A Tale of Texas's primary photo
  • A Tale of Texas (1909)
  • Short | Short, Western
Primary photo for A Tale of Texas
A Tale of Texas (1909)
Short | Short, Western
Tom Barry is the right-hand man to Frank Hadley, owner of the Half Moon Ranch in New Mexico. A bad Mexican, Valdez, has been cheating the other cowboys at poker by using six ace cards when the laws of the game allow only four. Tom catches ...See moreTom Barry is the right-hand man to Frank Hadley, owner of the Half Moon Ranch in New Mexico. A bad Mexican, Valdez, has been cheating the other cowboys at poker by using six ace cards when the laws of the game allow only four. Tom catches Valdez at his trick, and he exposes Valdez, then kicks the Mexican out of sight. Valdez determines to kill Tom, and he conceals himself in the ranch house, awaiting a favorable opportunity to plunge his dagger into Tom's back. Tom enters with the Boss and a cattle buyer, who pays the Boss two thousand dollars for a lot of cattle. The Boss puts the money into his wallet, and places the wallet into a cupboard drawer. Valdez, who has hidden behind a sofa, sees this, and when the three men leave the room the Mexican steals the wallet and escapes unobserved through a window. At a quiet spot in the woods Valdez counts out a hundred dollars to "blow in" on a good time, and he conceals the remainder of the money in the wallet in his clothing. He hears someone approach, and runs off, leaving some of the money on the ground. Tom has ridden up and, finding the money, he pockets it. Valdez, running along the river bank, misses his footing, falls into the river, and is drowned. Tom, riding along, is met by the ranch mail carrier, who gives Tom a letter. It is from Tom's wife, telling him that on her way to him she had been compelled by illness to remain at the station forty miles distant. The letter was completed by the keeper of the hotel at which the wife stopped, and he informs Tom that his wife gave birth to a boy baby, and that she calls continually for him. Tom spurs on his horse, determined to go at once to his wife and child. Meanwhile the Boss has discovered the loss of the money. Accompanied by some of his cowboys, he overtakes Tom, searches him, and finds the money that Valdez had dropped and, placing a pistol at Tom's head, he threatens to shoot Tom unless he tells where the remainder of the money is. Tom protests his innocence, and the cowboys stand by Tom. The Sheriff comes on the scene, and when Tom acknowledges that he alone knew where the money was placed, the Sheriff arrests Tom and they ride off. Poor Tom, crazed by thoughts of his wife alone at such a time, shows the letter to the Sheriff and begs to be allowed to see his wife and baby. The good-hearted Sheriff agrees to let Tom visit his wife for one hour before going to jail, but the river gives up the dead Valdez, and a ranchman, finding the wallet, returns it to the owner, whose name is lettered in it. The Boss immediately dashes off to secure the release of Tom, whose innocence is now established. Tom is with his wife and babe, his happiness clouded by the thought that another's crime will tear him from his loved ones. The Sheriff is pacing the floor of the hotel sitting-room. He looks at his watch. The hour is up. But the Sheriff can hardly bring himself to perform his hard duty. While he hesitates, the Boss enters, to get a drink after his hard ride. He explains to the Sheriff that Tom is innocent. Poor Tom is kissing his son for the last time when he hears footsteps on the stairs. In despair he goes slowly toward the door. He cannot bring himself to open it. But it is the friendly hand of the Boss that opens the door and grasps Tom's hand as he says: ''Forgive me, Tom." Come back to your job." And Tom is the happiest man in New Mexico as he kisses his wife and then dances about with joy. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Producer
David Horsley
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Jul 21, 1909
Release date
Jul 21, 1909 (United States)

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