What a Cinch

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Chief of Police Myers is in love with Molly Mason. So is Dick Young, his lieutenant. Molly tells the chief that perhaps she will marry him when he gets $500. Cohen, a pawnbroker, calls at the station house to lodge a complaint while Myers is away. Dick is in charge. He is in a bad humor and further insults Cohen by fining him twenty dollars. Myers arrives in time to make the entire force apologize, and Dick is forced to return the twenty. Dick frames up a deal to get some easy money. He calls at Cohen's shop and leaves an old ginger box in Cohen's care, telling him that he will call for it on his return. Dick disguises himself and calls again at the pawnshop. He spots the ginger box and offers Cohen $500 for it. Cohen is frantic, but he promises to try and secure it for him. Dick leaves a fictitious address and departs. Cohen takes the chief into his confidence. Meyers drops his bankroll and when Dick returns he sells the box to Cohen for four hundred. Cohen and Myers start to find the antique collector and find nothing but a vacant lot. They realize that they have been swindled. Myers blames it all on Cohen and proceeds to beat him up.