The story
“Toodles, a very attractive baby, is idolized by all his relatives but especially by his young aunt, Violet. One day all the women of the household go shopping, and Toodles is left in the care of Tom Turner, an energetic young businessman. Obedient to his Violet’s wishes, Tom takes the baby to the park. He happens to meet there an old friend, and leaving the infant comfortably sleeping on a bench, ventures to enjoy a little stroll. During his absence, an officious person takes charge of the baby and sets out with him in search of his parents. A little girl lays her doll on the bench. Instantly a playful dog seizes it in his mouth and makes off with it—just as Tom comes into view. Tom supposing, of course, that a ferocious canine is bearing off Toodles, gives pursuit. The dog runs in front of a speeding automobile, and Tom escapes death by a miracle. Next a trolley car almost ends his mortal career. A coal scoop and a quarry explosion figure in the chase, at the end of which Tom picks up a bit of the dog’s collar and a lock of the supposed baby’s hair, and returns, grief-laden, to the park. Meanwhile, the officious person is having his trouble with the infant. He has been trying to persuade everybody he meets to relieve him of the child, and now seems to be facing imprisonment for kidnapping. His relief is certainly as great as Tom’s joy is hilarious when the latter seizes Toodles and makes off for home. Auntie Violet is so impressed with Tom’s qualities as a baby-tender that she suffers him to move the wedding date a month nearer.”
Summary from Reel Life · 18 December 1915
