The Missing Will

• 1911
• Other, Drama

James Halsey, a wealthy old man, marries a young wife who has no use for him but plenty of use for his money. Mr. Halsey wills half his fortune to his namesake nephew James Braddon, a hardworking young attorney assisted by a very pretty stenographer, Bessie Dallard, with whom he is very much in love. The wealthy uncle calls to see his nephew on business and suddenly drops dead of apoplexy. James Braddon goes to see his uncle's widow in regard to the will. He cannot find it, as Mrs. Halsey has hidden it with intentions of destroying it. Young Braddon is obliged to discharge Miss Dallard through lack of funds. Mrs. Halsey goes for a ride in her limousine. While passing through a side street, she tears the will up and throws the fragments into the road. Bessie Dallard, who is out walking, crosses the road just as the automobile passes, and sees the flying bits of paper. She picks up several pieces of the paper and readily sees that it is a will. She gathers up all the pieces: puts them together, and is surprised to discover that she has before her the missing will for which her young man has been searching, and at once she rushes to his office and places the will before him. The two soon confront Mrs. Haley and accuse her of greed and baseness. Then they hurry to the surrogate's office, state their case, and the missing will is soon recorded. The next step they take is into the adjoining office of the City Hall, where they secure a marriage license, preparatory to making Miss Bessie Dallard Mrs. James Braddon.