A Deal in Real Estate (1914)
Deacon Ezra Gregston has long coveted the property known as "Hillcrest," the old homestead of the wealthy Toombs family. For years the mansion has remained unoccupied. The deacon believed the property a good buy at $50,000 and makes an offer of $30,000. Toombs eagerly accepts the offer, so much so in fact as to raise, in the deacon's mind, the suspicion that Toombs is hard pressed for money. In his library the deacon schemes to bring about a better deal, and finally conceives the idea of installing a "ghost" in the mansion to give the place the reputation of being "haunted." About this time Riley Leigh, the newly installed city editor of the "Tribune," receives a warning from his publisher that the next libel suit brought against the paper will result in his dismissal. Leigh, who has been courting Ruth Gregston assiduously, clandestinely meets the girl in her father's garden and they are discovered by the deacon. He drives Leigh from the premises. A week later Oaklawn is greatly excited over tales of strange doings at the old Toombs house, and finally the story creeps into print in the columns of the "Tribune." The day the item appears Toombs receives a note from Deacon Gregston declaring that he would not give more than $20,000 for a house handicapped with the reputation of being haunted, and refers Toombs to that morning's issue of the "Tribune." Toombs on reading the article rushes off to his lawyer and instructs him to institute a suit for libel against the paper. Sunday morning Leigh, opening all editorial mail, finds the threat of Toombs' lawyer to bring suit for $10,000 damages within ten days if claim is not settled. Leigh and officer Harrigan watch the "haunted" house, and, seeing the grotesque dance of a white robed figure with a death's head before the windows of the second floor, rush to the house, finally reach the "ghost" room and fall upon the "ghost." The disguise is torn away and Deacon Gregston is discovered. The deacon begs for mercy and is finally taken by his captors to his own home for a conference. Here he signs a letter addressed to Toombs, stating that if the suit against the "Tribune" is dropped he will pay the full $30,000 agreed upon. The officer beckons him to "come to the station." The deacon collapses and appeals to Leigh to save him. Leigh and the officer step aside and after an argument the officer is seen to nod and grin. Leigh then tells Deacon Gregston that at present he had no reason to protect him, "But as your son-in-law. I would hide the family disgrace." The deacon bursts into anger, but finally cools down and with very bad grace calls in his daughter, who appears in charming negligee and hands her over to the young city editor.
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Siegmund Lubin | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Edgar Jones | |
| Louise Huff | |
| Brinsley Shaw |
