{ title: 'Silver Springs signal. (Silver Springs, N.Y. ;) 1892-19??, November 16, 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/sn88074193/1916-11-16/ed-1/seq-2/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074193/1916-11-16/ed-1/seq-2.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074193/1916-11-16/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn88074193/1916-11-16/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
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pea ov ^awty JO tmAMOT THE SILVER SPRINGS SIGNAL Novelized from the Motion Picture Play of the Same Name by the Universal Film Manufacturing Co. SYNOPSIS. La Belle Lo Sleur, animal queen, flies after giving birth to a baby. Doctor Lund, owner of circus, La. Belle's husband, re fuses to recognize child. La Belle In trusts baby to Flip, a clown, who rears Peg as circus rldor. Later Doctor Lund's second wife determines Peg shall not share Lund's millions and sends Hindu servant to follow circus and dispose of ? irl. Doctor Lund sends thugs to get rom Flip letter that proves Peg's pa rentage. Mrs. Lund'also wants this let ter Many exciting and hazardous at tacks and events transpire. Doctor Lund s son, who Is following Peg to induce her to becomo his wife, rescues girl from many perilous straits. In tho preceding episode, Peg has beon rescued from the hands of Chockro and his band by cir cus people, headed by Flip. Young Lund who has been shot by the bandit In tho Mexican shack whore Peg Is detained, Is also rescued but the Hindu and his gang escape. Old Doctor Lund dies of heart failure, after a scono with his wire In which ho upbraids her for duplicity Toung Lund arrives after his father has died, and his mother's feigned grlof dissi pates his growing suspicion of her bru tal heartlessness. With Lund's will in her possession, Mrs. Lund sends tho Hin du to tho circus to got tho letter La Belle Le Sleur has left, establishing Peg's birthright. During a performance as Peg is about to do her riding act, she is at tacked by her strange atjllctlon and In her hysteria creates a panic In tho circus tent, attacks tho performers and tho episode ends with her attack upon Flip. • 1 FIFTEENTH EPISODE Peg's attack of hysterical madness, climaxing In her attack upon Flip, the clown gave Chockro nnd his men the opportunity they desired. They hnd watched Peg as she clung to Flip's throat until he fell almost unconscious to the ground. Then when the circus girl tumbled forward upon the clown's prostrate body they rushed eagerly to the spot. The Hindu raised the girl, with the help of his henchmen, nnd carried her from the tent. They had secured the assistance of an automobile owner will ing to perform the service they re quired for the bribe they offered, and before the greatly excited people with the circus realized what had happened, Chockro, carrying his still Insensible victim, had left the grounds. The excitement attendant upon the boisterous scenes around the circus mnde possible the success of the Hin du's daring action. When Flip had sufficiently recovered to tell what had happened to him, the alnrm was sounded that Peg had again disappeared. \Send word to young Doctor Lund,\ said Flip. \He has rescued her before and he will not fail this time.\ Jerry, the hippodrome jockey, ever eager to serve Peg, was prompt to vol unteer ns tho messenger. Arriving at the house of death, Jer ry was admitted by Mrs. Lund's maid, and to her the boy Imparted, In whis pered sentences, the Information that Peg had again been kidnaped and thnt young Doctor Lund was to be told. \TeH Jilm without the old woman henring you,\ was Jerry's Injunction. \There Is no need to caution me,\ responded the maid. \I know the old girl better than anybody else, and I know that sho would keep the boy from going to help Peg If she knew what ho wns after.\ It was some little time before the maid found an opportunity favorable to her purpose. And when she told young Lund, In a few words, that Peg was' again In danger, he was prompt to act. Hurrying to the circus, Lund sought out Flip, but the old clown could give him no Information. There was no body around the show who could give the slightest cluo to Peg's where abouts. Burdened with the responsibilities of preparing for Ids stepfather's fu neral, Lund was in a distressing state \You Are Now Mine Alone.