The Influence of a Child

His wife desperately ill, and without money for medicine or food, Bat Carney consents to help Jim Cooper rob a safe in a near-by saloon. Kissing his wife and Anna, his six-year-old daughter, Bat leaves with Cooper for the scene of the robbery. While at work on the safe, the two are discovered by a policeman. Shots are exchanged and Bat is killed. Cooper, who lives in the flat above Carney, slinks home. As he passes the Carney flat, Anna comes to the door and begs him to come in and see what ails her mother. The crook enters and finds Mrs. Carney dead. Calling the neighbors, Cooper tells them of the woman's death. Feeling that he is responsible for the death of her father, he decides to take care of Anna, who has taken a fancy to him, until other arrangements can be made. Cooper gives up his bed to the child and hears her pray that her mama be awakened and that her papa come home. Touched by the simple plea, he writes for the authorities to come for the child. The next morning, Anna helps him with his breakfast, and then packing a dinner pail, tells him it is time for him to go to work. Amazed, Cooper takes it. As he turns to go, the child makes him return and give her a good-bye kiss. Impelled by the thought of the child, the crook secures an honest job. He returns that evening just as the authorities are taking Anna away. The child frantically tries to free herself. Moved by her pleadings, the crook takes her in his arms and announces that he will adopt the little girl. That night an old pal comes and informs Cooper of a jewelry store that would he easy picking for burglars. Cooper reaches for his hat, but Anna clinging to him, pleads with him to remain at home. "Please don't go like papa," she cries, "He never came back." Throwing down his hat, Cooper catches Anna in his arms. Turning to his pal he tells him that he is through with a burglar's life. Henceforth, he vows, he will be a father to Anna, and take care of her as a true father should.