The Good for Nothing (1912)

• 35%
• 1912
• Lloyd B. Carleton
• Edwin August
• Ormi Hawley
• Arthur Matthews

Having failed at literature in the city, Dick Evans returns home to take up farm work again. His father sneers at his wasted career, and his mother, Rosabel, and the minister are his only comforters. Rosabel is his sweetheart, and postmaster Jordan's daughter. Her father hears of Dick's return, and when Dick goes to see Rosabel he is shown the door. Dick later passes the office of the "Citizen," a newspaper. The plant is for sale cheap. Rev. John Brower lends Dick the money to buy the plant. To the surprise of his father and the postmaster, Dick becomes an editor. Dick "gets back" at his father and the postmaster. The latter wants another term, and Dick suggests in an editorial that what the town needs is another postmaster. Dick's father runs for Mayor. Dick decides to run against him. Dick has paid back his debt to the minister, and is ready to marry Rosabel. He makes his election sure by getting the trolley people to run an electric line into the town, instead of passing through a rival village. Then Dick goes to the minister with an advance copy of the "Citizen," and discloses his climax. Brower reads the editorial and approves with delight. Rosabel's father reads it and grabbing his hat, drags Rosabel to the Evans farmhouse. Dick's father is despondent because Dick is going to "beat him out" at the election, but Jordan shows him the paper and his gloom is turned to joy. Dick has resigned from the mayoralty campaign in favor of his father, and also has turned in favor of the present postmaster. And it is all over but the wedding ceremony.