{ title: 'Silver Springs signal. (Silver Springs, N.Y. ;) 1892-19??, September 21, 1916, Page 2, Image 2', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074193/1916-09-21/ed-1/seq-2/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074193/1916-09-21/ed-1/seq-2.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074193/1916-09-21/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074193/1916-09-21/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
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THE SILVER SPRINGS SIGNAL PCGO' me ring FITS WACTGft K.HCLC y antV JO QO.AMOT Novelized from the Motion Picture Play of the Same Name by the Universal Film Manufacturing Co. SYNOPSIS. La Bella Le Sleur, animal queen, dies after giving birth to a baby Doctor Lund, owner of circus, La Bollo's hus band, refuses to recognize child. La Belle Intrusts baby to Flip, a clown, who rears Peg as circus rider. Lator Doctor Lund's second wife, determines Peg shall not eharo Lund's millions and Bonds Hindu servant to follow circus and dispose of girl. Doctor Lund sends thugs to got from Flip letter that proves Peg's paren tage. Mrs. Lund also wants this letttcr. Various exciting and hazardous attacks and events transpire. Doctor Lund's son, who is following Peg to induce nor to bo- come his wife, rescues the girl from many perilous straits. One of the Incidents during pursuit of Peg results In circus being destroyed by fire. Peg Is carried to countcrfcllors' den whero young Lund follows for purpose of rescuing her Many strenuous encounters eventuate beforo Peg escapes and heads rescuing party of circus peoplo who release young Lund. Tho circus owner, Doctor Lund, decides to again equip show for travel and gives party to celebrate reopening of circus. Secret sorvlce men follow Mrs. Lund to hor home, searching for head of tho coun terfeiters gang Peg, again Btrlckcn by her strange affliction, aci uses young Doc tor Lund of being ringleader of tho coun terfeiters. SEVENTH EPISODE When Flip caught Peg In hlB arms, after she had accused yound Lund of being head of tho band of counterfeit ers, his strength was POT sufficient to combat her youthful vigor, pluB the force her hysterical condition gavo to tho circus girl's movements. She broke away from Flip and again at tacked the young physician ferocious ly- Too utterly dumfounded to make more than purposeless efforts to pro tect himself from Peg's attack, young Lund was being badly scratched and pummeled before the secret service men, with their combined strength, were able to completely overpower the excited girl. Instantly her hys teria changed from violence to weep ing, and the girl was tenderly trans ferred to the keeping of the old clown. Flip and one of the circusmen car ried her Into an adjoining room, and placed her at ease upon a couch. Young Lund moved from the excited group that surrounded him, and mo tioned the aecrot service men to fol low. Lund led the way to hlB labo ratory and there told 'them who he was. \TblB strfcngo accusation that has been placed against me, can be read ily disproved,\ said young Lund. \My father will be responsible for my appearance, and I will come to head quarters tomorrow and fully explain this unfortunate Incident.\ \Well if your father will stand good for you, it will be all right with me.\ said the leader of the govern ment officials. \Let's And him and see what he has to say.\ Of course Doctor Lund very eager ly made himself responsible for his son's appearance, and the secret serv ice men left tho house. Next morning young Lund made his way to the headquarters of tho local secret service and when he arrived there he found Flip in the very act of explaining the strange conduct of his little girl. When the officials heard Flip's story they were convinced of young Lund's innocence, or, at least, were willing to accept the explanation as valid for the time being. Flip and Lund departed, aftor shak ing hands all round with the detec tives. And when they had gone the chief said as If for the benefit of all of his men present: \That circus girl 1B as crazy as a woman's watch—but we are on tho right trail, just the same.\ \When we hear from our man who has gon i t o seo Mrs. Lund, we'll know a lot more than wo do now,\ tho chief -continued. \We will give those guys wc rounded up at the den the third degree, and seo if that will bring us any closer to tho main one. For the present you men have done all you can on this case \ Some time later tho man who had been Bent to the Lund home made his report. \There's nothing there that I can find, chief,\ said the detective. \Mrs. Lund stands mighty well in this town, you know, and unless we can get more than we have on any of the fam ily, 1 wish you would call it all off.