Almost a Rescue (1913)

May and Maud Smith are two sisters living in a hall room at Mrs. Prune's. They are out of work and very despondent. So is Jimmie, who occupies the room next to the girls. They are all delinquent in their board bill, and Jimmie tries to steal up to his room without the landlady seeing him, but Mrs. Prune comes out and demands her rent. Jimmie shows her a letter that he has prospects of a job, but she wants her money and refuses to allow him in the dining room, until he has paid. He goes to his room and on the way meets the two girls, who were fortunate enough to have had enough money to pay part of their board and thus entitled to a meal, at least. The girls attempt to smuggle Jimmie into the dining room, but the untimely appearance of Mrs. Prune frustrates their plan. Jimmie is sitting in his room, disconsolate and hungry, when he hears voices in the adjoining room. He listens at the door and hears one of the girls exclaim, "Here is a way out of our difficulties," and then, "It's the only way. Let us dye together." Jimmie does not stop for more, but rushes away for help. And in the meantime, the girls had been reading an advertisement in the newspaper, a want ad, which calls for "two sisters for vaudeville; must have blonde hair, etc.," and which brought forth the remarks Jimmie had heard. They decide it is their last hope to relieve their pressing need of money. Jimmie fails to find a policeman so rushes to a detective agency and informs Hawkeye, the detective, that two girls are about to commit suicide. Jimmie and Hawkeye, with the latter's "fussies." Watch the house, see one of the girls come out and follow her to a drug store. They are convinced she has gone to buy the poison. Hawkeye sends Jimmie for a doctor, while he and his men follow the girl back to the house. Jimmie arrives about the same time with the doctor, and they all enter the house and creep upstairs to the girls' door. When they burst into the room, they find the girls dying their hair. Explanations ensue, and the disgusted detective leaves with a glaring look from his "Hawkeye" meant to whither the frightened Jimmie.

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Summary Details
Running Time6 min
GenresComedy Short