\ of mind. Racked between love for the girl and respeef. for the idead, the young man was puzzled as to the next move he might make. There was an immediate necessity for him to visit the local office of the circus, situated in a building not far from the show lot. Lund decided that he would go their first, transact his easiness, and then bend his efforts to tho discovery of Peg's whereabouts. What for the moment seemed to be an unfortunate cause of delay to Lund's main purposo to rescue Peg from her latest peril, proved to be the most fortunate trick fate had yet played In the many adventurous developments of the preceding few months. Lund wns unconsciously di recting his steps to the very building where Peg had been carried by her kidnapers. When the automobile bearing Chock ro and his unconscious burden left the show grounds, it was driven hurriedly to the building in which the circus of fice was situated. Chockro had taken gotfd care to ar range, by liberal bribes, to have the place entirely deserted at the appointed hour, the watchman having a conven ient errand that took him away from the building, as soon as the Hindu had arrived. Chockro carried the girl upstairs and placed her limp form upon the floor of the circus office. Being sure that her hands and feet were securely bound the Hindu left his man In charge of the prostrate girl and proceeded to report In person to Mrs. Lund; to deliver to 'his boss\ the letter he had secured that afternoon when, with a sledge, he had broken into Flip's trunk, Chockro was highly elated over the turn affairs had but lately taken. He felt that tho Immense sum that had been promised him by Mrs. Lund as reward for the dastardly service he had performed was almost within his grasp. Mrs. Lund wns In conference with her lawyer when Chockro arrived, and It was necessary for both of the con spirators to exercise caution. The will was to be read late that afternoon, and Mrs. Lund was going over the pre liminaries with her attorney. When Chockro was announced Mrs. Lund apologized to the attorney for being compelled to ask him to leave the room. \I am compelled to receive my vis itors here,\ she said, \and If you will step Into the next room and wait, I shall be detained only a few mo ments.\ When tho lnwyer had withdrawn, Chockro was ushered In by the maid. Mrs. Lund drew the curtains and turned eagerly to the Hindu for his report. \We have got the girl safe where she can't get loose until the will Is read,\ said Chockro, \and here Is the letter you want.\ Mrs. Lund held out her hand to grasp the precious document. But the Hindu indicated that he had some thing further to say. \It's time for a settlement now,\ snld Chockro. \The old man Is dead and this letter puts the fortune la your hands. Pay me now, and the let ter Is yours.\ \You know perfectly well thnt I can not pay now. Until I get control of the fortune I cannot pay—but ns soon as the t?state Is settled I will keep my word and pay you to the Inst penny.\ Chockro was stumped. Unless Mrs. Lund hnd the letter. Peg might be able to establish her claim, and until the estate was settled Mrs. Lund could not pay. The woman had him com pletely at her mercy in the matter, and if he were to secure any part of the reward that had been promised his only mode of procedure would.be to trust Mrs. Lund with the letter. The Hindu turned the subject over In his mind and arrived at the only logical conclusion. As he placed the letter in the woman's hand he said': \I am trusting you to keep your word. Now I will return and watch the girl until after the time comes for the will to be read.\ \You may depend upon me to keep my word,\ said the woman, as Chock ro for the last time left the presence of his relentless nnd cruel \boss.\ And when the Hindu departed Mrs. Lund called her attorney to again enter the room and resume their discussion of the will. \It seems by the document that Doc tor Lund had drawn, thnt the will must be read In the presence of yourself and your son, lf> I t Is possible to do so,\ said the lawyer. \But there Is a provision that It must be read before six o'clock on the dny after his death, even if either yourself or your son may not be present.\ \We can, therefore, do nothing but wait until six o'clock, when we may then read the will,\ the lawyer con tinued. \Meanwhile notify your son to be here by the appointed time.