The Cattle Thieves

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A story of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police. Scene I: The picture opens with a view of the yard of one of those barracks for the police that we find scattered over Canada. It is here the hero of our story, Sgt. Charlton, is stationed. Here come the police mounted on their horses. They are having their usual morning drill. At the word of command they wheel and turn with all the accuracy of well-trained regular cavalry. Now the order to dismount is given and as one man they slide to the ground. Here comes Sgt. Charlton. He approaches his superior officer with a leave of absence he wishes signed. The officer signs it and Charlton mounts and as he rides away his comrades guy him good naturedly about his intended visit to his sweetheart. Scene II: Along one of the country lanes comes Pierre, the French half-breed, mounded on his Indian cow-pony. While in reality the leader of a gang of outlaws and thieves that have their headquarters back in the hills. Pierre poses as a dealer in cattle. Many a farmer has bought or sold cattle to Pierre only to be visited a short time later by a mysterious gang of cattle thieves. Evidently he is now carrying out some prearranged plan, for he climbs over the fence deliberately and walks slowly through the pasture. Scene III: This is the barn lot of the home of Mary Windon, Charlton's sweetheart. Her father and her younger brother are busy greasing the wheels of one of the farm carriages. Mary who has just returned from a ride to the distant village approaches quietly and with a sudden jump frightens her brother so that he drops in the dirt the buggy wheel bolt he is holding. Her father scolds her gently for hindering their work. Over her brother's head, Mary tells her father she wants to speak to him alone. As soon as Windon has sent the boy away on a trumped-up errand Mary, clinging closely to her father, blushingly tells him of Charlton's love, shows him the ring she received that morning by mail and tells of Charlton's intended visit. Her father takes her in his arms and kisses her forehead. Just then Pierre, the half-breed, approaches. He tells Windon he wishes to purchase some cattle. Windon starts toward the herd. Pierre has long coveted Mary in his greedy way and finding himself near her his passion gets beyond control. He seizes her roughly in his arms. At her cry of alarm Windon rushes to her aid but is knocked down by a blow from Pierre's fist. Mary's brother has heard her cry and comes rushing from the house with a rifle, but before he can raise it to his shoulder Pierre drops him to the ground with a shot from his revolver. Pierre is carrying Mary off, when at the moment he is most needed Charlton arrives on his intended visit. Pierre is soon put to flight and Mary and Charlton assist the wounded brother to the house. The father looks after Pierre and vows vengeance against him. Scene IV: Back in an inaccessible corner in the granite foothills Pierre's little band of thieves have taken up temporary quarters. They have only lately arrived in this section of the country, the suspicions of the Mounted Police having driven them from their old quarters. Hark, someone is coming. It is Pierre, their leader. He tells them of the drove of fat cattle he has seen at the Windon farm and how it is guarded only by an old man and a girl. An easy job for this gang to make away with such poorly guarded cattle. Hurriedly horses are mounted and the gang ride away. Scene V: Soon the gang reach the Windon farm. Pierre rides boldly up to the barn, ties his pony and after seeing no one is about beckons on the remainder of his gang. The barn door is opened, the cattle are driven out and started down the lane that leads to the main road. All the gang have started away except Pierre and he is starting for his pony when he turns and sees Charlton. In a moment they are struggling desperately. Pierre is no match for the well-trained athletic young mounted policeman and Charlton soon has him at his mercy. But Pierre's gang have heard the noise of the struggle. They return to his aid. The brave Charlton is stretched out by a savage blow on the head. But what shall they do with him? Pierre has not forgotten how Charlton foiled him before and with a snarl of rage he directs his gang to bring his pony. The senseless Charlton is thrown over the pony's back, Pierre mounts and they all hasten away. Now Mary and her father who have heard the sound of the struggle at the house come rushing to the barn. The father discovers the loss of his cattle, Mary finds her lover's coat. But what is this? The father picks up Pierre, the half-breed's, whip. Then it is he who has stolen the cattle. And Charlton is a prisoner in his power. Aid must be secured. Meanwhile Pierre has reached the last gate leading out to the main road. Only a short distance down the road is the path through the woods that leads to their headquarters. Now the cattle are driven through the gate and soon they will all be back in the security of the wild foothills. Scene VI: Across the barn lot dashes Mary mounted on her pony. There is no one else to ride for aid. Her father is feeble, besides someone must stay to care for her wounded brother. He watches her out of sight, then turns back towards the house. And now over the top of the hill comes Mary in a headlong gallop towards that far-distant goal, the barracks of Charlton's comrades. On she comes still urging forward her little pony, who responds gamely to her repeated coaxing. Scene VII: Back at the barracks the men have finished their dally drill and are lounging about when Mary dashes up and begins to tell of Charlton's peril. Scarcely has she begun before a party rush off to saddle and ride to his aid. Mary has barely finished giving the full story of Pierre's theft when the rescue party return and led by Mary dash out of the gate of the barracks. And now they have reached the foothills and have begun the search for their missing comrade, a search they will not end either by night or day until he is released and his assailants captured. Scene VIII: Pierre's gang having reached the safety of the wild foothills with their captive now stop for a rest. Charlton has recovered his senses and is lying on the ground. Pierre taunts him and slaps his face. Charlton tells him he is a cowardly cur to strike a man bound hand and foot. Pierre laughs cruelly. So! well he will show this member of that hated mounted police what Pierre is capable of doing. He calls to his gang, Charlton is lifted to his feet, one of the gang is sent up the tree, under which they are standing, with a rope. It is thrown over a limb, the end is wound around Charlton's thumbs and he is carried over beneath the limb. Now the other end is pulled taut and he is slowly lifted by his thumbs. Charlton's face shows the terrible pain he is suffering but he bravely stifles all outcry. The gang tie the end of the rope around the tree and seat themselves to enjoy the sight of the anguish one of their hated enemies, the mounted police, is suffering. Scene IX: Meanwhile the rescue party in their search for traces of Pierre and his gang come across one of the stolen cattle. Mary quickly identifies it. The party dismount, Mary and the leader creep forward while the remainder of the party hide their horses. As Mary and the leader peer over the top of a small hill they see Charlton being tortured by the gang. At the sight of her lover's suffering Mary reels. But only for a second. Quickly recovering herself she seizes the leader's rifle. It comes to her shoulder. A shot rings out and Charlton drops to the ground. Mary's shot has severed the rope. At the sound of the shot the gang draw their guns. A desperate fight is soon waging. Charlton frees his bands and feet and grapples with Pierre. Now the remainder of the rescue party rush up. The gang is captured and Charlton takes in his arms his brave little sweetheart whose marvelous shot put an end to his terrible ordeal.