The Tribune-Progress (Mountain View, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, August 11, 1916 Page: 3 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Mountain View Times and Tribune Progress and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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THE MOUNTAIN VIEW TRIBUNIC-PROGRESS.
Novelized from the Motion Picture
Play of the Same Name by the
Universal Film Manufacturing Co.
IIJI1IIW m
1 Copyright, 1916, by U»# Author*- (
SYNOPSIS.
I.a n-lle l* Rleur, animal quern, ee-
eretly married to Doctor I.und, owner of
the circus, la injured by her tigers, and
flnully dies. leavliiB ner lltllo baby,
whom Doctor I.und refuses to recognize
In rare of Klip, (he clown. La Belle elves
Klip a letter that certifies the parentage
of little Peg When the girl grows up
she is afflicted by strange attacks every
midnight, when her nature changes to re-
semble I lie tigers will'll caused the dc.ilh
of her mother. Doctor I.und has married
a second time, lie gives a garden party
to the circus performers, where Peg
meets Doctor I.und, dr., who falls In love
with her. Young I.und fallows the cir-
cus, determined In win P«)g as his wife.
If possible. Mrs. I.und sends her Hindoo
servant to follow the cirrus and put Pei;
out of the way. that T.und, Jr., may in-
herit nil the I.und millions. Doctor I.und
sends Ills son’s athletic trainer to follow
the circus until he can secure from Hip
the letter thnt tells the secret of Pegs
birth. Tlic Hindoo kidnaps Peg and car-
ries her to the storehouse of a dealer In
wild animals. Young I.und pursues and
Is thrown, with Peg, Into n dark cellar,
when? linns nro turned loos® upon them.
Flip and a party of circus performers
also trail Peg to the animal house, bent
on rescuing tlie circus girl.
THIRD EPISODE
"This looks like a hot traB.” cried
Flip, the clown, when with his party
of circus performers he dashed, up to
the storehouse of the East India Ani-
mal company and stopped, on a ven-
ture, upon seeing the automobile
standing by the roadside where Chock-
ro and his fellow kidnapers had de-
serted It.
"Everybody out, quick, and we’ll
make a search," was Flip’s order when
the circus machine had stopped. And
Just as they began tumbling from the
tonneau there was the smash of bro-
ken glass to attract their attention to
a window set In the front wall close to
the ground.
Flip sped with all haste to the bro-
ken window and, stooping down, was
able to discern In the moonlight that-
poured Into the cellar the pale faces
of a man and woman.
’Tome on. boys," he sang out as ho
made a dive for the nearby door.
-’She’s In here. I’m dead sure I Just
saw her face down there in the cel-
lar."
One of the men ran to the broken
window and looked to make sure for
himself that the excited Flip was not
mistaken. When he heard tho snarls
and growls of the lions his mind
worked with speed that, no doubt,
saved young Lund and Peg from be-
ing. at least, badly clawed and In-
jured.
The circus man pulled from his
pocket a revolver he always carried
for emergencies around tho show and,
blindly addressing his aim In the gen-
eral direction from whence came the
growls of the wild beasts he emptied
every chamber, holding the gun at
aim’s length inside the cellar.
The loud report made by the re-
volver being discharged in close con-
fines had a magical effect upon the
beasts. They ceased their growls and
started to slink back through the low
tunnel which had let them into the
cellar.
Young Lund cool and steady nerved
despite the intense strain, took quick
ing out with her feet and snapping
with her teeth, while she ran her
fingers Into Lund’s hair and shook him
with the strength and ferocity of a
tiger.
Lund fought back as best ho could.
He was experiencing his second at-
tack. through Peg’s strange malady.
Tho excitement of tlio night had
cuuscd a recurrence of her affliction.
The turmoil created by Peg’s shrieks
and tho struggles of the pair directed
Flip and his party of rescuers to tho
door that led from the main cellar to
tho smaller room. Jerking open the
door Flip and his companions rushed
In and separated Peg from young
Lund, hurrying them both into tho
lighted cellar.