\ Mrs. Lund smiled with satisfaction, recalling the fnct tbat Chockro had Peg safely confined where she could not interrupt, ant. that the letter In her possession was the only proof the girl possessed If *he would attempt to claim a share of the fortune. T^ie woman left her lawyer In the .drawing room and repaired to her own chamber, there In seclusion to read the letter Chockro had delivered to her. As she hurriedly devoured the written words with eager eyes, Mrs. Lund's face was radiant with smiles of satisfaction. The letter she had so long schemed to gain possession of wns In fact an utter disclaimer of any share in Doc tor Lund's estate, reciting the fact that Doctor Lund was not the father of La Belle's child. The designing Mrs. Lund saw visions of the plans she had been laying for years arriving at frui tion—the Lund millions would be In her possession. Chockro upon leaving Mrs. Lund went direct to his prisoner, saunter ing leisurely along In the assurance that matters were shaping themselves to his advantage and that bis strum ous efforts to reap the rich reward would soon end In success. So well was the Hindu pleased with himself and his jprospects\ that he abandoned all cnution and proceeded boldly along the street that led to ^e office In which he hnd left his captive bound and gagged. Young Doctor Lund was hurrying to the same destination. He ap proached the building from a direction opposite to Chockro and was surprised to see the Hindu walk leisurely along. Deciding to await developments Lund screened himself from view in a con venient doorway and watched Chock ro approach. Suddenly a piercing scream came to Lund's ears. Instinctively he jumped from the doorway in which he had been hiding, nnd looked inquiringly around. Chockro also heard the screams and at the same instant caught sight of young Lund. The Hindu leaped forward, and ran full speed to the door of the building lu which Peg was confined. Lund saw the move, and undertook to head Chockro off, but before the young doc tor could reach the door, the Hindu had entered the building. When Lund reached the door he found It securely locked against him. Agnin the screams rang out along the deserted street. Chockro's pres ence In the vicinity convinced Lund that he had unwittingly located Peg and her undoubted danger Inspired the young mnn to renewed determination. Lund flung himself against the heavy wooden door, fruitlessly, again and again. The strong material of which It was built resisted his every effort. He was compelled to abandon the attempt to enter the building through the door, and Immediately be gan casting about for some other means of going to Peg's relief. He stepped back from the building toward the curb line and looked up, at the Instant that a crash of glass sounded upon his ears, while a heavy book thut had been thrown through the window fell at his feet. 'The Incident gave Lund an Iden, nnd from a quick glance at the front of swung himself Into the room. Chockro and his fellow thug had just time to rise to their feet, before Lund attacked them. Feg rolled herself close against the wall to avoid the scuffle, and In a twinkling the three men were en gaged in a terrific struggle. The battle waged fiercely, Lund mak ing his blows count ns he belabored his antagonists. Chockro, determined to take no risk In the encounter, pulled from his pocket a revolver and was in the act of discharging it when Lund's quick eye detected the move. Disregarding the blows of the other thug. Lund clenched with the Hindu in a struggle for the revolver. The young physician fully realized that Chockro would use the gun if he could. By a concentration of his great strength Lund managed to turn the weapon against the Hindu's body. The frenzied encounter lasted only a few seconds, for In the height of the battle the gun exploded and Chockro crumpled to the floor. With one nntngonlst disposed of Lund centered his athletic attention upon Chockro's hired mnn. Bnck and forth across the floor of the office they fought, and when, by an opportune blow, Lund knocked his antagonist into the adjoining room he speedily followed his advantage and resumed the battle on new grounds. The thug held his own, giving nnd taking in desperate fashion. When he tried to back Lund through a door and over the top of a flight of stairs, the young physician formed a sudden re solve. With a quick move he lift ed the thug from his feet, raised him above his head and lunged with him toward the banister. The ruffian in desperation reached out with both hands and caught some hanging electric light wires that had been insecurely fastened against the wall of the hallway. The force of his grasp and the struggle pulled the wires from their