Beware of the Dog

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Geoffrey Ladd, on the eve of his marriage, discovers that he is penniless. A gold mine in which he was interested proves to be merely a hole in the ground. A ship containing treasure is lost at sea. Unwilling to expose his bride to poverty and not willing to confers his condition, he is about to take his own life when he is restrained by Dr. Isidore Mullen, a scientist, who has discovered what he believes to be a panacea for hydrophobia. His laboratory tests have proven acceptable to other scientists, but everybody is anxious to see the stuff tried on a man. Mullen learns of the predicament of Ladd and makes him the following proposition: He will give Ladd $100,000 cash. In return, Ladd is to allow himself to be bitten by a dog inoculated with hydrophobia. The doctor is then to test his panacea upon him. He is keen upon having Ladd, as the latter is a man of reputation and position and the success of the experiment would establish his discovery on a firm basis. It is made a part of the agreement that in order to prevent the mind of Ladd from working and causing him to think he has hydrophobia that the bite shall he made surreptitiously. Ladd accepts the doctor's proposition and the latter gives him $100,000. The money saves Ladd. A new deal on the mine makes him a millionaire. The ship comes in and he's in fine shape. Then he realizes that, with everything to live for, wealth, a young bride and all sorts of happiness, he is in danger of death and his fear of dogs becomes morbid. A toy Pom can make him climb a tree. One day he meets a girl friend who springs a toy dog on him out of a muff. He runs away to her surprise. Next day he meets a girl who has a fur boa with animal heads on it about her neck. He mistakes one of these for a dog, and he thinks he is bitten. He tries to find Doctor Mullen and learns that the latter has disappeared. When he is half insane with fright, the doctor turns up. Ladd's relief turns to worse horror, when the doctor tells him that the serum has not been a success. He thinks his death is certain and almost imagines himself into hydrophobia when the doctor tells him he never had him bitten and the girl with the fur boa showing up. Ladd sees how he was fooled. He gives the doctor the $100,000 back and all bets are called off.