The story
“Secret hiding places for valuable papers and sums of money have always figured prominently in romantic fiction and drama. The theme is a familiar one, but possesses the great advantage of varied treatment. This basic idea has been used with much skill and originality in the Thanhouser-Mutual two-part drama, The Romance of the Hollow Tree, with Wayne Arey and Kathryn Adams in the principal roles.
“The story centers around a country girl who had always believed she was well to do, for her father told her he had a large sum of money which he had ‘hidden away.’ He never informed her of the hiding place, and his sudden death prevented him from telling the secret on his death bed. In secret she admired a young man who resided on an adjoining estate. She had heard reports that he had invented a wonderful submarine boat, and the general belief was that the government would accept it. The plans for the young man’s submarine were temporarily kept in the safe in his study. One night these plans and $10,000 cash, which the inventor had drawn to pay off some of the workers on his boat, were stolen. It did not develop until later that the thief was a house guest of the inventor, a former college mate of his. This chap, however, was hard up financially and had listened to tempting offers from great European powers.
“The plans he sent in a letter addressed to himself. He hid the money in a hollow tree on an estate near his home. Unfortunately for the schemer, the girl got the money. She had recently received an invitation to visit a cousin in the city, but had been afraid to accept it because her cousin was wealthy and she herself poor. Now the situation was changed. At her cousin’s house the girl met the young inventor. The girl learned in time of the robbery. Her woman’s wit enabled her to locate the thief, and in a dramatic way she recovered the stolen submarine plans, caused the arrest of the wicked friend, and brought happiness to the young inventor, who asked her hand and was accepted. Wayne Arey as the inventor gives a dignified portrayal to a difficult role. Kathryn Adams is an ingenious and simple country lass and will win many new friends by her charming acting in this simple romantic drama.”
Summary from Reel Life · 8 April 1916