\ \Well we've just had young Lund here and the circus clown has ex plained about his girl being afflicted with something that changes hor dis position,\ said the chief. \There real ly is nothing more that we can do just *ow, so I guess you better go back to Mrs. Lund and explain to her that we have no charge to make' against her son and that we are satis- fled that our clues are wrong.\ ' * And as the detective started to leave the room, tho chief called him back and said: \But as a word to you, there is something very wrong up there at Lund's and we will keep our eyes open for anything that may develop—but you be sure to convince her that it's all off.\ * » » • « • * \I suppose you know the show is Btii) on the lot?\ said Flip to young Lund after the two men had left the secret service office. \No. indeed, I didn't know It,\ Lund answered, *? supposed yon had stayed back all alone to square me with the officers.\ Proceeding t o inform hlB companion, Flip related that word had come to the circus train just as It was ready to pull out for the next stand that the company should not move without further orders. \Your father sent word that he wanted a rehearsal this morning, but nobody knows why. We are only billed for the night show in the next town, anyhow, and we suppose that the show can cover the short run today In Ume to make It.\ \Tell me how you got Peg back to the car last night,\ said Lund. \I'm more Interested in her than I am In the circus, if you'll aUow me to say so.\ \Well the poor girl did just aa she always does—got over hor spell al most as suddenly as she 'was stricken. We carried her to the car and when she was easy in her berth I told her about her accusing you of being a counterfeiter,\ said Flip. Young Lund listened eagerly, but a shadow crossed his handsome face as he again recalled the strange scene of tho night before. \And then she did carry on for fair,\ the old clown continued, \she cried and moaned and would not be satisfied until J promised I would go this morn ing to the officers and tell them about her strange Inheritance.\ The two men had, by this time, reached the stroet that led to the show lot and then they separated. Flip decided to proceed to -the grounds whilo young Lund shook hands with the old clown and said he would go home and have'a talk with his father about his plans for the rest of the cir cus season. When young Lund reached his home he entered by the front door, and started to pass Immediately upstairs to his laboratory. But voices in his father's library halted him after he had ascended only a few steps. \I want you to get that letter from Flip tonight,\ young Lund heard his father say In a loud and command ing tone. \I'll have no more stall ing.\ Then the door leading from the li brary to the yard closed with a slam. Lund proceeded upstairs and to his laboratory. Going, by chance, directly to a window that overlooked the lawn, he was puzzled to see Jack Boygne walking rapidly away from tho house, by the concrete path that led from the door of his father's library. \Well I wonder what that means, 1 young Lund said, speaking in an un dertone as if to himself. \Jack Boygne has some strange commission from father. He's another one I must loolc out for, I presume.\ Meanwhile the rehearsal Doctor Lund had ordered was in progress at the show grounds. But it was to be later revealed just why the show had not proceeded, as usual, to its next stand the night be fore. The management had decided that \Peg O' the Ring\ was to he In troduced to the public in a new act. \Woll I guess 111 go In and re hearse with the other clowns,\ said Peg to the girls In the'Hressing tent when her number was called. Ever light-hearted and gay -when her nat ural self, Peg waB about the only one with the show who had not made ob jections to the unexpected orders. \A little more practice won't hurt me,\ she gayly remarked, \and I would be doing a show anyhow if we were billed for it.\ When Peg bounded into the ring she was surprised not to find hor own beautiful horse waiting for her. In stead there was a different horse al together, beside a beautiful little pony standing ready near the ring bank. \The boss wants you to practice a- hlgh-school act,\ said the ringmaster as if to clarify her perplexity. \The pony works with this horse, and the man who broke tbem is here to show you how to work them.\ \Well this is some surprise, I must say,\ declared the girl. \Has any more been said to daddy than there has to me about It?\ j That's more than I know,\ B *aid the ringmaster. \The boss^snld Oils was to be done, and the horses are hero to do it, that's all.