His Last Crooked Deal (1913)
He is the noted gambler of the county and the most disliked, because of his habit of invariably winning. One day a pretty little woman arrives and is announced as the new postmistress. The male population is all in love with her, but she is partial to none, until she meets Dawson, who impresses her as being different from the rest. He proposes, but she tells him she cannot marry a gambler. He finally wins her by making a promise to reform. When he seeks work everyone refuses him because of his former profession. He pawns all of his personal effects, piece by piece, telling his wife that the money is wages. One day he is given a real job as laborer at a rock crusher, but he is unequal to the task and is discharged. He returns home to find he has been ejected for failure to pay rent. In cheaper quarters his wife falls ill. The doctor says it is due to impoverishment and prescribes wholesome food. Dawson is in despair. His wife forces him to take her wedding ring to obtain money. On his way home with the money obtained by pawning the ring he passes the gambling hall. He tries to resist, but the desire to play and win overcomes him. He wins and wins honestly. One by one the players drop out until only Dawson and one opponent remain. The cards are dealt. The stakes are high. The opponent "stands pat." Dawson is afraid to take any chances. To play straight might mean no food and death for her; to play crooked is safe and sure. He plays it crooked and fools them all but one. This one tells the loser how it happened, the deck is inspected and an extra queen is discovered. Dawson has fed his wife a bowl of hot broth and she falls into a peaceful sleep. He hears a sound at the door and opens it when he finds himself looking down the muzzle of the loser's six-shooter. He is about to be handled roughly by the crowd when the loser sees the sick wife, surmises what the situation is and asks Dawson if that was the reason he did it. Dawson says it was. The loser's attitude changes. He tears up the queen and throws it out of the window. The crowd starts to leave when Dawson calls them back and swears to them that he has played his last crooked deal.
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Bertram Bracken | Director |
| Wilbert Melville | Writer |
| Siegmund Lubin | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Henry King | |
| Dolly Larkin | |
| Joseph Holland |
