Checkers (1913)

Edward Campbell, known as Checkers, works his way up from a messenger boy to a clerkship in a bank. Upon the death of his mother he gets into bad company, loses his position, and is without friends who can help him. Coaxed into a gambling house, he loses his last dollar, and then is given a job as dealer. One evening there is a fight during which a man is killed. Checkers is suspected, but innocent. Fearful, he determines to get away from the city. Meeting a race horse tout, Push Miller, they make their way south to the track. Winning some money, they follow the horses to Hot Springs, Ark. Arthur Kendall, a young man from Clarksville. Ark., gets very friendly with Checkers. Kendall goes off on a spree, and his sweetheart, Pert Barlow, and her father come to bring him home. Arthur will go only if Checkers accompanies him. Wishing to earn an honest living, Checkers takes the opportunity, and goes to work in the general store of Arthur's father. Pert Barlow breaks her engagement with Arthur, and Checkers falls in love with her. Pert Barlow's father, wishing her to marry Arthur Kendall, forbids Checkers to see her, and tells him not to come back to Clarksville until he has made $5,000 by honest work. Pert gives Checkers an old California gold piece as a love token. Leaving Clarksville, Checkers is unable to secure any employment. He tries again and again. One day, broke, he drifts down to the track, hoping to meet some of his old friends from whom he can borrow money. Pert Barlow, her father, Arthur Kendall, and others from Clarksville are at the track that same day. In desperation at seeing Pert and Arthur together, Checkers bets the $50 gold piece Pert had given him on a horse called Remorse, at odds of 100 to 1. Remorse wins. Seeing Checkers, the father of Pearl tears her away. Checkers follows them to Clarksville. As his $5,000 has not been earned by honest work, Checkers knows he cannot claim Pert. But while he is in Clarksville a run is started on the bank owned by Pert's father. Checkers uses his ready wit in holding the crowd of clamoring depositors, and finally saves the day by the deposit of the $5,000 which he has won. At this, Pert's father declares that he needs Checkers as a son-in-law; Pert approves the choice, and all are happy.