\ Peg patted the horse and then catch ing a good view of the pony cried out with delight: \What a perfect HttleNlear it is,\ nnd in a twinkling Peg was over beside the pony fondling and petting It as though it were a little child. \This little thing settles it with me; I'll do the act if it's in me to accomplish it. Just to work with this dandy litUe pony.\ And\ then she commenced her prac tice, under the tuition of the man who had \broke the horses to the act\ Her perfect knowledge of horses and horsemanship gave her every advan tage and her skill as a rider made matters easier for her. Peg could not recall the day when her old daddy first raised her to tho baok of a horse. She, knew every trick of her profession, and it was a mat ter of comparative ease for her to re hearse with the horses and become ac customed to the tricks of the act. \It won't take me long to master this act,\ she said after a few mo ments. She patted the big horse and petted the pony, making friends with the animals at once. The pony was her special delight. When she had rehearsed awhile and was ready for a rest she left the ring, leading the pony, and romped with it on the grass outside the tent. \Well my little girl Is an, expert sure enough,\ said Flip as he met her returning to the ring for another turn at rehearsal. \Your old daddy is proud of you for sure. Why, there's not one rider in a thousand who could change her work and take to another line as quick as you have, Peg, dear.\ And Peg tenderly_ kissed the old clown aa she left him again to enter the ring. Again and again the horse and pony were put through their paces\ until the trainer and ring master decided that the rehearsal had lasted long enough for that time. Then Peg, a pretty picture in tights and tarlatan, made her bow to the \audience\ just as though the re hearsal were an actual performance, and taking the pony by its bridle she danced out of the ring and back to the dressing tent, her work for that afternoon at an end. She was taking her time at dress, ing, when the voice of Flip, raised in excited tones, called her to the door, she quickly donned-a loose cape and hurried out to find the old clown^al- most overcome with excitement. \O Peg! Peg!\ ate exclafmed, 'something awful has happened.\ \Quick quick, tell me what's the matter,\ Peg broke in before Flip had time to explain. \The letter—in the trunk—I'm afraid It's stolen. Somebody broke the box open while I was rehearsing;\ and the breathless old clown choked with worry and could not proceed further. He threw his arms, around Peg's neck and lowering his head to her shoulder began to sob like a child. \There there, daddy; calm yourself. Perhaps you didn't look carefully.\ Whatever was In the old letter cant BE any good to others—so' be calm and go look good for it I'll. Bee you after I'm dressed.\ And as Peg soothed him the old clown regained his composure. Pulling himself together somewhat, he took Peg's faco between his two hands and said: \It looks bad—it all looks bad, and I'm worried half sick. There was someone broke the trunk open all right, and I can't imagine anybody with the show doing such a thing. I'll go and look carefully through my things—I was so scared when I found the trunk open that I could not think of much of anything but to come and tell you.\ Flip returned to the men's tent and Peg re-entered her own tent to re sume her dressing. But she was soon Interrupted again by the trainer of the pony she had just been working. \Miss Peg,\ the man called, \the pony hurt its ankle during rehearsal.\ \Oh my, the poor little thing,\ cried Peg as she rushed to the door of the tent \Is it badly hurt?\ \Well I'm not sure, but I'm taking him right down to the stock car as soon as the hostler binds his leg a lit tle,\ responded the trainer. \All right, and just as Boon as I am finished dressing I'll run right down greatest rider in England, beforo she was BO badly hurt as the result of a fall that Bhe had to give up the work. Then she took up animal training— perhaps I'm an animal queen as weU as a rider. Who knows?\ . And in that way Peg turned the con versatlon from herself into the banter and Jest that the girls usually in dulged In while .dressing. Spon they were all gayly.laughing, some of them singing bits of song, and Peg was the happiest of them all. \Miss Peg; are you there?\ was the summo.ns that again called the pretty rider to the, entrance of the tent. This voice she quickly recognized, and her faco was diffused with the blush of love, as her heart beat quicker, and she eagerly ran to, greet young Doctor Lund. \I'll be finished dressing in just a moment,\ said Peg; \wait for me and I'll be ready In a jiffy.