Suspense 1913
A young couple live in the country several miles from town. Their only maid, dissatisfied with the lonely life, leaves the house without any other notice than a note, telling the mistress she is leaving and will put the back door key under the back door mat. The wife, left alone with her baby, receives a telephone call from her husband saying he will not be home until late and asking if she will be safe. The wife answers that she will be, and later, when she discovers the maid’s note, although fearful of being alone, determines not to alarm her husband. She locks the house securely, but afraid to go around the house to get the key, leaves it outside. A tramp peering through the window sees the wife alone and when she takes the baby upstairs to bed, attempts to get into the house. The wife, hearing the noise, is alarmed and, looking from the window, discovers the tramp. She rushes to the phone and calls her husband, but the conversation is interrupted by the tramp cutting the wires. The husband, however, has been informed that a tramp is entering the house, and rushes out of the office. In his haste to get to his wife, he enters another man’s automobile and dashes away. The man, seeing his machine stolen (as he thinks) gets the police and makes chase. The husband is caught and detained by the pursuers, but makes his escape and dashes on. In the meantime, the tramp has discovered the back door key and entered the kitchen, where he helps himself to food. The wife has barricaded the bedroom door with furniture and is waiting in terror. Finishing his meal, the tramp goes upstairs, searches for valuables and finding none, breaks down the door leading into the bedroom. Shots are heard and the wife faints in terror as the tramp dashes from the room and upon the steps where he meets the husband, followed by the police. After a struggle, the tramp is secured and bound by the police. The husband finding his wife safe, explains his wild ride to the police and the pursuer and fondly kisses his wife.
