to touch liquor again. The last scene shows Jack and Bess at the little church, about to be married, while the cowboys fire their revolvers and cheer them.
- A poor old couple owe to a crafty, unprincipled old Mexican payment on a mortgage. He comes to collect the amount, they tearfully acknowledge their inability to pay and they are told to vacate. Their daughter, Inez, a pretty, happy-natured damsel, comes in and realizes the awful situation. She appeals to the old man and be makes a bargain with the aged couple; the daughter as payment. This they refuse, but Inez decides to the contrary, and, taking the paper, tears it, giving the pieces to her father and bids them a sorrowful adieu. The old man is well satisfied with the deal, and after a patronizing farewell, helps his youthful companion into his carriage. She weeps all the way to his residence and when ushered into the reception room her grief is boundless. He attempts to pacify and caress her, but she flees from the house, he following after. She appeals to an American cowboy for protection, but the odds are against him, he is overpowered by three Mexicans, who obey the wrathy old man. The poor cowboy is led to a shack, bound hand and foot and left guarded by the three Mexicans. Inez is locked in a room, there to remain until submissive. The wide-awake American is not passive, he seizes the opportunity to silence his guard and then loosens his hands and feet. This done he downs the other two Mexicans and makes his way to the house. After a search he finds Inez and together they escape. When the old man goes again to her home for her, he is met by the suave American, who gives him the money on his mortgage and hastens his departure. The finale is predestined. The American cowboy and Inez find solace in each other's charms and the old couple in their child's happiness.
- Nellie Blair, the niece of a wealthy ranchman, and an orphan, comes in make her home with her uncle, and shortly after her arrival finds that the whole "Circle A" outfit, every manjack on the place, is in love with her. One by one they propose until Charley Martin, better known as "Cayuse" Charley, makes an appeal to Nellie's fancy and wins her consent to marriage. A short time later they are married and go to live in "Cayuse's" shack. Cayuse is the happiest man in the world, and his ever smiling face strikes the envy chord in the other boys' hearts. As a benedict, at least for the first few months, he proves ideal, spending his evenings at home, "doin'" the dishes or scrubbing the floors to make Nellie's work lighter, but finally his long spell of usefulness ends. After the first few little excuses to get away evenings, Nellie finds that he does not care much for housework, and when she asks him why he has so neglected her he retorts sharply that he reckons a woman ought to do her own work. It is only a slight step from neglect to ill-treatment, and one morning, after being roughly abused by "Cayuse," Nellie resolves that she must appeal to her old-time friends to help her in bringing Charley to terms. The boys are indignant when they hear that Charley has been maltreating their former sweetheart, and endeavor to think of some plan to bring him to terms. "Better string him up," one suggests. "Ride him on a rail," says another. "Listen to this," from Pete the Coyote, who has been reading the Lariat Bugle, "Mother in-Law Tames Vicious Husband." After reading the item through, all of them suggest that they see Nellie and have her send mother down. They learn to their dismay that Nellie has no mother. In the end the following plan is adopted. Pete is to disguise as Nellie's mother and is to bring "Cayuse" to time. The outfit is obtained and the big cowpuncher, arrayed in the feminine wig and skirts, would send any man's heart to his throat if he thought of having trouble with her. That evening when "Cayuse" returns he is even more fretful than before. He does not make much headway, however, before "Mother" puts in an appearance. The following scenes are extremely funny. "Cayuse" is made to perform all sorts of stunts in the kitchen, and once, when he balks, finds a big forty-four thrust under his nose. In the end he is forced to sign a pledge in which he promises not to abuse his wife under penalty of being shot by any one of Nellie's friends. "Now, kiss your mother-in-law," says Pete, but when he feels the rough cheek he grabs for his pistol, at the same time reaching for Pete's wig. Pete is too quick for him, and the pistol drops from "Cayuse's" hand. However, "Cayuse'' is cured, and when the film closes we have the intimation that "they lived happily ever afterward."
- Cowboys and Indians celebrate their culture and heritage in exhibitions from Cheyenne, Wyoming.
- When the Widow Melrose opened the letter from her brother, who has one of the finest ranches in the middle west, and read his invitation to come out for a couple of months and bring her daughter along she was overjoyed. The daughter, too is delighted, and impulsively asks her sweetheart a young New Yorker, to come along with them. He eagerly accepts and a few days after the receipt of the letter they are on their way west. Sam Stout has all the available cowboys on the place, with an Indian or two, to meet the party from the east, and they sure do give them a rousing welcome. Loaded with grips and bags the party starts for the buckboard to carry them to the ranch, when Mabel, the widow's daughter catches her first and sudden view of on Indian. She promptly screams and throws her arms about the neck of the most available man, who happens to be George Matthews, her uncle's favorite cowboy. He assures her there is no danger and offers his escort, which is gladly accepted by the interested girl; all this to the discomfiture of the youth from the East. It doesn't take many days before Mabel and George are almost constant companions and when the Easterner complains of the girl's neglect of him the widow concludes that the cowboy must stop calling on her daughter. She insists upon Matthews going away, and when she appeals strongly to his honor he has no other alternative but to go. Uncle Stout, anticipating the result of the widow's talk, makes other arrangements and asks George not to go until the following day. He then prepares and executes a plan that not only succeeds in showing the caliber of both the cowboy and the Easterner, but actually forces the young fellow to go back east on the first train, and also causes the widow to remove all obstacles in the path of the affairs of her daughter and the Westerner, and it did not take George very long to decorate the littlest finger in the world with a diamond. And this is the scheme Uncle Stout planned: He invited the Easterner and his niece for an outing in the canyon, and purposely leaving the young folks to spoon, he steals away with his sister. This was the signal for a certain cowboy, disguised as a bear, to appear and the frightened Easterner lost no time in getting away, leaving the fainting girl eaten, as he feared he himself would be. The cunning rancher also bad his cowboy George near the spot. He heard the screams and rescued the fair lady, but failed to see the bear, because that particular bear was by that time disrobing himself with much amusement amidst his companions.