The Scalawag's primary photo
  • The Scalawag (1912)
  • Short | Short, Romance, Western
Primary photo for The Scalawag
The Scalawag (1912)
Short | Short, Romance, Western
Anne is rocking the baby as Lem enters with a letter from his wife's father. As Anne opens it, Lem sees two five-dollar bills and demands the letter. Reluctantly, Anne obeys and Lem takes one bill and hands her the letter, which reads: "...See moreAnne is rocking the baby as Lem enters with a letter from his wife's father. As Anne opens it, Lem sees two five-dollar bills and demands the letter. Reluctantly, Anne obeys and Lem takes one bill and hands her the letter, which reads: "Dear Daughter, There is just one thing for you to do: give up that scalawag husband of yours. Am sending you ten dollars to tide you over. I have bought a ranch in another state and I am coming Wednesday to take you with me. Be ready. Your loving Father." When Wednesday morning arrived, Anne was ready to go. Lem had been shiftless, but he still loved his wife and baby, so when he found that she was going back with her father, he decided to take the baby and slip away. This, however, was prevented by the old man's appearance in the doorway, and his wife and little one were soon on their way to their new home. Five years passed. The baby had grown to be a mischievous tot of six, with a great fondness for horses. Lem had gone from bad to worse through evil associates. Upon this particular morning, the foreman had just placed the money he was to deposit for little Annie's grandfather in the buckboard, when he discovered he had forgotten his bankbook and hurried into the house for it. Instantly, seeing a chance for a ride and to tease the foreman, the child climbed into the buckboard and started the horse off at a good trot, and before the foreman had returned had already passed out of sight. Lem and his partner, Luke, who had but that day arrived in that part of the country, saw the child approaching with lines dragging. Handing her the lines, Lem asked the little one where she was going. For a reply the child held up the satchel of money, then declared she was going to the bank. The two men were in the buckboard in short order, but instead of sending the child back, as Lem wished, Luke insisted that she might tell on them, and so she sat happily between the partners. As they drove rapidly along the road, a neighbor recognized the child and rig and hastened away to the ranch to tell them what he had seen. The foreman and the boys, Anne and her father, had in the meanwhile missed both the little one and the buckboard, so that when the neighbor arrived, they set out in hot pursuit. Believing they were followed, Luke stopped the horse at the foot of a mountain and, snatching the satchel of money as Lem alighted, be raised his whip to send the horse on with the child. Lem, however, was too quick for him, and lifted her in his arms just as the horse dashed away. Up the mountain the men ran, but when they reached the top, Luke again insisted upon being rid of the child. He would throw her down to the ledge below. A quarrel followed, in which Lem was wounded and then forced over the cliff by Luke, the child in the meanwhile running away. As Luke turned to catch her, he saw the posse in pursuit and fled down the other side of the mountain. Little Annie returned and, looking over at the half-unconscious Lem, she managed to half climb, half roll, to him, but in so doing, badly injured her ankle, so Lem was forced to either carry her or leave her alone. Staggering along with the child, he reached the grandfather and his men just as they captured Luke with the money. Lem had been wounded too severely to recover and had but placed the child in the old man's arms, to learn that it was his own little daughter, when he passed away. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Producer
David Horsley
See all filmmakers & crew (1)
Trending

Become a member to see MOVIEmeter and news information about The Scalawag.
Status
Edit Released
Updated May 29, 1912
Release date
May 29, 1912 (United States)

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for The Scalawag.

Cast

 + Add Cast
2 cast members
Name Known for
Jack Conway's primary photo
Jack Conway
Lem - the Scalawag Lem - the Scalawag   See fewer
Viva Villa! (1934)
Eugenie Forde's primary photo
Eugenie Forde
Anne - the Scalawag's Wife Anne - the Scalawag's Wife   See fewer
Cameo Kirby (1923)
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.

MOVIEmeter

Members only

Become a member to access additional data

Ratings Breakdown

+ Add external reviews