Wanted: A Burglar (1913)

Thad Rowley was the printer in the office of the Corntown Clarion. From the heights of his literary dignity, Mr. Penrose, the editor, looked down on the menial who did nothing except get out the paper. The trouble started when Thad fell hopelessly in love with Helen Penrose, the editor's daughter. To make matters worse, Helen fell in love with Thad. The editor's rage was terrible. The next morning, the editor discovered that some miscreant had entered his office during the night, and had stolen seven cigars and nineteen cents in cash. Wild with indignation, he sat down and wrote an advertisement, which he inserted in his paper. It mentioned the felony of the previous evening, called attention to the fact that there would be three hundred dollars in the safe on the coming night, and remarked that the editor would be glad to give this sum to anyone who was man enough to take it away. That evening Mr. Penrose sat watchfully in his office chair with two ferocious pistols on the desk before him. At ten o'clock be became drowsy. He dozed. The office window opened softly, a slight boyish figure entered, ran off the combination of the safe with suspicious readiness, took out the money, and disappeared through the window. The editor awoke without realizing he had been asleep, discovered his loss and telephoned the constable. Thad Rowley burst in and asked the editor if he might marry his daughter if he caught the thief. Half out of his wits with excitement, the editor agreed. Thad went out and reappeared dragging the slight boyish figure. The delighted editor bade the constable do his duty. Thad remarked that he had better look at the culprit. The editor did so and discovered, Helen.

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GenresComedy Short