The 'Pote Lariat' of the Flying A (1914)

May West's uncle dies and leaves her a ranch out west. She and her parents arrive at the ranch with Walter Crandall, an artist, and a European poet laureate, and are welcomed by the cowboys of the ranch, who are known as the roughest bunch of cowpunchers in the state. While on a tour of investigation with her guests, the poet is inspired by the scenic beauty of the landscape to extemporize a poem, which he recites with elaborate gestures. This makes a great impression on the cowboys, who have heard wonderful tales of the fabulous remuneration the poet receives for his verse. Buck Higgins is particularly impressed and decides he, too, will be a "pote lariat," and make enough money to buy a saloon, he having a great fondness for intoxicating beverages. The finer beauties of nature being a sealed book to Buck, he goes for inspiration to something he can understand and indites his first poem about "the big red stere." The other boys marvel at his poetic talent. May's gentle ways has won the heart of the boys; they worship the ground she walks on, and the indignation of Hank, the foreman, is great when Buck in an intoxicated condition attempts to intrude on her guests. May interferes as Hank is about to use rough tactics, and the gentle reproof she administers causes Buck to forswear liquor. On May's birthday the boys buy a bunch of flowers for her and have Buck write a "pome" to accompany it. Down deep in Buck's brain there is a feeling that with a woman age and beauty and subjects of great consequence as having an important bearing on her popularity. So he composes his crude poem with a view to tactfully allay May's fears on that score. May is pleased and gives the boys a half holiday and they start for town. Buck is obliged to remain to mend a broken saddle girth. Accompanied by May, Crandall goes out on the ranch to sketch a bit of landscape and on the way out, while lighting a cigarette, drops a lot of matches, which subsequently catch fire and start a small prairie blaze. As a result the cattle stampede and make for the spot where May and Crandall are sitting. Crandall, terrified, tries to escape without a thought for May. In the excitement he mounts May's horse, is thrown off and both horses run away. Their predicament is noticed by Buck, who is about to follow the other boys to town, and he rides to their rescue, letting May and Crandall have his pony and escape. Buck is trampled by the cattle and before he dies writes his last poem.

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Summary Details
GenresShort Western