The Bomb Throwers

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"Red Mike" Davis, a notorious bomb thrower, has been landed in jail through the activities of Lawrence, the district attorney. During his incarceration, dissension prevails among his lawless followers. Lawrence's wife, noting the great notoriety caused by "Red Mike's" final execution, fears that his gang may do her husband harm. In fact, "Red Mike's" followers have sworn to "get" his prosecutor. Soon after, Lawrence's child is taken ill, and causes great uneasiness in the household. Feverish and restless, the child hears the strains of Tony's hand organ and pleads for the music to be brought nearer. In answer to the mother's appeal, Tony consents to take his organ and play for the stricken child. The child is greatly amused by Tony and his pet monkey. The bomb throwers, noting Tony's friendliness with the district attorney, decide to use him as a means of revenge, and accordingly approach the honest organ grinder with their scheme, but he will have nothing to do with them, in spite of their pleading and threats. Through overwork and lack of nourishing food, Tony's wife, Marea, becomes ill. Tony is greatly distressed. The gang, realizing that with Marea out of their way Tony can be persuaded to join them, set their plans accordingly. Remembering his friend, the district attorney, Tony hastens to him for assistance. Lawrence promises to help him and calls at his home with a doctor, who leaves medicine for the sick woman. Marea, however, succumbs to her illness. The gangsters convince Tony that the district attorney, through his interference, has caused her death, and so poison his mind against his benefactor. Seeking for revenge, Tony is persuaded to join the gangsters, and a plan is concocted against the district attorney. By an unfair method, Tony is chosen to be the messenger of death, and with a bomb concealed in a suitcase he starts on his errand. Mrs. Lawrence calls at Tony's home to see if she can assist him in any way. Noting Tony's absence, she decides to take Rosa, his little girl, home with her. Tony, grip in hand, gains access to Lawrence's home and plants the bomb in the cellar. Making his exit he is horrified to see the district attorney's wife enter the home with his little girl. The awful possibilities of his terrible act come to him, and he rushes back to the cellar. Grasping the sputtering bomb, he hurls it through the window, and it lands in the midst of his followers, who had come to see that his work was carried out. Realizing his dreadful mistake, and the injustice he has done his friend, the district attorney, he confesses his rash act. He is calmed by the doctor, who convinces him of the district attorney's innocence. The district attorney generously forgives the poor, misguided man.