fastenings and broke them in two. Neither of the struggling men no ticed that the broken strands hnd fallen into a box of rubbish. They struggled back into the outer office unaware that the crossed wires had Ignited the flimsy paper and that they had started a fire that might mean their death. Fiercely the struggle continued, the scene of the struggle shifting again to the outer office, where Chockro lay dead upon the floor. Over his pros- ! trate body the men fought, until Lund \This Is the Genuine Document and Proves That Peg Is the Real Heirl\ the building Lund concluded thnt he might climb up to the window that had just been broken. It wns his convic tion that Peg was held prisoner In the room from which the hook had just been thrown. Tdie pecullnr construc tion of the facade helped Lund in his climb. Narrow ledges of stone coping pro jected from the brick wall at equal distance, running parallel with tho stone window sills. By breaking the glass with his feet to gain a foot hold on the window sashes, and reach ing up for hand holds on the Iron ledges, Lund wns able to climb the per pendicular sides of the building. Chockro hnd mounted the stairs and enteced an office adjoining the room In which Peg hnd been left bound hand nnd foot. The Hindu wns consulting with his pal when a noise from the front office attracted his attention. The two men rushed Into the next room. Peg hnd managed to gain her feet nnd was leaning against a heavy desk presumably to be ready to execute some unexpected maneuver. Without stopping to consider the futility of the move, Chockro snntched up n book from a nearby desk and flung It at the girl. Peg dodged, und the book continued its course, crashing through the window. Chockro and his man made haste to reach the circus girl aud throw her once more to the floor. Peg, In re sisting their attack, not alone kept the two men busy at their brutal task, but provided time for young Lund to climb to _ her relief. The struggle within the office drowned the noise made by Lund In smashing glass as he clambered up ward, drawing himself up by his fore arm strength until he could secure a foothold In the window frames. It was therefore; possible for Lund to reach the window of the room In which the ruffians were struggling with Peg before his approach was dis covered. s Standing on the window ledge and steadying himself by holding the. stone coping above, Lund kicked the remaining glass from the sash and by rare chance secured a firm grasp upon the throat of his antagonist and bent him backward over the desk. Lund held his grip, tightening It un til his man was limp and helpless. He then flung the thug to the floor, nnd turned his nttention to Peg, strug gling ngninst her fastenings. In the corner. With all speed Lund freed the girl, but when they started toward the door great clouds of smoke rolled Into the room, their stifling fumes being the first inkling of this new danger. \We're trapped, girlie,\ Lund cried. \We're gone unless we can get out the way I came In.\ And while he spoke Lund was swiftly dragging Peg toward the window. Tho flames wero roaring with con suming ferocity. Dense hot smoke filled the room Quick action and sturdy nerves and strength could alone save them. Lund first climbed through the win dow, and stood on the stone sill. He then assisted Peg to reach his side, and instantly began the perilous de scent. They made their escape not an instant too soon. Being In a remote part of town, the alarm was delayed, and only a few people had been attracted by the fire whon the young people had accom plished their escape. Without waiting for an Investigation, Lund hurried Peg to the circus grounds, disregarding the commotion they created as they ran through the streets. • •*•••* Flip was fast recovering from the shock of Peg's attack, and when he heard that the girl was safely re turned to the show, the joy of realiz ing that she was unharmed served to completely revive-the old clown. When Peg had finished dressing and had joined Lund nnd Flip, the three start ed at once for the Lund horn eg The afternoon had passed amid such excitement that It was almost six o'clock when Doctor Lund, with Flip and Peg, arrived at the house. Mrs. Lund was impatiently waiting for the jWlll to be read, and had repeatedly [urged the lawyer to proceed. \Every condition of the will must be compiled with to make It legal,\ said the attorney, nettled by Mrs. Lund's eagerness. As the hour of six approached Mrs. Lund became more Impatient and rest less. And when young Lund arrived, just a few moments within the hour, she was greatly enraged to discover that he had brought along Peg and the old clown. \What right has this girl to come here at this time?