A Pitfall of the Installment Plan (1913)
Steve Martin had a reputation of being a good workman, but he is unable to secure employment, and his once beautiful home is replaced by quarters in a cheaper section and the good clothing the family was wont to wear is now almost in rags. Through the intervention of an apparent stranger, he is offered n position as foreman of a concrete mixing crew on a new structure being erected for a local department store, under the provision that he obey orders that might be issued to him by the boss of the concrete workers. He is engaged for the position at a salary of $16 per week and is apparently making good. One day he finds one of his crew using too little cement. By investigating he unearths graft, and is offered to be taken in on the deal, but upon his refusal he is discharged. He then returns to his home where the hopes of the wife of getting back to their old station in life to better clothes and better meals are all but realized. Steve has not the heart to impart the sad news and he keeps it to himself wandering about the town each day in the vain hope of securing other employment. In the meantime his wife visits the department store where she purchases liberally and arranges to pay for the goods on the installment plan, signing a statement that her husband is employed at the stated salary by the concern in question as foreman of the concrete mixers. She is given her goods and her statement is investigated. This, of course, is found untrue, and her arrest follows as a matter of course. Her pleadings with the officers and her accusers are in vain and she is hurried off to the city jail, from where she sends a hurried note to her husband, informing him of her dire distress. The police matron carries the note to the captain, where it is opened and between them it is decided to destroy the note. In the meantime the children locked up in the home grow tired and wearisome and as the day is growing darker, a lamp is lit with the customary results of an explosion, from which the timely arrival of the fattier rescues the children, from them he learns the destination of the wife. He traces her to the station, but is denied an interview with her until the case is called in the court on the morning of the next day. At the trial the department store offers the boss of the job as a witness to testify that Steve was discharged because of drunkenness. This Steve, of course, strongly denies and in turn states the true reason for his discharge. Upon the foreclosure of this evidence the suit is dropped by the complainant. Steve now engages an attorney and together they appear at the office of the department store, where a claim is made for damages because of false imprisonment. The claim is adjusted by payment of $1,000 and a promise of a position. Steve's claim of fraud is carefully investigated and proven, whereupon he is put in charge of the work and the guilty man is apprehended and prosecuted.
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GenresDrama
Short
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