Flip held Peg In his arms for an In-
stant and, as usual, her attack ended
as quickly as it began. She stood
dazed for a second and then, pointing
an accusing finger at young Lund half
shrieked:
“That man overpowered me and
brought me here.’’
Young Lund had no time to protest
or 6peak even a word in denial. The
circus gang was upon him in a twink-
ling. pummeling him unmercifully and
leaving him (lazed and almost sense-
less prone upon the floor.
Flip had not waited to see the out-
come of the attack upon Lund but
had picked up Peg and carried her in
his arms upstairs and out of the build-
ing. Looking around for the circus
automobile Flip was perplexed to find
it was nowhere to be seen.
“It’s all right, Flip," said one of the
men who had come with him In the
rescue party. “When the rest of the
gang was Inside with you I sent the
chauffeur back to the show to say we
would meet them out here at the junc-
tion. It’s Just a Rhort cut across to
the tracks and while you’ve been in-
side hero one section of the train has
already passed.”
When the circus party reached the
tracks there was no sign of the circus
train, and inquiry from the railroad
watchman disclosed the fact that only
one section had passed.
Just at daylight, the second and
third sections of the show train ar-
rived.
The sleepers were on the last sec-
tion and there was some delay waiting
for the earlier division of the train to
get well clear of the Junction yards.
And so it was broad daylight when the
show train was ready to again get un-
der way.
Meanwhile events of an unexpected
nature had kept matters lively on the
trail of Flip and his rescue party and
their adventures for that night were a
long way from ended when they
helped Peg on the sleeper and her old
daddy bad seen her safely seated on
her berth.
With the arrival of the circus party
at the East India Animal house Chock-
ro and his gang had taken care to re-
treat to cover and keep themselves
well out of sight.
One of them dodged around the cor-
ner and keeping his body well out of
view managed to overhear tlio conver-
sation between Flip and the other cir-
cus men and, consequently, learned
that the show party expected to meet
the train at the nearby junction.
Chockro observed when Flip and his
party left the animal house, escorting
Peg, that young Lund was not among
tlie crowd.
While Chockro and his fellows were
debating the likelihood of Lund soon
appearing, the young doctor was grad-
ually recovering from the beating by
the circus men.
Gradually his strength returned,
his thoughts took continuity and he
decided that he had best make his way
from there as soon as possible.
Chockro heard Lund stumbling up
I the stairs and on the instant that he
emerged from the door the Hindoo was
; prepared with a short piece of wood
to deal the young doctor a blow that
dropped him insensible. Directed by
the Hindoo the other thugs lifted
young Lund bodily and carried him to
the automobile that had brought them
from the show grounds.
■'Run us down to the railroad, then
I am through with you," said Chockro
to the driver of the machine.
Chockro ordered the car stopped be-
fore it reached the tracks and his
men lifted the still insensible doctor
from the machine. When they had de-
posited the limp form on the ground
near the roadside, Chockro handed a
big roll of money to the driver and
the automobile soon disappeared in
the distance.
The Hindoo looked about him as
though aimlessly, but with a clear
purpose in mind. The breaking dawn
disclosed to his vtew a box car stand-
ing on a siding not far away, and mo-
tioning his men to pick up their bur-
den and follow him. Chockro ran
ahead and made a hurried inspection.
The door was open, and the big furni
ture car was empty.
“Throw him In," ordered the Hin-
doo, and the command being obeyed
young Lund was quickly heaved into
"Turn These Lions Loose Into the
Sleepers l"
advantage of the frightened animals
anil with loud shouts he banged the
heavy iron bar against the hind quar-
ters of the lions last to slink into the
tunnel and soon had the room clear of
♦he beasts.
Lund and Peg knew that rescuers
were at hand. The strain had told on
Peg and. womanlike, she began to
weaken after the greatest danger had
passed. When she started to sway, as
tf from faintness, young Lund Jumped
to her si4e a-ni caught heT la his
j the car and the door closed upon him.
