The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-17
BIC BILL HART
CoNNNG TO TOWN
Latest Photoplay Success,
The Silent Man." Cork
ing Western Drama.
HERE FOR THREE DAYS
Man Who Depicts Life of the
Frontier on Boards at
Empress Today.

Big Bilf' Harris coming to town.
Not in person. OF course, but in his
latest photoplay. The Silent Man."
which win be seen at the Empress
theater today, Monday and Tuesday.
The advent Of new Hart picture
Is very much the same as the visit of
u three ringed circus to any com
munity. 1t Is an event of prime i'm
portancc. 1t catches the attention OF
every man. woman and child, for it
means an entertainment totally unlike
that which is provided by any other
star OF the film world So the mere
announcement that "Bill Hart in his
latest Ince picture is scheduled for an
early appearance in this city holds
quite as much interest as can possibly
be crowded into any news story con-
corning screen celebrity.
Harris newest work, The Silent
Man. Is by Charles Kenyon. the WELL
known playwright. whose "Kindling'
was played with so much success by
Margaret Ellington. 1t is story of
the big western country.
silent" Budd MARI is a miner who
for years has prospected the wastes of
the vast Arizona desert, He finally
makes n rich strike" and comes into
the small border town of Bakeoven to
enter his claim at the government land
office. He goes to the Hello Thar
saloon and dance hall. conducted by
Handsome Jack" Presley. though the
actual proprietor of the place is Ames
Mitchell, who owns practically all OF
the town. PRESLEY reports Marr's
presence in town to Mitchell and men,
tions the fact that he has some unusu-
ally rich ore from a newly discovered
claim Mitchell promises PRESLEY a
deed to the dance hall and gambling
resort in return for the entry claim ia.
Mafr's find. This Presley is enabled
to secure through the connivance of a
clerk in the land office, who alters
the record of the location of the claim.
When Mari recovered from a gambling
spree. returns to his claim, he finds
Mitchell, Presley and their hirelings
at work. They tell Mari that his
claim is in another direction.
Woman Enters.
In the meantime Presley has sought
to marry Betty Bryce. young Vir-
pinia girl, who has come to Arizona
on account of her little brother Davids
health. Presley holds out alluring
PROMISES home of her own with
everything than can be done in a med
ical way for little David-if she will
marry him.
Presley keeps from Betty the fact
that he already has a wife in the per-
son of Topaz. one of the inmates of
the dance hall. This marriage, how
ever. is known to Mari, and when he
holds up the stage carrying the ore
from his Jumped claim he not only
takes the bags of gold but abducts
Betty and carries her and her brother
to the mountain home of Preaching
Bin Hardy and his wife
Hardy Is a former miner who has
heard the .'ealr' to preach the gospel.
which he does to the best of his ability.
There is an exciting chase after Mari
and Betty. PRESLEY heads the sheriffs
posse to whom he announces that Mari
has kidnapped the girl he had intended
to marry. After a series of more than
ordinarily thrilling occurrences. and
after Mari has made Betty understand
that he has saved her from a fate that
would condemn her to a career as one
Of Pressley's playthings in the dane
hall. he allows little David 10 tic and
lead him into the town TO secure the
reward offered for his capture. that
the money may be used to rebuild the
burned church of Preaching Bill"
Hardy.
MARI is placed on trial for kidnapping
Betty. for holding up the stage and
for robbing Mitcheli's messenger of the
sacks OF gold ore. In the midst of the
trial something happens that turns the
tables in Marr's behalf. There is an
exciting finish and a happy ending
for everyone but Handsome Jack"
Presley and his hirelings.