\ And when she appeared again she placed her hand on young Lund's arm and said: \Dear boy, I'm Bony I_ caused you all that trouble.\ \Don't worry about that little'thing; it was nothing serious and when you sent Flip to the officers he was able to explain it all to their complete satis faction.\ And then he took the girl in his arms and kissed her tenderly. They walked away from the dressing* tents and Peg explained to young Lund that she wanted to go to the circus cars to see the pony, and then told him about the incidents of the rehearsal. \If you'll allow me, I'll go with you and we'll Bee the pony together. While I don't claim to be a horse doctor, per haps I can help a little,\ said Lund, with a merry laugh in which ?eg glee fully Joined. The sweethearts strolled leisurely to ward the circus train, and as they walked through the quiet streets, on the pleasant summer afternoon, they won many admiring glances from those who passed them on the way. For they were indeed a fine-looking couple; young Lund, tall, athletic and handsome, with Peg a pretty sight to behold In all of her youthful beauty. Oblivious to all else save the fact that they were happy in each other's society, neither young Lund or Peg paid any attention to the passersby. They chatted merrily, being careful to not refer to the unpleasant incident of the night before. They both understood the nature of Peg's ^affliction, and it was a subject of Buch a distressing character that they never referred to it in the few opportunities they had enjoyed for conversation. They were only too hap py to realize that there were pleasant- er subjects for discussion, and so they made their way to the circus train, contented and happy in their oppor tunity to be together peacefully and undisturbed. But fate was conspiring against them, every step they took. \Heaven Help Us Nowl\ Cried Peg. and see the \dear little thing.\ And again the girl returned to her dress ing, this time to hurry as fast as she could Her tender heart was sympa thetically aroused, and she was anxious to see how badly the pony was hurt While Peg had been dressing the other girls with the show had been showering her with congratulations upon the fine showing she had made at the rehearsal. She was socretly pleased but outwardly made light of what she.had accomplished, passing off the compliments as though they were undeserved. \It's born In me,\ said Peg, \and what I am able to do with horses comes natural.. My mother was the When Mrs. Lund was informed that the oircus was to reopen, she imme diately Bent word to Chockro to \make himself scarce\ until the opening date and to then resume hiB efforts to dis pose of Peg. With money Mrs. Lund supplied Chockro lived in St. Louis whilo the new show was outfitting and there gathered a new gang of huskies to take the place of those who had scattered when the \House of Mys tery\ was raided. The Hindoo was on hand for the opening show, but kept well In hid ing. And when the show failed to move out of town, as everybody had expected, Chockro decided that an op portunity must be made to dispose of the girl, then nnd there, if it were-pos sible to do so. He posted his men where reports might be brought to him of any pos sible opportunity arising whereby Mrs. Lund's orders could be carried out and he also kept as strict watch himself upon the movements of the girl. The crafty Hindoo was deter mined to get Peg out of the way-, no matter to what further extremes he might be forced. Thus it was that Peg and young Lund were trailed by Chockro when they left the circus grounds to make the trip to see. the injured pony. The Hindu skillfully shadowed them, with out attracting their attention, and when they turned from the street to pass through the sheds and wagon yards at the show's winter quarters, they were followed by Chockro aad watched by members of his gang, hid den from sight in convenient places. Lund and Peg went directly to the car wherein the injured pony had been placed. It was an ordinary box car, of the large and rcomy \furni ture\ type, and against the only open door a short \run\ had been placed, to permit the animals to pass in and out of the car. The young sweethearts climbed the \run\ and there in the car they found the pony. Its foreleg was bandaged, and this piece of handiwork both Peg nnd young Lund began to immediately examine \Well there was no trained nurse on this job.\ said Lund, unwrappinj the bandage. \It's all wrong.