Character Relationship Map: The Virtuous Thief

Characters

• Shirley Armitage (played by Enid Bennett) — protagonist

  Shirley is Dick Armitage's sister and takes a stenographer's job with Walter Haskell to repay her brother's debt. Haskell's attentions distress her sweetheart, Bobbie Baker, and she rebuffs Haskell's...

• Bobbie Baker (played by Niles Welch) — supporting

  Bobbie is employed by Walter Haskell and is Shirley Armitage's sweetheart. He is dismayed when Haskell shows Shirley marked attention, placing him in conflict with Haskell's conduct toward her. The st...

• Dick Armitage (played by Lloyd Hughes) — supporting

  Dick is Shirley Armitage's brother and an employee of Walter Haskell. Essentially honest but weak, he steals a small sum from Haskell, confesses before the theft is discovered, and is given three days...

• Walter Haskell (played by William Conklin) — supporting

  Walter Haskell is Dick Armitage's employer and the man from whom Dick steals a small sum. He requires Dick to sign a confession, gives him three days to repay the money, and discharges him. Haskell th...

• Mrs. Haskell (played by Dorcas Matthews) — supporting

  Mrs. Haskell is Walter Haskell's wife. She has detectives watch her husband, and they bring her to the office on the night Shirley is caught there. The next morning, after Haskell is found dead, Mrs....

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Mrs. Haskell → Walter Haskell (Family Wife And Husband) — Mrs. Haskell has detectives monitor her husband and later helps clear Shirley after Haskell is found dead.

  The plot identifies Mrs. Haskell as Walter Haskell's wife. She has detectives watch him and later vindicates Shirley at police headquarters.

• Shirley Armitage → Walter Haskell (Professional Employer And Employee) — Haskell's position as Shirley's employer becomes a source of coercion when he threatens Dick's arrest unless she yields to him.

  Shirley enters Haskell's employ as a stenographer to repay Dick's debt. Haskell makes advances, which she rebuffs.

• Dick Armitage → Walter Haskell (Professional Employer And Employee) — Haskell responds to Dick's theft by requiring a signed confession and setting a repayment deadline, then discharging him.

  Dick steals a small sum from his employer, Haskell, confesses, and is given three days to raise the money before being discharged.

• Shirley Armitage → Bobbie Baker (Romantic Sweethearts) — Their romantic bond is strained by Haskell's advances toward Shirley, but the story ends with happiness for them.

  The plot identifies Bobbie as Shirley's sweetheart and says Haskell's attentions to her dismay him. The conclusion points to happiness for Shirley and...

• Dick Armitage → Shirley Armitage (Family Brother And Sister) — Shirley works to address Dick's debt, and Dick later believes she may be guilty of Haskell's murder and tries unsuccessfully to take the blame.

  The plot identifies Shirley as Dick's sister. She takes a job with Haskell to repay the debt Dick cannot raise.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Bobbie Baker → Walter Haskell (Conflict Rival) — Haskell's conduct toward Shirley places him in conflict with Bobbie's romantic bond with her.

  Bobbie is Shirley's sweetheart and is dismayed by Haskell's marked attentions toward her.

Story Analysis

A sister tries to repay her brother's debt, but her employer's coercion and subsequent murder place her under suspicion before she is vindicated.

Plot Progression

1. The Confessed Theft — Dick steals a small sum from Haskell and confesses before the theft is discovered. Haskell demands a signed confession, sets a repayment deadline, and discharges him.
2. A Sister's Repayment — Unable to raise the money, Dick depends on Shirley's efforts. She takes a stenographer's job with Haskell, while his attention toward her troubles Bobbie.
3. A Threat in the Office — Shirley rejects Haskell's familiarities, and he threatens Dick with arrest unless she gives in to him. She returns to the office at night to take Dick's confession and is caught.
4. Death and Suspicion — Detectives watching Haskell bring Mrs. Haskell to the office. The next morning Haskell is found dead, and Dick believes Shirley may be responsible.
5. Shirley Vindicated — Dick unsuccessfully tries to take the blame for Shirley. Mrs. Haskell vindicates her at police headquarters, the police locate the murderess, and happiness follows for Dick, Shirley, and Bobbie.