A Desperate Leap (1915)

• 84%
• 1915
• Thriller
• J.P. McGowan
• Helen Holmes
• Leo D. Maloney
• George Perry

As the freight train on which are riding Mike and Leary, two knights of the road, passes the station at Hynes, the tramps steal the mail bag which had been placed on the crane by the postmaster of that place. They jump from the train in a secluded spot and start to rifle the bag. The tramps find a torn twenty-dollar bill which had been pieced together by the postmaster, and Mike goes to the railroad station at Hynes to purchase two tickets for the city. There is not enough money in the drawer to make the proper change, and Tom Walker, the agent, takes twenty dollars in small money from his own pocket to make the proper change, and takes the torn twenty to make up the deficit. At the hiding place, Mike learns that Leary has discovered a letter in which it is stated that on the following day the local jeweler will send by registered mail to a city diamond merchant $300 to pay for the shipment ordered from their traveling salesman. The tramps decide to remain and steal the letter. Meanwhile Tom has gone to the local jeweler to purchase an engagement ring for Helen Holmes, the operator at Hynes, with whom he is betrothed. The torn twenty is among the bills he gives to the merchant. The postmaster receives notice that no bag was picked up and he starts his investigation at the depot. Being unsuccessful, he returns to the post office in time to see the jeweler counting out enough money to pay for the goods ordered. He spies the torn twenty, recognizes it, and after being informed that Tom handed it to him in payment of a ring, the postmaster has Tom arrested, despite his explanation. The following day Mike and his pal overhear the postmaster tell Helen to see that the local picks up the mail bag, and decide to kidnap her. Alone, Helen is attacked by the men, who bind her securely and start for the mail bag, which they obtain. Helen works herself free of the bonds and jumps from the attic window to the top of the passing freight in which the tramps have taken refuge, and informs the crew, who, after a series of incidents, capture the bandits. The missing letters are found on the crooks and Tom is exculpated.