He bent hts face te kiss her up- "Now *e lay low,” said Chockro.
turned mouth when with a wild shriek,
Pag lHHaft to fitwad scratch., ktek-
“until the train comes. Then we climb
on when these circus people get
aboard. My plans are made. You will
make a good haul for this night's
work."
And when the circus train finally got
In motion, Chockro and hla gang
climbed to the roofs of the forward
cars, or hung on between them as the
engine began to move the outfit, with
gathering headway, out of the yard
and onto the main line.
Tho time thnt had intervened served
tho prostrate young Lund to good pur-
pose. Gradually recovering from tho
blow that stunned him, he sat up and
looked about him In a dazed fashion.
The eurly rays of dawn, breaking
through the cracks in the box car,
quickly made clear to him wkcro ho
was.
He found short'pieces of hoard on
the floor of the car, and little by lit-
tle managed to pry open the door un-
til he made room to squeeze his body
through. Glancing down the tracks
lie saw coming toward him the cir-
cus train, its engine puffing hard nnd
gradually getting tlio long string of
gayly painted cars under way.
Lund’s mind work?H like a (lash.
The train had evidently stopped in
these yards. The last time he saw
Peg was in a place that could not ho
very fur distant. It was taking a long
chance, but he decided to do a des-
perate thing and board the train if he
could make it.
While these conclusions were flash-
ing through his mind, tlio engine
passed him. As he stood in tlie door
it was the distance of a short desper-
ate leap to the platforms of the cars
in the circus train. The box car stood
near the end of a switch where it
joined tiie main line, tints narrowing
the distance from tho car door in
which Lund stood to tho platform of
the moving train.
Men in ordinary circumstances do
wild, foolish things on the spur of the
moment, with even less motive than
Lund had for risking ills life on the
chance of catching a handhold at the
end of his flying leap. As the cars
moved past him they seemed to fas-
cinate the young athlete: he half
crouched watching with almost ani-
mal cunning, for tho right opportunity
to leap.
He stood, swaying on tiptoes,
watching; and so his last chance hove
Chockro stuffed tho roil of bills Into
the man's hand nnd said:
“All you've got to do is rolense them
from their cage and drive thorn hack
Into tho next sleeper. I only want to
start a little excitement, and thoro ts
no real chance of anything serious
happening—so go to it.”
Then Chockro, waiting until the
lions were released and driven bnok
toward the sleeper, loft by tho front
door of tho car and, leading his gang,
climbed to the top of tho cars utid run
along until they feached the space be-
tween the two sleepers, then they
dropped to the platform.
The Hons entered the long nlsle of
the sleeper with tho animal man driv-
ing them abend of him. Disturbed
from their sleep, tho animals were not
especially active, hut moved drowsily
along, at command, snooping into (lie
lower berths, or crouching down upon
the floor ns if bewildered.
The wild shrieks of n circus girl
stnrted the sleeping performers, and
In an instant pandemonium reigned.
Evidently frightened by the outburst
of noise ami tho clamor of tlio shriek-
ing women, the lions turned hack and
I huddled together in tho end of the oiy
I where they had entered.
The women, solo occupants of the
I slocpiv, rnn shrieking tlio other way,
their cries rousing the men who oc-
| copied the car behind. Peg slept
heavier Ilian (lie rest, fatigued by tho
strain and excitement of tlio eventful
I nhijit. and she was standing bo-
I wfldered and alone, leaning against
her berth and gazing in perplexity at
the lions huddled together at tlie end
of the aisle when young Lund rushed
| past her.
.Grabbing a blanket from one of the
berths ns he rnn. Lund waved it in
front of him ns he dashed toward tho
now thoroughly frightened animals.
The waving blanket seemed to carry
Just enough terror to the hearts of tho
lions to decide them, as with one im-
pulse, they turned nnd fled back to-
ward the car from which they had
been driven into the sleeper.
