The Girl of the Golden West (1915)

"The Girl of the Golden West" is an orphan who keeps the saloon in the California mining town of Cloudy during the days of the '49 gold rush. Her utter honesty and fearlessness command the respect of all the "boys." Of her many suitors, the one she is most disposed to favor is Jack Rance, the sheriff-gambler from New Orleans, who is somewhat less rough than the rest of the men. At the time when the story begins the community is at a high pitch of excitement concerning the exploits of a city-bred road-agent, whose real name is Johnson, but who is known as Ramerrez and leads a particularly desperate band of Mexicans. In spite of the fact that $5,000 has been offered for his capture, Ramerrez holds up the Wells-Fargo stage, robbing all the passengers. While doing this, he receives a slight wound on the wrist and when his band disperses with the booty remains behind to bathe the injury. The "Girl" chances to ride by, is interested by her very first glimpse of the fascinating stranger, comes to his aid and binds up the wound with part of her bonnet string. This is the beginning of the romance between the "Girl" and the road-agent, whom she knows only as "Mr. Johnson." Not knowing that the "Girl" is the proprietor of the Polka Saloon in Cloudy, but having heard that the miners leave their gold in the care of the woman who runs that place, Ramerrez plans to rob the establishment. He goes to the saloon himself in advance, and there meets Rance, the sheriff-gambler, whose jealousy at once becomes apparent and who is prevented from making trouble for the stranger then and there only because the "Girl" vouches for him. From this point, exciting events follow in rapid succession. While Rance is following a blind trail for the road-agent, Ramerrez has an early morning breakfast with the "Girl" at her cabin. In attempting to leave, he is seriously wounded by Rance, and apprehended though the "Girl" seeks to conceal him in the loft. His presence is revealed by the dropping of his blood through the cracks of the loft. Rance and the "Girl" play cards for the life of Ramerrez, and the "Girl" wins by the ruse of changing her losing cards at the last moment. After recovering from his wounds, Ramerrez is pursued and caught a second time. The "Girl" comes to his rescue at the moment when he is about to be hung for his crimes against the law, and the drama concludes with the "Girl" and Ramerrez leaving the Mountain to begin a new life.