Why Mrs. Kentworth Lied - Production & Contact Info

Why Mrs. Kentworth Lied (1916)
Short | Short, Drama

Primary photo for Why Mrs. Kentworth Lied

Why Mrs. Kentworth Lied (1916)

Short | Short, Drama

For the young wife of an elderly millionaire to be found at midnight beside the open library safe with her husband wounded and unconscious and a smoking revolver between them and her collection of jewels gone, looked bad for the wife. ...See moreFor the young wife of an elderly millionaire to be found at midnight beside the open library safe with her husband wounded and unconscious and a smoking revolver between them and her collection of jewels gone, looked bad for the wife. Quentin Quinby, the detective, thought so too, but when retained by the millionaire's lawyer to quietly investigate the case, he set about learning the truth. For this purpose he first consulted his card index and learned that Eben Kentworth, the husband, had married his present wife some years before, when she was a well-known chorus girl with a score of love affairs behind her. Mr. Quinby then secured the vacant post of butler; in his disguise was enabled to see and hear everything. He did not know that on the day of the attempted murder, Mrs. Kentworth had received a threatening note which caused her agitation. So alarmed did she become that after the departure of her husband on a business trip, she telephoned the writer of the note, a man in Room 37 of the Eureka Hotel, making an appointment with him in her library. She opened the window and awaited the coming of her caller. He renewed his threats and demanded money and when Mrs. Kentworth told him her husband had left her nothing, the man offered to take her jewels in lieu of cash. Frightened and desperate, Mrs. Kentworth let him enter the safe and apparently rob her of the gems that night. To this the man agreed. Upstairs Mrs. Kentworth lies in bed, her eyes fastened upon her wristwatch, waiting for the "robbery" to be dispatched. Mr. Kentworth makes an unexpected return for a forgotten document, and discovers the robber. Mrs. Kentworth hears the succeeding shot and fall. Of course, she knows the identity of the thief, although he had hardly been seen by the millionaire. Later Mrs. Kentworth tries to convince the score of detectives and policeman that she knows nothing, but they are skeptical. Meanwhile Quinby, the butler, becomes active. During Mrs. Kentworth's "third degree" in the library, he listens at the door and when she is driven nearly to madness, Quinby quietly enters with his silver tray and says: "Beg pardon, ma'am, don't worry, right will come right." Meanwhile the thief telephones from his hotel demanding of Mrs. Kentworth money, cash, with which to get away. Every pawnshop is watched. Mrs. Kentworth controls herself as she answers and appears to be replying to some society friend. When she later encloses bills in an envelope and finds she cannot leave the house because it is watched, she entrusts her delicate errand to the discreet new butler. Quinby lends her his pencil as she jots on the envelope, "Room 37, Eureka Hotel." Quinby is allowed to pass by the detectives. He then telephones to the hotel room, announcing to the thief that Mrs. Kentworth's messenger will meet him at a certain place. Quinby enters the room of the thief during his absence, finds the missing jewels in a leather-covered whiskey flask and confronts the man when he returns. Quinby shows himself master and, strange to say, the fellow seems willing to go with Quinby. He says to the detective, "Sure I'll go to Kentworths', but it won't be me that'll suffer most." This makes it appear that his entry into the house was not altogether a surprise. Mr. Kentworth has regained consciousness and his young wife is lavishing her devotion upon him, while in the library the detectives are waiting for the warrant for her arrest. Mr. Quinby gets in with his man through the servants' entrance and takes him to the sick room. Mrs. Kentworth sees their arrival and rushes to the door in fear. Mr. Quinby asks her if the jewels are hers. She dumbly nods acquiescence. The man regards her contemptuously. Quinby takes them both over to the millionaire's bedside. Quinby asks Mr. Kentworth if he knows the man before him, at the same time making clear that the jewels were found in his possession. The old man gasps, "You, my nephew." It is all clear now to Quinby. Mrs. Kentworth passes the note to her husband which explains everything: the nephew's threats to get what he imagined would have been his but for the marriage of his uncle to the former chorus girl, etc. Kentworth realizes his wife did all this to save him the humiliation of dealing with his nephew. At this moment detectives burst in with the warrant. Quinby conceals Ralph behind the screen, and calmly announces that as the jewels have been recovered, the complaint has been dropped. They demand to know what business it is of the butler's. Mr. Quinby hands them his card. "Adjuster of Personal Difficulties," he calls himself. Quinby later brings Ralph out and gives him the choice of leaving the country or remaining to face the charge of attempted murder. It is clear that Ralph chooses the former course. Mr. Kentworth thanks Quinby. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
5 cast members

Name	Known for
Matt Moore Ralph Ralph See fewer	Rain (1932)
Jane Gail Mrs. Eben Kentworth Mrs. Eben Kentworth See fewer	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
Joseph Flores Mr. Eben Kentworth Mr. Eben Kentworth See fewer	Fatherhood (1915)
Augustus Phillips Quentin Quimby Quentin Quimby See fewer	The Gates of Eden (1916)
Howard Crampton The Police Detective The Police Detective See fewer	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)