\ cried Mrs. Lund as Peg, with Flip, entered the room. \Every right, ns you shall soon see,\ said Flip i n a suavely aggravating tone that served only further to Infuriate the mercenary aud cruel woman. The lawyer adjusted his glasses and opened the will. Then he read the brief document In the first two para graphs Doctor Lund- referred to his marriage to Mrs. Lund, relating that he had raised her son as his own child and recounted that as Mrs. Lund was wealthy In her own right, he felt that the. money he had spent upon young Lund's education might well be [considered an advance payment of any share she might have In the Lund millions. The third and final paragraph dis posed of the dead man's fortune In this manner: \To my dear daughter, Peg, I bequeath all of my money, prop erty and valuables, and the mammoth circus, as a slight reparation for the wrong done to both the girl and her mother, La Belle Le Sleur.\ Mrs. Lund's outburst of passionate rage almost drowned the voice of the lawyer as he read the Important para graph. The enraged woman held aloft the letter Chockro had given her and shrieked at the top of her voice: \This impostor shall not have the fortune. Here Is a letter left by her mother that shows Peg had no claim on my late husband's fortune.\ Then she flung the letter upon the table, nnd looked with triumphant scorn at Peg and Flip. Peg remained smilingly silent, but Flip drew from his pocket the original letter that La Belle had Intrusted to him. There was a look of triumph on his face as he remarked In a clear, steady voice: \Mrs. Lund, your sinful eagerness to possess Doctor Lund's millions has made you an easy victim of trickery. I had that fake letter made to mis lead you. Peg and your own son com posed It, and I hid It in the trunk where your paid tools might find It,\ Then Flip handed the original let ter to the lawyer and said: \This Is the genuine document, and It proves that Peg Is the first and only child of your late husband and real heir to his entire fortune.\ Young Lund stood silently watching every move In the game. His mother's conduct during the past few weeks had completely killed the boy's natu ral love for his parent, and had well- nigh established a sentiment of loath ing In Its stead. When Flip had finished speaking, tho boy moved to his mother's side. Her pitiable position, brought to com plete humiliation by her own folly, moved the son to compassion. Lund put his arm over the woman's shoul der and said: \The facts are against you, mother; and the evidence will prove the facts, If you attempt to contest the will.\ He spoke in gentle tones and his sym pathy had a soothing effect. \I've tried so hard,\ Mrs. Lund said, as if speaking to herself. \I've played a big game—\ \And you have lost,\ sold the law yer. \I would advise you to submit to the terms of the will.\ The attorney had been fully in formed by young Doctor Lund of the facts that would be substantiated by La Belle's letter and by Flip's testi mony If the case should ever be brought to court. Lund had told him of the substitute letter, and had out lined to him In advance, the game Mrs. Lund had been playing In her ef forts to dispose of the circus girl. The circus girl, wrought to a high pitch of nervous excitement, turned to Flip and hid her face on his shoulder. The old clown, as well as everyone In the room, was intensely affected, and for a moment Peg's sobs alone broke the silence of the strange scene. Then, ns If to set aside the last doubt In Mrs. Lund's mind, the law yer said: \This will and the letters prove, without a doubt, Miss Peg's le gal Inheritance of the late Doctor Lund's fortune.\ The woman gently freed herself from her son's embrace, and started to leave the room. But just as she reached the door, she halted and, turn ing to the assembled group, she said, In a low, steady voice: \There will be no contest I accept tho decree, and admit that I have lost the game I have played for. The mil lions I knew all along were not mine either by right or reason.