The Outlaw and the Baby (1912)

• 72%
• 1912
• Western
• Gaston Méliès

Joe Fuller, the outlaw and bandit, draws rein at a humble cottage and begs refreshment. The traditional hospitality of the west is at once shown him by Jane White, who is alone in the house at the time, with her baby daughter. The bandit is given food and drink, while he is eating which, the baby takes a child-like fancy to him. Fuller also takes a liking to the child, but contents himself with fondling it and receiving, at the child's suggestion, its photograph. When, later, Mr. White returns and finds the child missing, suspicion is at once cast on the bandit, of whose visit Jane has informed him. But the child has only responded to its fancy and wandered. In hope to again see the "nice man." In a shaded place, the bandit has laid down to rest, when he notices the child, followed by an Indian, about to kidnap it. He rushes to the baby's rescue, and bravely risks the chance of capture to take the little one home. Assembled In the cottage are the sheriff's men. The outlaw gets the "drop" on them, returns the baby to the distracted mother, collects all the guns and makes as graceful a departure as ever Raffles made. Then to the border line, where he leaves a note. Informing the sheriff that he need not follow him more, for he is for a "straight" life in another country, and all because of "the kid.