The Thief and the Book - Production & Contact Info

The Thief and the Book (1914)
Short | Short, Crime, Drama

Primary photo for The Thief and the Book

The Thief and the Book (1914)

Short | Short, Crime, Drama

The Bat, a thief, about twenty-three years old, in order to occupy the attention of an old bookseller, while his partner, the Fly, robs the till, purchases a book at random. Later, after a chase and escape to the Devil's Roost, Old Meg's ...See moreThe Bat, a thief, about twenty-three years old, in order to occupy the attention of an old bookseller, while his partner, the Fly, robs the till, purchases a book at random. Later, after a chase and escape to the Devil's Roost, Old Meg's refuge for thieves, he takes the book from his pocket, and is about to throw it aside when the title attracts him, "Electricity Made Simple." The idea strikes him to attempt the wiring of the Roost and replacing the smoky old lamp with electric light. His success opens a new life to him, and he seeks honest employment at the Electric Light Power Company, resolving to become something in the world of electricity. His conscientious devotion to duty and hard study, and love of the clean new life, lead him rapidly up the ladder, and after demonstrating his acquired knowledge by locating and repairing a puzzling break in the machinery at the works, he finds himself advanced to the office of assistant electrician. About this time the fortunes of the old bookseller the unknowing contributor to Bat's reform, undergo a pitiful alteration. After twenty years in the same location, he finds himself with old age handicapping him and is obliged to move out and give place to a new building, and seek other quarters. The shock sickens his soul and body, and selling his little stock with the aid of his fifteen-year-old grandchild, he takes to his bed. The old man dies, and homeless and penniless, Bess finally becomes a victim to Meg, and takes up her abode at the Devil's Roost. Five years pass. The Bat and his former employer at the plant are now partners as electrical contractors and engineers. Bess still works her trade. Fortunately, it is the Bat who catches her at last when she attempts to "lift" his watch. Remembering his own past, he takes her to his office, and by kindness softens Bess's hardened nature, and starts her on a "clean path" by helping her to become a stenographer. His head typist volunteers to help Bess. She worships her benefactor and the Bat, too, grows instantly and deeply fond of his protégé. On the day of Bess's arrival at proficiency the sister of Bat's partner comes to the city and demands the complete devotion of the men to her entertainment for the few days of her visit. They laughingly comply, and begin with the theater first. Bess in sudden and desperate jealousy, entirely unreasonable, drops back to her old self long enough to follow the party to the theater and skillfully steal the purse of the sister and bear it away to her old haunt, the Devil's Roost. She is seen and followed by the Fly, her suitor from the moment of her first entrance to the Roost. Remorse overtakes Bess while in the Roost, now hideous to her, and made doubly so by the renewed attentions of the repulsive Fly. Fly's persistence this time amounts to force, and he seizes Bess. The timely appearance of Old Meg on the scene saves Bess from the clutches of the Fly. Old Meg drives Fly away, with a warning never to return; he swears vengeance, and hurries to the theater, where the loss of the purse is discovered. To the manager Fly reveals the mystery of the Devil's Roost, where he informs him the purse may be found, and gives complete directions of bow to reach the Roost by its secret entrance. The manager repeats Fly's story to the police and to Bat, the latter instantly recognizing his old quarters. Fly makes a quick getaway as soon as his purpose is accomplished. In the meantime, Bess in the den, wraps the purse up and addresses it, together with a pathetic note to the Bat. She leaves it at the theater box office, and it is delivered to Bat while Bess is returning to the Boost. The Bat rends the note: "I stole this, but I don't want it. Might as well be a thief as be loving you, and breaking my heart. Thanks for too much kindness. It's no use. Back to the Roost for me. Bess." In a flash the Bat realizes that Bess must mean Devil's Roost, and there the police have gone to make a raid. Slipping the purse in the folds of the sister's cloak, he excuses himself and hurries to a taxi. The police are ahead of him however, and reach the alley-way to the Roost first, making it impossible for him to precede them and rescue Bess. Then he remembers the hole under the eaves which he cut for the electric wires, and climbing the rickety old fire escapes to the roof, he crawls through the hole, and warns Bess and rescues her just as the police enter and arrest Old Meg and the others. Safe at his lodgings, he explains to Bess how he knew of the hole. He gets the book that changes his career, now old and worn, and tells the story. Bess recognizes the imprint of her grandfather's stamp on the book, and in great wonder of it all they tell of their love. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
8 cast members

Name	Known for
Ernest Joy The Bat The Bat See fewer	Cameo Kirby (1914)
Eugene Pallette The Fly The Fly See fewer	The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Billie West Bess Jones Bess Jones See fewer	The Wolf Man (1915)
Josef Swickard Mr. Jones - Bess's Grandfather Mr. Jones - Bess's Grandfather See fewer	You Can't Take It with You (1938)
Victory Bateman Old Meg Old Meg See fewer	Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1924)
Carrie Clark Ward Actress (as Carrie Nast) Actress (as Carrie Nast) See fewer	Daddy-Long-Legs (1919)
Florence Crawford Actress Actress See fewer	The Little Mother (II) (1915)
D. Mitsoras Actor (as Demetrio Mitsoras) Actor (as Demetrio Mitsoras) See fewer	The Rose of Paris (1924)