The Gold Brick (1913)

Reporter Jones, a hustler, discovers a gold-brick displayed in a jeweler's window and sees a fine "feature story" in trying to sell this real gold-brick to farmers at $2.00 per. The feature editor literally eats the idea, gives the reporter a requisition to buy the real brick and a duo of other reporters, heavily armed, to protect him on his way in some choice rural districts. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to sell their good gold brick, the reporter sends a letter back to the home office detailing their plans. The contents of this letter become known to an inquisitive person named Till, whose wife keeps a restaurant. He observes a good chance to make easy money, and gets a loan from his wife for that purpose. While the reporter and one of his assistants are dining, the other reporter of the party sells the real gold brick to a local jeweler and obtains an imitation brass brick, which he delivers to his comrades. He then leaves suddenly called by a faked telegram. Till gets away with the brass brick, his wife gets after him with the sheriff. Cold, the jeweler, comes to the front, claiming the real goods. The sheriff arrests the reporter and his guard. They wire their predicament to the home office. The office boy, who has a grudge against the reporter, wires back, "They are fakers; lock them up." The reporter gets the long-distance telephone in the jail office, so that matters are finally straightened out and the prisoners released, but the paper has paid for a big sensation which they are ashamed to print.

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Summary Details
Running Time11 min
GenresComedy Short