A Salt Mackerel Mine

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Old Judge Neville loses his heart to the fair Mary, but she will have none of him. Instead, she promises Handsome Luke, the owner of a salt mackerel mine, to be his'n. Does Neville give up in despair? He does not. Gritting his teeth, he vows that Mary shall be his wife. First, however, he determines to show Handsome Luke that he's a bad man to fool with. Yes, sir-e-e-e. The villain hires Luke M'Glook and Bud Weiser, expert claim-jumpers, to steal his rival's salt mackerel mine. . The plot succeeds only too well. The rascals steal Handsome Luke's mine and chase him off by threatening to fill him plum-full of buckshot. But Luke despairs not. He has some friends, he has. And so, reinforced by said friends, Luke descends upon Luke M'Glook and Bud Weiser. The villains take refuge in the mine shack. The heroes and the villains shoot at each other just as though ammunition cost them nothing. A bullet breaks a lamp in the shack, starting a fire. Just to prove his courage and to show that his heart is in the right place. Handsome Luke dashes into the burning building and rescues both the claim-jumpers. Filled with gratitude, the men confess. The judge, foiled, then has Luke arrested for mining salt mackerel out of season. Fearful lest her heart's desire be sent to prison where he would lose his handsome shock of hair. Mary consents to be Judge Neville's wife, upon condition that he orders Luke freed. Retribution overtakes the villainous old gent however. Handsome Luke's friends come to the rescue once more. Capturing Judge Neville, they take him to a gooseberry bush and make preparations to help him shuffle off this mortal coil. Just at this time. Captain Gettum and his Horse Marines heave into sight. The brave officer has a warrant out for Judge Neville's arrest. He rescues the man from the mob's wrath and takes him away to the calaboose. Handsome Luke, his rival out of the way, hastens to Mary's home and makes her his'n.