Held for Ransom

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Several wild young men have been enjoying a jolly night. They have been chased away from several corners for insulting people and at length meet an old sport who falls asleep on a step. One of the crowd induces his companion to steal the man's watch. He being in a semi-conscious state does so, and on regaining reason wonders where he got it. Time elapses when he marries a nice girl and they have a pretty baby. The crook who has been forgotten by him has grown desperate from want and learning his whereabouts induces him to agree to the kidnapping of his own child in order to get a ransom from his rich father-in-law, meanwhile holding the stolen watch incident over him. He is powerless and his wife becomes a maniac. After the father-in-law has placed the amount under a rock the thieves, having concealed themselves, make, way with it. The wife, with the cunning of the insane, follows unseen to their retreat. She calls assistance, the police follow them to the river; then a desperate fight ensues on the water, when they are arrested. The wife's reason is restored upon regaining her child, and the old sport receives his watch good-naturedly.