\ \See how badly he is injured, if you can tetl without being a horse doctor,\ said Peg. \He's such a little dear that I fell In love with him at first sight\ They were too Intent upon their in vestigation to notice Chockro's thugs as they sneaked up to the open door, and silently removed the \run.\ And when the door began to slide upon its \travelers it was half closed before either Lund or Peg noticed what was happening. But when it was shoved full shut with a bang. Peg screamed: We're in a trap! They've locked us in.\ But Lund tried to soothe her with the remark: \It was undoubtedly some of the yard men. They will come back soon, Nevertheless Lund was nervous, and Peg badly frightened. They tried the door that had just been slammed shut, It was securely fastened. The door opposite also resisted any attempts to open it \Don't be frightened, little one. We are together and we have made our escape from closer quarters than this.\ And then in an attempt to further re assure her, Lund returned to his ex amination of the pony's leg. \It's only a bad sprain I guess,\ he remarked. \Your new pet will be all right—when we get him out of hero, Peg was, meanwhile, hurriedly ex amining the interior of the car. The only opening she was able to discover Peg Plunged Headlong From the Car and Lund Followed Her. was a window at the end, high up near the roof, over which there was a wooden cover that seemad to be tight ly fastened. There weFe some boxes in the op posite end of the car, partly filled with pieces of harness and horse blankets. \If it comes to a showdown we can move these to the other end of the car and climb out there—if we can get the cover shoved back,\ said Peg. And as she continued her Investiga tion the sound of voiceB outside the car attracted her attention. Listen; there's someone talking outside,\ she said to young Lund And they both moved to the end of the car and listened intently. What they heard very quickly advised them of danger. Peg and young Lund listened with breathless Interest Jerk that coupling pin out,\ was a sharp command that gave them real cause for apprehension. \Now take that piece of iron and work It under the wheels.\ \The rest of you give a shoulder here and shove. If we can give It a start It will run down grade and onto the main JIne. Then the limited will finish it off on the trestle.\ Young Lund took the girl In his arms for an Instant and held her in fond embrace. \Have courage, dear; they haven't got UB yet\ But when they felt the car begin to slowly move, under the effort of Chockro's gang, they realized that time for action bad arrived. With desperation they worked in moving the boxes from one end of the car to a position under the window, high above their heads. The car moved very slowly at first and gave them a little time to work feverishly in raising a means of reach ing the window. The boxes were heavy and it required the combined strength of the healthy young couple to drag them across the full length of the long car. Gradually the car increased its mo mentum. They felt it moving more rapidly on the slight grade that en couraged the wheels to turn with in creasing rapidity under tho weight of the car. Moving the boxes across the floor was one thing, but to pile them upon each other was another and more dif ficult proposition. Lund dumped the contents of some of them on the floor, but there were others found to be nailed tight—and extremely heavy. TheBe heavier cases were made the basis of the structure, and, working with desperation, they soon had the boxes piled high enough for Lund to I climb upon them and reach the closed window. He called to Peg for a short piece of lumber, and with it he tried to force back the covering to the win dow. Working under high nervous speed. Lund broke two or three pieces of wood beforo ho managed to start an opening beside the window covering, through which he could force bis fingers. Then with all his strength he gradually worked open the cover. He looked out and saw tho cars to which the one they were in had been coupled. They were many lengths away, and he could observe by the speed of their runaway prison, that nothing could stop their flight, unless fate should intervene. f « He reached down and helped Peg to climb to a place beside him on the rickety perch the tottering boxes af forded. Then he quickly implanted a kiss upon her lips and said: \Have courage, girlie. We are not done tor yet. Til climb out and you must take your chance In following me. We are better off on top-of the car, no matter what may happen, than we will be cooped up In here.