\ And then she proceeded to her room. For some time the lawyer remained In consultation with Lund, his sweet heart and Flip. The funeral arrange ments were first completed, nnd It was decided to take the remains to the old southern town where the Lund es tates were located, and where the late showman had made fame and fortune as a medical specialist \There will be no more circus for this seoson,\ said Peg, when it enrae time to think of the future movements of the show. \'We'll pay the perform ers for the rest of their contracts, close right here and ship the show home to winter quarters.\ \What about next season?\ Flip In quired. 'You will have to look out for that yourself, daddy, dear,\ said the girl. \The show is going to'be yours, to run as you see fit You have worked long enough, and I want you now to have all the pleasure you can get out of life.\ FUp took the girl's cheek in either hand and kissed her. Then he looked tenderly into her eyes and su.d • i ve been too long with this show to ).a\ e any pleasure elsewhere, and if you will let me travel with it and do ftst as I please, I'll be the happiest old clown in Christendom.\ \Well you can begin being iie man ager right now. Go back to the lot and call the show off for the rest ot the season,\ said Peg. And Flip hur ried away to perform his first actions as a \real showman.\ Young Lund and Peg accompanied Mrs. Lund on the journey homeward, with the remains of the late circus Began the Perilous Descent owner. Grndually the feelings of re sentment Peg rightfully held toward the woman wore nwny. The tender hearted circus girl was too happy in the realization that her troubles were over to bear for very long ill feelin against the woman who hud been so humiliated In her failure. Flip) remained behind to supervis\ the movement of the circus to winf quarters. Peg paid a hurried visit f the show before taking the train fo the East, nnd said good-by to th\ friends who fairly mobbed her In the! eagerness to rejoice because of tlr good fortune that had come to her. For several days after the fune- young Lund kept himself secluded 1\ his laboratory. Mrs. Lund was soldo\ disturbed by either her son or Peg as the house was spacious enough fo the woman to be perfectly comforta ble In her rooms. But every time th three met, by chance or by arrang\ ment, there was less restraint and noticeable wearing down of thel estrangement. Peg nnd young Lund had decided t postpone their marriage until th show was safely stored In winte quarters, that Flip might I il free t participate in the arrangements. Young Lund was the iuo-,i seriou minded of all the occupants of tn Lund mansion. Flip was taken int his confidence, when the old flow Insisted upon knowing wh} Lund kep himself so much in seduslou. \I am in my laboratory every hn I can be,\ said Lund \I haw Intel neglected my studies, and urn how tr Ing to regain my former skill I have completed my oNperlment studied deeply into the subject nnd n ready to act, I am going to fathom t mystery of Peg's strange Inheritance \Oh my boy. If you could mil) cu her I\ the old clown exclaimed. Young Lund expressed no opinion but continued day nfter dny nnJ 1\ Into every night to experiment In h wonderfully equipped laboratory, called other experts into consiiltatlo read the best medical authorities up the subject, and was finally ready operate upon the girl he loved. Flip watched while Lund made examination, and heard the young p si clan explain the cause of l'cs* diction. When Lund had turned the electric current thnt had for a f seconds been coursing through l'e head, the young specialist declar that her troubles were nt an end. \What has not been done by tre ment will be entirely eliminated, o to the last vestige, by pa»-i\B Lund declared. \She is youiu. vigorous, and there will be no mere currences of her nervous nttii'i,-. When Mrs. Lund was inform^ of her >d to the successful outcome experiments, the woman seemed heartily glad. Although It «a* to be expected that a complete ree-re latlob could be effected wiili'i.' t healing balm of time. Mr*. I uie! a greatly changed and seemed to -i:i>' ly repent her previous action* And when Peg and young Lund «' quietly married in their beautl home, Mrs. Lund and Flip were only witnesses. That night the L estate was brilliantly lighted and der the bright moon Lund led circus girl to the very spot n here t had stood beside the fountain when had first told her of his love. This time their fond embrace undisturbed by the cruel fate tlwt afflicted the circus girl. And * their lips had met. Lund gently stm her. beautiful hair and whispered \You are now mine alone. Teu h ceased to belong to the public as ' 0' the Ring.'\ (THE END.)
