A Friend in Need (1914)

• 85%
• 1914
• Thriller
• William Duncan
• William Duncan
• Florence Dye
• Eleanor Blevins

Jimmy Donovan gets a passenger for his automobile to make an all-day trip to the Stanley Ranch. When they have almost reached their destination, the engine goes "dead," but the Stanley girls, riding bronchos, come to the rescue and drag the car on to the ranch at the end of their ropes. When they arrive at the place, it suddenly develops that Jim's passenger is a land-shark, who has come to force payment on the note of the ranch man. The latter is unable to pay and asks for time. This is refused and the shark decides to seize everything in the place by means of a hurried sale. This sets Jim's wits to work. He finds through a newspaper clipping that the Northern Arizona Fair may be postponed by reason of lacking attractions. He gets a swift riding cowpuncher to take a note to the president of the association, telling him that he can furnish an entire program. This information gets through by relays and word is quickly returned that a bonus of a thousand dollars will be paid and other prizes to aggregate five thousand, in case he keeps his promise. This gives opportunity to show all the broncho busters in wonderful feats of strength, nerve and agility, at the Fair. They capture every prize and the bonus. Then begins a wild ride across the plains to intercept the sheriff's sale at the Stanley Ranch. The car reaches the ranch and the boys jump out with enough money to pay all the indebtedness, while the land shark is paid up and forced out on the toe of the boot. While Jimmy was busy thinking up plans to relieve the head of the ranch, he was not too busy to overlook one of the charming Stanley girls. He having rescued the father, the latter gives his consent to the wedding of the daughter.