John Clifton is prospecting in Nevada. Lafe Brown is also in the same mountain. Clifton finds a spot rich in gold. He stakes out the claim and starts for the recorder's office. He has not gone very far before he collapses with a case of mountain fever. Brown finds Clifton, and the two men meet for the first time. Brown starts to help Clifton, but when the latter tells him of his gold find, Brown determines to take advantage of Clifton's condition and when the latter asks for a drink, he pours the water from the canteen to the ground. Brown goes to the claim, tears off Clifton's card and substitutes his own. Before death comes, Clifton's anger gives him strength to write a note to his son Dick, in New York. He tells Dick, Brown has left him to die after jumping his claim, which he has called "Number Three" and urges Dick to find Brown. He hides the note in the bottom of his knapsack. Returning, Brown finds Clifton dead. He discovers a leather card case in Clifton's shirt requesting that in case of death Clifton's belongings should be sent to his son. Brown reports to the sheriff that he found Clifton dead. He turns over Clifton's knapsack and records the claim as his own. When the package containing Clifton's knapsack arrives in New York, Dick is not at home. Two years later he returns after a trip through Europe. When he finds the note, the boy swears that he will kill his father's murderer, and goes to Nevada. There he learns that Brown is now a wealthy man living with his daughter in Los Angeles. He locates Brown and after a year of patient scheming Dick becomes Brown's secretary under an assumed name. He meets Dorothy and has come to love her. He overheard the family physician tell Brown that his heart is weak and that he must be careful to avoid any sudden shock. He resolves to kill Brown indirectly, that is, frighten him to death. He mails a letter in a disguised hand telling Brown that his hours are numbered and that when he sees "Number Three" he will answer for the death of Clifton. When Brown reads the letter he is terrified. In his library he finds the clock stopped at the hour of one and it occurs to him that this must be the first of a series of warning numbers. Next he discovers that it is April 2nd. Brown determines to go East to escape the danger which he believes is hovering over him. With Dick and Dorothy Brown goes to the railroad station, when about to board the train, the porter hangs a sign on the back of the rear platform. The sign reads "Number 3." Brown's heart fails at the sight of the fatal number and he lurches forward into the arms of Dick and Dorothy. Dick, awed by the vengeance of Providence, protectingly puts his arm about Dorothy. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis

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• Drama
• Short