Hank and Lank: Joyriding (1910)

• 83%
• 1910
• Comedy
• Gilbert M. Anderson

In this instance our friend Hank, the little fellow with the big ideas, longs for an auto ride and communicates to Lank a plan by which they may obtain one. The suggestion he offers is this: They will spot a good car and when the chauffeur is near Hank will throw a fit and the sympathetic Lank will induce the chauffeur to take his stricken friend to the hospital. The scheme works perfectly. Hank approaches the car, is suddenly stricken, and doubles up spasmodically in an awful epileptic fit. Lank is the first on the scene and waves violently to the driver of the car. This latter proves sympathetic and offers to get Hank to the hospital with all possible speed. In another moment Hank is ensconced in the soft, pillowy leather and enjoying the sport like a millionaire. But, as they near the gates of the hospital Hank has thought twice and hops out of the machine unbeknownst to the driver, who hurries on, supposedly with his sick man. Later he finds Lank and tells him about the joy ride. Lank is enthusiastic and anxious to try the scheme himself. They locate another car and Lank goes through with his stunt. Unfortunately for him, however, the machine they have chosen is that of a doctor, and when this latter examines Lank he quickly discovers that the tall fellow is shamming. Without the least hint of being hep, the M.D. hurries out his medicine case and doses the unfortunate Lank with the bitterest herbs in the pharmacopoeia. But this is not enough, and with the aid of the chauffeur he holds Lank prostrate on the ground and reaches for his surgical bag. The sight of a long, treacherous looking knife is enough, however, to induce Lank that he is not sick, and breaking away from the M.D. and his assistant he beats it wildly down the street, while Hank looks on, hugely enjoying the joke.