The Tell-Tale Star (1914)
Ben Carter, manager of "Two-X" ranch, discovers that "Red" Delvin has converted his shack into a "speakeasy." Ben sends for "Red" and tells him that either he must quit selling liquor to the men, or leave the ranch. During the interview, "Red" notes a pair of Ben's boots. Each of the heel bottoms is decorated with a star fashioned in hobnails. "Red" boards up the front of his shack, but continues to do business. Ben accidentally finds "Red's" supply of liquor in a clump of bushes and smashes the demijohns. When "Red" discovers his loss, he sees in the moist path the print of a star heel. Furious, "Red" hurries to his shack and their attempts to beat Kate, his daughter, blaming her for revealing the hiding place of the liquor, Kate escapes and runs to the ranch office, pursued by "Red." Ben protects the girl and orders the cowboys to put "Red" and his Mexican partner, Jose, off the ranch. Camped in a ravine just outside the ranch, "Red" and Jose await their chance to get even. The opportunity comes the next day when the cowboys start for the round-up, leaving Ben and Kate alone at the settlement. Ben saddles his horse for a trip to the village. Finding he has forgotten an important paper, he slings his revolver and belt over the horn of the saddle and walks back to the office. While he is gone "Red" and Jose appear at the barns and appropriate Ben's revolver, Kate overhears them plotting and hurries to the ranch office to warn Ben. It is too late to escape. His revolver gone, Ben determines on concealment. He and Kate climb through the trap door in the ceiling of the office and hide in the attic. "Red," leaving Jose on guard, enters the office. Not finding Ben, "Red" determines to await his return. The ceiling is plastered and the rafters bare. Ben makes a mis-step and his foot goes through the ceiling. "Red" quickly recognizes the star on the heel and in a flash lassos the boot, fastening the rope to a peg in the wall. "Red" calls in Jose and orders him to rustle a bunch of horses, showing him that Ben is a prisoner. Meanwhile, Ben turns a trick. Finding a stout nail in the rafter where his foot went through, Ben hooks the boot strap over the nail and draws his foot out of the boot. This leaves him free, while the boot is still held by the rope. With Jose gone, Ben and Kate crawl through the window and lower themselves to the ground. Kate gets away on Ben's horse without being seen and starts in pursuit of the cowboys. Ben bravely enters the window in the office at "Red's" back and attacks the ruffian. In the fight the revolver is discharged, bringing Jose to the scene. Kate returns with the cowboys just in time to rescue Ben and make prisoners of "Red" and Jose.
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Domestic
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Tom Forman | Director |
| Will M. Ritchey | Writer |
| Siegmund Lubin | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Lee Shumway | |
| Velma Whitman | |
| Joe De La Cruz | |
| Ray Gallagher |
