A Leap Year Tangle (1916)

A boys' school is just across the street from a girls' school. Lee and Neal, realizing that Leap Year has its disadvantages, pledge to stay single. Eddie does not want to sign the pledge, but the two friends force him to enter in their contract. The girls, too, decide to take advantage of Leap Year and agree that the first one who captures a husband shall be given a handsome prize. Eddie and Betty have long been sweethearts and Eddie wonders how he will be able to keep this from his friends. When Eddie calls, Betty, thinking of the prize, suggests that they marry at once. This does not suit Eddie at all, but when she tells him that unless he marries her that day she will refuse him, he is forced to consent. The boys see the two in their lovemaking and learn of the impending wedding. They determine to visit dire punishment upon Eddie for breaking their arrangement. As Eddie and his bride leave the church they are set upon by the boys and their friends. The bride and groom are taken to one of the rooms in the school and the boys all insist on kissing the bride. Eddie is frantic, but is taken outside and tied to a tree. The bride is tied to the bed and left alone, while the captors torment the unhappy bridegroom. She succeeds in getting loose, and disguising in a suit of man's clothes she finds in the room, she escapes. Someone sees her enter her room dressed in men's clothes and the principal is notified. Betty has attired herself in her own clothes and throws the other ones under the bed. The principal comes in to see about the man reported to have entered her room. Meanwhile the janitor is straightening Eddie's room and finds women's clothes under his bed. He turns these over to the dean and Eddie is brought up on the carpet. He has a bright inspiration and tells the dean that he had rented the clothes for a masquerade. When further questioned Eddie admits that he is married. The two young people are expelled, but Betty is happy in thinking of the handsome prize they will get. All the friends congregate to see the prize presented. Eddie and his bride have their suitcases ready to leave. The prize is brought forth and turns out to be a baby buggy. While it was a disappointment to the two, they determine to get some benefit from the prize, and putting their suitcases inside, gaily leave the school.

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Summary Details
GenresComedy Short
FilmmakersRole
Al Christie Director
Neal Burns Writer
Al Christie Writer
CastRole
Eddie Lyons
Lee Moran
Neal Burns
Betty Compson