Mongrel and Master

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Woman's devotion, or the lack of it, placed Frank Mitchell and Bill Denton in the wider path of life, where they shifted about, fought and taught each other the part of life which is wrong. It was easy to learn, to teach, they enjoyed it, they thought; so lived on as they should not have lived. This day they planned to pull a big job, to rob one of the homes of wealth, and started out in the daylight to get the lay of the land. And a little child shall lead them, 'tis better so, it is so. A child of ten, a daughter of wealth, they met. She passed them on the street. Frank dropped a small tool from the kit of his pocket, but walked on. She picked it up, called him back and was curious. Frank came to her and she asked childish questions about the tool. Never before did he see a child, not as he saw this one; a messenger she was, probably from Heaven, or at least from Fate. They chatted while Bill, the pal, dubbed it all foolishness. This child hoped that Frank was a good man and said so, as she selected the prettiest rose from a beautiful bouquet and presented it to the burglar, Frank That night, or in the wee small hours of the morning, they entered the mansion to steal. Bill paraded through the house gathering the booty. Frank was about to open the safe when he discovered a photograph of the child, the very same child. All the good in him came to the surface. He was saved. New life was his gift. He wrote a note to the child telling that she had saved him and that he would be a good man as she had hoped. He left the note with the guns and burglar tools on the table, and left, forcing his disgusted partner before him. Frank labored for years, and during these years he studied law, while Bill associated himself with a clique of rascals that bought and sold votes and made themselves rich on questionable contracts. The two pals did not meet and the little girl grew to young womanhood. Frank became the clerk in her father's law office. Then he met her. They did not recognize each other, they never met before, they thought. It was not long before a strong and vital love was theirs. Her father, Mr. Stone, was elected mayor of the city. He was elected by Bill's crowd. Then Bill fell in love with the mayor's daughter. This affection was not mutual, the girl told Bill that she did not love him and was not the least interested in him, wished him well and told him to go. Bill went to the mayor and demanded that that official speak to his daughter in his favor. To do this the mayor refused. Bill was angry and immediately began his planning. He discovered that Frank, now the mayor's secretary, was no other than his partner in crime and then he compelled Frank to live in fear of him. Then came the "frame-up." A newspaper owned by Bill came out with strong stories accusing the mayor. Although he was innocent, the mayor could not, in the face of the system, prove it. So the girl's father stood open to impeachment and disgrace. The love affair between the girl and Frank was found out. Bill threatened Frank, said he would show him up in his old life. This held Frank in check. Now, just at this time when the town was completely up in the air over the fearful news regarding their worthy mayor, Ruth decides to sacrifice her happiness to save her father. She went to Bill asking for time until Saturday to reconsider his offer of marriage. You can guess Bill was elated; he was winning in a walk. So he promised her to hold off his fight on the mayor. Then the newspaper bows and begs the mayor's pardon. Frank musters up courage enough to ask Ruth to marry him. He almost insists. Then she tells him of the planned sacrifice. Frank is sorrow-stricken, but can do nothing. So life wore wearily until Saturday. Bill's crowd of grafters are hot on his trail. They are after their share of the money derived from swindling the city government of funds which had been appropriated for the Poorhouse. Finally they meet him and make their demands. With the display of all the cunning of a fox, Frank manages to hear the time, place and date for the distribution of the graft money by Bill. With Ruth, a gang of detectives and a stenographer, and not without a lot of trouble. Frank gets evidence complete enough to put Bill and the gang away and rid the city of a lot of bad men. This was Saturday night. Bill was to call at the mayor's home for his answer. And he did, too. Little Ruth greeted him. For his answer, Frank and the detectives marched in his gang of grafters and confronted him with his crime. This all takes place in the room where years ago Frank and Bill were going to put over the robbery. Bill is placed under arrest. He sees his game is up, then he plays his only card against Frank, knowing that he can at least deprive him of the girl. He explains to the mayor that Frank was his pal in the old crook days and that they had attempted to rob his house and that they had committed many other crimes. The old tools are taken from the library, where they have been kept as a great family novelty. The mayor looks to Frank to discredit the statement made by Bill. Frank only stands with head bowed and ashamed. Then it happens; Ruth brings the note in to play its part, and it does. Why, yes, they were happily married, that girl and the remade man.