A Turn of the Cards (1914)
John Richards was a hard-working man with a pretty wife and a little boy, whom he idolized. Taylor, his assistant, was a bachelor who lived far beyond his means and already, unknown to his trusting chief, had embezzled some of the bank's funds. Taylor was cowardly and he endeavored to involve Richards in his thefts, so that when discovery came he would share the blame with him. Craftily he tried to induce Richards to "borrow" some of the money for a "sure thing" in a certain gambling house he frequented, but the paying teller indignantly refused, and then, reassured by Taylor's laughing manner, believed that his assistant was only joking. The embezzler bided his time and it soon came. Richards' little boy was seriously injured, and the services of a specialist were necessary for the little boy's life to be saved. The president of the bank refused the advance his paying teller requested, and then with despair gripping Richards, the voice of the tempter was heard, and Taylor bent Richards to his will. Richards took the money, the specialist was paid and prepared to perform the operation in the paving teller's home. The speculations of both Richards and Taylor were discovered and officers sent to arrest them. Richards was arrested as he awaited the result of the operation in his child's bedroom, but his wife was left in merciful ignorance of his plight. The two culprits were brought to the bank president's home. The evidence was conclusive and they could not deny it. Their employer was a grim man, who hardly regarded his clerks as human beings, so he made a proposition to them which was as unique as it was startling. "You men shall stake your liberty upon the cards," he said, as he tossed a pack of cards upon the table, "The loser goes to prison, the winner retains his position." It presented the one path to freedom, and the men eagerly accepted it. And so John Richards, while the doctors fought for the life of his child, battled to his liberty, and the final turn of the cards brought defeat. The impassive officers seized him, and Taylor nonchalantly strolled toward the door. But at the door his employer halted him. The banker's hand darted swiftly into Taylor's sleeve, and returned holding several cards. "You cheat," he said scornfully, and he motioned to the officers to release Richards and take Taylor in his place. As the door closed behind Taylor and his guards, Richards sank into a chair, but at that moment the telephone rang, and the paying teller heard the glad tidings that his child's life was saved.
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GenresDrama
Short
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