True Western Hearts (1914)
There were tears in Jed Thompson's eyes as he looked across the table at his son. For five long years they had toiled, enduring almost incredible hardships, to realize their all-consuming ambition, to own a little farm where they might settle down in peace and comfort, and now it looked as though that dream was in a fair way to be realized. "'Twas a mighty hard fight, boy, but we won and I'm proud of you," said Jed. Two thousand dollars, as nearly as they could reckon it, in gold dust, had been taken from the ground, and now the opportunity of a lifetime had come to them. Old Len Williams was ready to retire and his farm was for sale. $2,000 would buy it. Tom determined to look over the land. Ed Thorpe, all 'round bad man, delivering a letter to Jed, had seen the money and his cupidity was aroused. He determines to steal it and enlists the aid of one Jackson. They descend on the cabin and find Jed alone. Tying him securely, they demand to know the hiding-place of the money. Jed refuses to answer, and Thorpe, thrusting a poker into the stove, threatens to burn the old man's eyes out unless the information is forthcoming. "My boy and I have fought and starved for that money for five long years and all the tortures of the damned won't make me give it up," Jed answers them. As Tom on his way to town passes an isolated cabin, a woman comes to the door and telling him that her husband has just died, asks Tom's aid in burying him. He learns that the dead miner is Jim Lawrence, a good-hearted fellow, who had more than once helped them over rocky days. "I guess dad would like to see Jim before we bury him and besides we will need his help," Tom tells the woman, and promising to be back in a few hours, goes off. As he nears the cabin he hears his father cry out in agony. Thorpe has just drawn the red hot poker across the wrist of Jed, hoping to get a confession from him. Tom rushes to his father's aid and makes short work of the bandits. Deciding the cabin is no longer a safe refuge, they prepare to leave, taking the money with them, hurrying to the widow's aid they help bury her husband. Now it is true that men have fought and bled, suffered and died for womankind, but few indeed are they who would make the sacrifice in its selfishness sublime that these noble-hearted miners made without a whimper. The doctors had told Mrs. Lawrence she was a consumptive. "But," she told Jed, "I don't believe it. I'm strong and I'll work for my little girl." Then the dry hacking cough of the consumptive seized her and Jed and Tom shook their heads gravely. "Ma'am," said Jed, "Y'see your husband was what you might call a silent partner with us and Tom and I have brought his share of the claim." O, noble falsehood. Down on the table plumped the little bags of gold that a few hours before Jed had told the bandits all "the tortures of the damned" could not make him give up. But she was a helpless woman and they were men and could hustle. Back to the cabin they trudged to begin anew the long hard fight; a noble father and courageous son.
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Domestic
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GenresShort
Western
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Lorimer Johnston | Director |
| J. Russell O'Leary | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Sydney Ayres | |
| Harry von Meter | |
| Jack Richardson | |
| Joseph Knight |
