Billy the Bear Tamer

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Constance's father thinks he is a great hunter. He and his wife and daughter go to a mountain cabin to rough it for a while and are followed by Billy, who loves Constance, but is disliked by her father. Pa orders him to stay off the premises, but the young people correspond by means of a carrier-pigeon. Constance notifies her lover that Papa is going into the woods to hunt bear with a guide, and after thinking up a plan, the two take the guide into their confidence to secure his aid. Billy purchases a complete bear costume, and puts up signs in the woods reading something like this: "Fifty Dollar Fine for Killing Bear Under Fourteen (14) Feet Long." Then the guide surreptitiously extracts the cartridges from Pa's rifle, substituting blanks for them, to prevent accidents. Father and guide start off and in the deep woods, with strange noises all around them, the signs, particularly the "14 feet long," make a deep impression upon Pa. He keeps looking over his shoulder as they advance. Then Billy in his costume steals up behind him and touches him on the shoulder. When Pa sees what is behind him, he lets out a yell and drops to his knees, but the guide "saves his life." Pa takes a shot at the disappearing bear, with, of course no result, except that Billy turns and starts after them again. This time Pa keeps going at full speed until he reaches home. There, through the window, he is horrified to see the big black bear pick Constance up bodily and carry her off. A few moments later, Billy in his natural clothes, appears, does the "hero act," and returns in triumph with his clothes torn, a bearskin and Constance. Overcome with gratitude, Pa gladly consents to let Billy marry his daughter.