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Runaway Romany Synopsis

"Inky" Ames, theatrical press agent, through a fictitious story makes it appear that Anitra St. Clair, an actress, is the long lost daughter of Theodore True, the copper king. True accepts the actress as his daughter, and they, in answer to a telegram from Bud Haskel, representative in the west, decide to go westward immediately to inspect a newly-discovered copper mine. Bud Haskel is, incidentally, volunteer "school master" to the flower of a gypsy camp, Romany. The girl is loved by Zinga, son of the gypsy chief. Upon her father's threat to wed her to Zinga, Romany seeks the help of Bud, who aids her to escape. Zinga suspects Bud of conniving at Romany's escape and follows him constantly. Irking under the restraints of her new life, Anitra decides to give her former gayeties a whirl and finds in True's nephew Hobart, a willing assistant. She incurs the enmity of "Inky," who resolves to put True wise to the fact that the actress is not really his daughter. Romany, with the broader knowledge of life imparted to her by books, turns to her new world with keen expectancy, and is glad to receive Bud again at her first party. That same evening Romany discovers Hobart at his uncle's safe, but does not discover the fact that Hobart has extracted money from the strong box. Determined to make True see that he is being imposed upon by Anitra, "Inky" seeks out Bud Haskel, telling Bud that the actress is not True's daughter, and that he ("Inky") has cooked up a press stunt to advertise the show she was in. Zinga's persistent shadowing of Bud to uncover Romany's whereabouts succeeds at last. One development is that Romany writes a letter to True stating that she has been grateful to True and Haskel for their kindness, but that she must leave the True home; that she is broken hearted. Romany is then suspected of taking the money from True's safe, but after Anitra's deception is exposed to True, Hobart confesses to his uncle that he (Hobart) is the guilty one. Bud discovers Romany's whereabouts and persuades her to return to True's mansion. Bud also secures Zinga's release from prison, where he has been confined upon Zinga's assurance that he has a revelation to make to Mr. True. The gypsy tells True that Romany is really True's daughter; that when the girl grew up Zinga wanted her for himself. That the gypsies named her Romany. True is happy in the recovery of his daughter, and Bud and Romany plight their troth.

The Decoy Synopsis

Glory Moore, a young girl, finds herself left unprovided for after her father's death, as the farm has to be sold to pay his debts. She writes to her aunt in New York, asking for help in obtaining employment in the city. The aunt, Mrs. Lawrence, is in reality an adventuress, and accomplice of two card sharps and confidence men, Milt Bannon and Harvey Dix. They decide to bring Glory to the city in order to use her as a decoy in fleecing rich young men. Jim Danvers, a rich young fellow who is going the pace, is one of their victims. The unsuspecting Glory believes she has found a loving aunt and a luxurious home, and is for a time deceived. She finally realizes the truth. She exposes the swindlers in a card game in which they are cheating Jim. Mrs. Lawrence, infuriated, locks Glory in her room. Glory, in wild panic, escapes through the window, climbs a fire-escape, wanders over adjacent roofs and accidentally falls through a skylight into an apartment which proves to be Jim's. Jim, who has fallen in love with Glory, befriends her, but Dix's appearance, while Jim is absent, frightens Glory and she runs away. She hires a furnished room and advertises for employment. She is followed by Bannon, who, by means of a decoy letter, brings her to his bachelor apartment. Meantime Dix and Mrs. Lawrence have quarreled with Bannon over the division of their spoils. Dix threatens revenge; Bannon in turn, threatens to expose Dix as an escaped convict. While Glory is denouncing Bannon for having tricked her to his rooms, Dix shoots Bannon through the window and escapes. By a combination of circumstances Jim and Glory are accused of the crime, taken to police headquarters, and put through the "third degree." Then both are separately released to further the plans of the police. Glory suspects Dix, but is not sure of it. She entices Dix into Jim's rooms and pretends to be in love with him. She is about to obtain a confession from him when Jim bursts in and denounces her. Glory is unable to reassure Jim of her love for him, as this will prevent Dix's confession. Accordingly she drives him away, admitting her love for Dix. Dix confesses. Glory then tells him it was all a trick on her part to save Jim and find the real murderer. Dix resolves to silence her forever. He attacks her. The room is wrecked. But just as he is about to kill her, Jim arrives with the police inspector. Glory accuses Dix. Dix jumps from the window and is killed by the fall into the court below. Glory and Jim are united.