The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-12-05
Theatres.
CHESTNUT STREET THEATRE
"RANsoN,s Forrv


''RANSoN'S FOLLY"
The Orpheum Players will be seen in
the most pleasing stage story that has
been witnessed in many season, when
they appear in Richard Harding Davis
story Of army life at a trading post ir
New Mexico. 1t was in this play that
Robert Edeson scored his biggest
triumphs of his career. The book was
widely read and enjoyed by millions of
people, and its dramatization. with its
portrayal of the interesting characters in
flesh and blood, met with even greater
popularity. The story of Ranson's Folly
deals with the folly and devil-may-care
disposition of Lieutenant Ransom, who
had seen active service in the Philippines,
having gone there in quest of excitement,
through the influence of his father, Sena-
tor Ransom. Now that Ransom is trans
ferred to Fort Crockett, life becomes bore
some and unbearable, The only thing
that keeps him from deserving for the
bright lights of Little Old New York"
is Mary Cahill, the daughter of the post
trader "Cahill" who at one time kept a
bar in New York; but because of unscru-
pulous dealings deemed it wise to make
his home in the far-away trading post of
New Mexico. Cahill only loves one thing
in the world-his daughter Mary-but in
that love he makes up for his lack of
affection for others. In order to give her
a pecuniary promise of the future he in
dulges in a side line of cattle stealing and
holding up stage coaches. He sallies
forth at night in black rubber poncho
and red handkerchief, and is known in
this disguise as the RED Rider" a des-
perado much hated and feared. One
evening before group of fellow officers
Ransom makes the boast that it is a mat
ter of nerve to hold up the stage coach
that he could do it with the poncho and
red handkerchief, armed only to the ex-
tent with a pair of scissors. He then
leaves the room with a promise to carry
out his ridiculous hold-up. The same
night the stage coach is held up and the
driver seriously wounded Ransom is
naturally suspected as carrying the joke
TOO far, probably using a gun in self-de-
Tense and therefore thrown into prison.
Matters look very dark for him-the only
bright spot in his existence being the ex-
hibition of confidence in him by Mary.
Ransom feels positive that Old Cahill is
the perpetrator of the crime and in order
to save Mary from knowing what kind of
man her father is offers Cahi1l money
that might aid in his escape, at the same
time telling him that he loves Mary and
so soon as he can make her his wife and
| is free of the charges against him, that
they MARY and RANSOM will come to him
in Mexico, across the border line When
Cahill hears this and realizes his dream is
coming true-that Mary will actually
marry maz who loves her enough to
take her and care for her, even knowing
what character her father might be-he
promises to go but insists upon leaving a
written confession, in order that Ransom
may be cleared However before he
transpires the real cu1prits are caught anc
both Ransom and Cahill are exceedingly
happy to know that the other is innocent
of the affair, but was taking such action tC
protect the one they 1oved-Mary. Thi:
is only a very small part of the play but il
the chief theme. What happened afte
that we will leave to vour imagination
for we surely have guessed that Mary an,
Ransom will be as happy as two lovers cal
be.