The Chief's Predicament
Directed by Mack SennettBlack Handers have been creating much trouble in the town and the newspapers attack the chief of police for his failure to capture them. He is spurred to vigorous action, and disguised as a tough Italian he seeks the Black Handers. He meets them, and after some conversation is invited to join the organization. Amid solemn and blood-curdling rites, he becomes a member of the band, and to test his sincerity he is ordered to blow up the home of a wealthy man, who has been vigorously denouncing the chief and the band. A bomb is placed in his hand, and he is compelled at the points of revolvers to enter the house. The man comes in, and the chief hides in the chimney. The man builds a fire, and the fuse of the bomb catches fire and the chief is being roasted. The Black Handers have been watching the proceedings from the window, and try to save the chief by rushing to the roof and dumping pails of water down the chimney. The man of the house hears the commotion in the chimney and hears the men on the roof and phones for the police. They arrive and drag the chief from the chimney where he has been dancing a terrified jig to keep from being burned alive, dodging the volumes of water, and keeping the fuse of the bomb from burning.
