The story
“Clarence, the son of Theodore, was a model youth. He read the classics and never drank anything stronger than buttermilk. But Theodore—well, the villagers pitied the son on the many occasions they saw him standing at the door of the village saloon, peering in with a pathetic smile and moaning: ‘Father, dear Father, come home with me now.’ Father had a terrible thirst, and spent most of his time trying to quench it. Theodore had a sister, who lived some distance away. She died leaving all to her brother and his son, providing that they both became abstainers. A week of continued abstinence would be proof of their proper living. Clarence could qualify without any difficulty, but Theodore couldn’t and wouldn’t. The very thought made him thirsty. The son was engaged to be married, and he was so busy being a model young man that he had never worked. The young man solved the problem by kidnapping father and placing him on a desert island for a week. There were alligators in the water, at least Theodore thought he saw them, and he remained a week in retirement, alone with nature and without alcohol. When the legacy was paid over the son bought the island, and there lives with his wife and his father. Theodore no longer has a terrible thirst and is gradually getting along so that he does not miss his old boon companions, or the snakes and lizards who used to frolic about with him.”
Summary from Reel Life · 11 March 1916