\ Then he climbed through t£e open ing andjaacned around to grasp the iron ladder which ia fastened per-, pendlcularly to tho end of all u cisnt cam Gaining a foothold and hang- ing on with his left hand, he reached over to where he could help p eg through the window The girl's skirt impeded her move ments, somewhat, but she was good enough athlete to follow in the way young Lund had proceeded her Vft e n she had gained the ladde- - Bafely holding to its T 3 -\ \ er, and fas Lund climbed to the Cof af* Reaching down to aid her had Peg- safe beside him the car. car. on ton 0! the track ran onto I £n e S crossed a rapidly rushing r , ver '; ^ straight ahead, for their 11 WlM had left the side track anaJ* 7 \ careening down the ^ With every foot the car nr„ its speed increased The f,f 68864 threatened sweetbeartsknelonT' 6 ]' and knees and looked ahead ^ Their only chance was , n ^ ^ keeping the track until it had LZ course nndhou]d come t0 a ^ But these thoughts brought tin. only momentary consolation £ recalled what the voices had 7a about the limited-and | n an o h second they were horrifiedto\? fast-moving passenger train a Pp ^ from behind a curve on the oJJK bank of the river and dash 5 onto the farther end of the low tresj Heaven help us now,\ cried Pee And in the same breath, proving her tenderness of heart, she added \Tho poor little pony'\ Young Lund felt his 'responsibility and by sheer force of mental coura/e presented an outward appearance of perfect calm. \It lookB bad for us, my girl Bit you've got the grit and If nothing In. tervenes to save us, we must jump for it when I give the word:' Peg's only response was to move her hand until she could press Lund's fingers with a strong and reassuring grasp. The oncoming train seemed to fair ly fly at them; the car they were on seemed to leap ahead with new mo mentum. Young Lund stood orect and made sure his footing. Then he reached down and motioned for Peg to give him her hand. \Get ready—I'll tell you wha\ Lund's voice was as steady as though they were safely on the ground In stead of dashing, with lightning speed, to what might prove to be certain death. Lund saw the steam of tho engine's whistle, but the rattle of the car as It bounded along the tracks dulled tie sound to a »ere echo. He knew, of course, that the engineer would do his best to avoid the collision. But every second brought the inevitable crash nearer and nearer. \Come on girl; we've got to Jump,\ said Lund, when he had waited hop ing against hope for fate to Intervene. He saw that the smash must come- and he decided that the second had arrived to risk tho leap Into the seething water below. Assisting Peg to her feet, and hold ing her for a brief second In fond em brace, he kissed her lips and led her to the edge of the swift-moving car. Then in the Instant that there were no impeding beams to the structure that strengthened the trestle, he cried: \Jump girl. I'll follow you.\ Peg plunged headlong from the car. In a twinkling Lund had followed her And in another second the engine of the passenger train crashed Into the flying box car and smashed It Into splinters, tkrowlng the debris Into the water, or dashing it onto the tracks and beams of the trestle. Peg and Lund were favored by tor- tune when they struck the swift-run- ning waters of the river Both bad prepared themselves to be engulfed, and they went far under the surface. They were not far apart when they arose, and Lund's strong logs ana arms carried him quickly to Peg's side. Then they struck out for the shore, taking their time and conserving tbw strength to accomplish the long swim. They paid no heed to what had hap pened on the trestle—they were in tent .on saving their own lives and bent their energies to that purpose. The current brought a piece of tbe demolished box car within their rcacn, after they had swam a few yards, aw this served as a buoy to help theram their struggles. Both ™ R * J 0 * swimmers, but Peg's skirts finally °e- came-a serious impediment. Lund called to her a command that she should depend more upon his sup port, and he, in turn, placed bis re liance upon the Piece from the w which had so closely carried th-m \ their death. The swift current of u» river made Lund's battle euro\* difllcult and if it had not b'™ f * \ t artificial support of the piece of »rec age the swim to shore nvgbt nave never been completed. But slowly and surely LundP£ greased with bis increasingly h«« tardea. Peg did what her J'« strength would permit £r to <o furthering Lund's efforts, but were a badly weakened andM» pair when, ultimately Lund ,« to touch bottom with bis fee drag the girl he loved to safety the shore. , Pee 0 nt Then when he bad touted P * of the water, and onto tne sands of the beach, they both s£ utterly exhausted|- *»*£ M ^ came them and thuj lay M ,. life had Aid, in a «t«e ° f utter (Sa>-oFSBwnHEPiFOD&i