A Heroic Father

• Watchlist

This magnificent picture, which is a masterpiece in the art of colored photography and dramatic intensity, shows Little Frank, who is an exceptionally bright chap and the only child of very wealthy parents, starting out for a stroll through the beautiful country under the careful guidance of his governess. Before going far they are approached by a disheveled old beggar woman, who, after receiving a few coins from the child's hand, turns and follows him a short distance down the road. Going then in another direction, the old woman hurries away up into the mountains, where she joins her numerous companions, who are a band of brigands. Upon hearing from the old woman that the son of a wealthy man is out strolling, they seize the opportunity of kidnapping the little fellow and holding him for a large ransom. The outlaws lose no time in mounting their horses and starting out to apprehend their victim. They meet the child and his companion in a desolate part of the road, and before the latter can make an outcry the little fellow is snatched from her side and carried off into the lonely mountains. The distracted woman hurries to the house, where between sobs she relates the frightful incident to the heartbroken parents. The daring outlaws send a note to the father of the stolen boy, demanding of him to bring ten thousand dollars ransom for the safe return of his child, and meet the brigands at the cross roads. The father starts out immediately to the meeting place, and true to their word the outlaws are there. Blindfolding the anxious man, they lead him up to their camp, where he is confronted by his little son, and ordered to hand over the money. Catching the gang unawares, the brave fellow grabs up a revolver which is lying on a table, and after firing into the midst of his captors, he picks up his little son and makes a bolt for liberty. The outlaws start in pursuit of the fleeing man, but mounting one of their horses he rides the animal at breakneck speed and keeps a fair distance ahead of the pursuers. Finally, after a long chase through the mountains, the man is forced to dismount and climb over the high cliffs, and his would-be captors are gaining ground, but he keeps up his race for freedom. He is nearly in their clutches, when a hunter who happens to be in the vicinity, realizing at a glance the nature of the exciting chase, fires at the pursuers, wounding several and forcing the rest to retreat. The exhausted man arrives home safely with his loving little son in his arms, and great is the joy of the mother when her little boy is again returned to her.