Peg, half dazed, watched Lund ns he
disappeared from the car, following
the animals. And in that one moment
Chockro found Ills advantage. He had
sneaked into the car, Immediately be-
hind young Lund, and now his three
“That Man Overpowered Me and Brought Me Here!"
in sight—the hind end of the last car
was in view. Lund sprang Into the
air, calculating the distance at a
hazard. His iron-strong muscles with-
stood the strain, and in another in-
stant his feet had found a secure hold
on the platform and he was safely
aboard.
He stood on tho platform for a mo-
ment, regaining his composure, and
trying to formulate a plan of proceed-
ure. He was not long undecided. The
door of the car opened, after he had
turned the knob, and he found himself
in a sleeper, its long aisle deserted
and everyone apparently fast asleep.
Chockro was busy with his own
plans at the other end of the train.
With his men he entered one of the
forward cars and sneaked through the
train until he came to the first car
ahead of the sleepers.
This car contained cages of small
animals and one big den of llon3 that
were safely secured in strong “shift-
ing cages," behind iron bars with doors
that slid up and down when properiy
manipulated.
The keepers were all stowed com-
fortably away on top of the cages and
dens, sound asleep, except one man
who drowsily kept watch.
The Hindoo introduced himself to
the animal man by pressing the cold
steel of his revolver against his head,
after he had sneaked up behind the
surprised watchman.
“Do what I want and you’ll make
more money than you’ll earn with a
job in five years. Keep still, be sensi-
ble and listen to reason," said the
Hindoo.
The Hindu delayed a big roll of
bills before the covetous eyes of the
animal man.
“Turn these lions loose into the
sleepers, and I'll give you this bunch
of bills.’' Chockro continued. "1 have
a good reason to create a little ex-
citement among the performers, and
you can say that the brutes escaped
from their cage* while you ware
asleep." . ■ ,
‘ * - * • - * .* •/ V ' >.
; V\ •
worthies lifted Peg and started for
the door through which they had just
entered.
Chockro pulled the emergency cord,
and the train began slowing down. Be-
fore it had fully stopped, and taking a
desperate chance, the Hindoo gathered
Peg in his arms, as his pals trans-
ferred their burden to him, and jumped
with her to the ground.
The kidnapers dashed Into the
thick woods beside the track, and dis-
appeared, bearing the struggling Peg
with only the greatest effort. In the
brief time that had elapsed the men
of the circus had rushed forward from
their sleeper to the now deserted car
from whence its shrieking occupants
had lately fled.
Flip was in the lead and just as
the circus men entered the car from
one end, young Lund dashed back into
the woman’s sleeper in search of Peg.
Flip ran straight to the berth he knew
Peg would occupy—and found it
empty.
“You hound!” cried Flip, pointing
to young Lund, “what have you done
with my little girl. Grab him, boys,
and bind him!’’
Responding gladly to Flip’s com-
mand the circus men attacked young
Lund for the purpose of overpowering
him. But the athletic young doctor
was too quick and too agile, to be eas-
ily subdued.
Young Lund struck out. right and
left with both fists.
Watching his chance he bowled
over one husky who had gotten be-
tween him and his way of escape, and
tike a flash Lu#d sped down the aisle,
through the door of the car and leaped
to the ground.
Lund ran with the agility of a
frightened deer into the woods and
was lost among the trees before the
circus crowd had recovered from the
surprise of his escape sufficiently to
follow him down the aisle and off the
platform.
WheH the traia was brought to a
etc* Cfcecfere’t *«U mi Um
>'
emergency cord, everybody firoa one
end of tlio train to the other was
roused by the sudden application of
tho airbrnkos.
In the Bleepers there was already
excitement enough to keep tho circus
peoplo, rushing aimlessly to and fro.
Flip managed to get some ortler out
of chaos and directed a search of the
woods on one side of the tracks, while
others descended to tho ground on tlio
opposite side of tho cars.
Chockro lmd made good his leave-
taking with Peg, entirely unobserved,
nnd waited, deep in tlio woods, while
tho trnln halted and the showmen
searched.
Eventually the necessity for getting
under way compelled the circus men
to abandon their quost, and, when they
find nil clambered abo rd the show
trnln pulled away from tlio scene.
