When the Fire Bell Rang (1915)

Joe, the best looking of the five assistants of Chief Grady's fire squad, is in love with Kate, the chief's daughter. Catching Joe and Kate at their lovemaking, the chief threatens to fire Joe and sends his daughter home with a severe reprimand. Soon after the chief is called out of town on business and stops at the fire house to again warn Joe of the consequences of any lovemaking during his absence, but the chief is hardly on his way to the depot before Joe is in the arms of his sweetheart. Lige Peters, the village cut-up, peeping through a window, sees the lovers kissing and hugging and hurrying back to the fire house tells the boys of the incident. In a spirit of fun they ring the fire bell which brings Joe to the fire house on a run and likewise the chief, who has had to wait for his train. When the boys tell of the joke and its cause, Chief Grady's rage is unbounded. After threatening to fire the whole crew if they don't stop their pranks and with another warning to Joe, he again starts on his journey, but to his dismay misses the train and is compelled to return to the fire house, where he vents his wrath on the boys. Suddenly the chief misses Joe. Propelled by vague suspicions, he covers the distance to his home in double quick time and on arriving is confronted with a scene which nearly causes his total collapse. Joe and Kate, thinking him out of town, and summoned the local minister and were about to be married. The chief becomes beside himself with rage. Kate, remembering the joke played earlier in the day, dispatches a note to the boys at the fire house to ring the fire bell again. Hearing the fire bell the chief forgets all else but the call of duty and runs to his command. Joe is about to follow when Kate grabs him by the coattail and explains the ruse she has worked on her father. By the time that he finds out that he has been fooled again the marriage ceremony has been performed and there is nothing else for him to do but forgive, amid the cheers of the entire fire department.

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Summary Details
GenresComedy Drama Short
FilmmakersRole
Frank Cooley Director
J. Edward Hungerford Writer
CastRole
Irving Cummings
Virginia Kirtley
Joe Harris
Fred Gamble