Who Violates the Law

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Sheriff Black, winking at the illegal sale of liquor in the county, permits Mother Hubbard, proprietress of "The Dark Secret" near the Soldiers' Home, to sell to old soldiers. The go-between is one Henry Pank, an ex-prize fighter, who is in love with Linna, Black's daughter, though neither the girl nor the father know of the attachment. Recently, some of the old soldiers have been robbed near the den, and Black sends word that Mother Hubbard must stop these outrages. She defies him and sends Pank to tell Black that he dare not touch her. Bob Nelson, a young reporter, is the accepted suitor for Linna's hand, and is assigned by his paper to run down the whiskey selling. He interviews Black, who plans with Pank, to fool Nelson by pulling a fake raid. He sends word to Mother Hubbard to be ready for the raid, but his message miscarries and the appearance of the officers catches her unawares. She barely manages to hide the evidence of her guilt. The superintendent leaves, satisfied, but Bob finds an overlooked bottle and determines to get a scoop for his paper. That night, he goes to the place disguised as an old soldier, collects evidence, and is about to leave, when he is discovered by Sloan, a habitué of the place, and an enemy of Panks. A fight starts in the dark room and when Mother Hubbard rushes in with the police. Sloan is dead and Bob is standing over him. He admits the killing and no one suspects that Sloan was really killed by Pank, from the doorway, he having taken this means to be revenged on his enemy and also on his rival. The Bob is charged with murder he proves that Mother Hubbard has sold liquor, and she is also arrested, but is released with a heavy fine. Thinking that Black is responsible for her arrest, she plans vengeance through Linna, and depends upon Pank's love for the girl to carry through her plan. She sends word to the girl that she has proof of Bob's innocence, and will give it to her if she will come to the den. When Linna arrives, she is made a prisoner, and when Pank reaches the place Mother Hubbard tells him that she is ready to deliver the girl to him. But Pank surprises her by declaring that he will not be a party to the scheme, and tries desperately to rescue the girl. He is beset by Mother Hubbard and her two sons, but manages to fight them off. Linna reaches a phone and sends a message to her father. Immediately afterward she and Pank are made prisoners in the back room of the den, in which a fierce fight begins. While the police are speeding to the place, the struggle continues. Mother Hubbard is killed and Pank is nearly overcome by the two sons. Cut and bleeding, he fights on, protecting the girl at all costs. The lamp is upset and the room takes fire. The doors are locked, and escape is impossible. Pank finally overcomes the two thugs, but both he and Linna are overwhelmed by the smoke and flame. As the building is tottering, the police arrive and Linna is rescued. Pank is dragged from the den, but lives only long enough to make the confession that it was he who killed Sloan.