Poor Flip was Inconsolable.
Chockro and tils thugs began to
move Immediately after the rlrcus
train had disappeared in tho distance.
Tho Hindoo left tlio woods, ernssod
tlio track, and climbed to the top of a
high pile of lumber t“ make observa-
tions.
“Como on. bring her along, quick,”
tlio Hindoo called to ills henchman.
'Tlio nnlmnl iiotisn Is right over hero
a littlo wny. Thoso tracks make n
el re In from tho Junction, and wo onn
got her back to the lion house In
short order.”
Peg was nimble to cry out. for tho
Hindoo lmd silenced her by tying a
handkerchief securely over her mouth.
With another handkerchief he had
bound her lintids behind her. Sim was
helpless in tho strong grasp of her
rugged captors.
Chockro and ills gnng wasted little
brenth In conversation. They sllontly
dragged or carried tho girl with all
speed through (lie trees. They made
a still more rapid dash when they had
neared the animal houso, this spurt
carrying them across an open space
and right to tho door of the ram-
shackle old building.
When young Lund hnd run well Into
the woods nnd considered that he was
free from likelihood of Immediate pur-
suit, ho turned In the direction thnt
the circus train was headed and, pro-
ceeding leisurely, ho made a wide de-
tour and crossed tho tracks at a con-
siderable distance lieyond where the
circus train was still standing.
Knowing that the showmen would
be Bure to search the vicinity ns well
as they could, Lund sat down to rest
and think things over.
Lund was resting easily, with his
hack against a tree, when the show
train started to move. He sat where
he was nnd watched the brilliantly
painted cars rush past him. Then lie
arose nnd started back toward the lit-
tle stallon, wondering what had be-
come of Peg.
Suddenly, ns he approached the
lumber piles, lie saw Chockro and his
gang carrying a struggling woman
ncrosR the tracks and young Lund in-
stinctively knew that Peg was again
In danger and at the mercy of tho
men lie saw ahead of him, bearing her
struggling body across tho track.
Lund dodged behind a pile of lum-
ber and peeked around the corner to
watch the movements of Ihe kidnap-
ers. He was trying to formulate a
plan whereby he could thwart tho
gang and release Peg from her cap-
tivity. As he watched tlio men rarry
their burden along the tracks, Lund
decided to follow and await the prop-
er opportunity.
Tims it was that despite their fan-
cied security Chockro and Ills gang
wore not as free from observation as
they thought. Lund followed them
at a distance, keeping them in sight
without risking the danger of being,
himself, discovered.
When they suddenly turned from be-
side the tracks and into the wood
Lund for the first time, lost sight of
them. He was afraid to take tho
reckless chance of being discovered,
by making a crosscut to intercept
them. And so ho made haste with all
speed, following the tracks, and turn-
ing into the woods behind Peg and
her captors.
They were lost to his sight, far
ahead among the trees and young
Lund blamed himself for not having
tackled the crowd when he had a
chance at them in the open. But he
hurried on. hoping to overtake them.
When Lund dashed out of tho woods,
Chockro and his gang were Just dis-
appearing around the corner of the
animal house with Peg struggling in
their grasp. The young athlete put on
more speed, running as fast as he
could across the open space to arrive
at the door of the animal house after
Chockro and his gang had disappeared
within.
“Tho brutes think they have her
alone to feed to the lions,” Lund half
growled to himself, “but they have got
me to deal with, little as they know
It."
Young Lund threw himself against
the outside door and forced it open.
The inner door, shattered when Lund
had knocked Chockro through it early
that same morning, was easily nego-
tiated, and with a wild shout Lund
bounded downstairs and was instant-
ly set upon by Chockro and his gang.
Over in the corner of the room Peg
knelt, bound hand and foot. Young
Lund caught a flash of her beautiful
big eyes, beaming their welcoming
thanks upon him. But the fight was
too brisk for him to think of much
save the business Immediately In
hand.
Lund fought Chockro and his thugs
with ail the skill his knowledge of box-
ing and athletics could bring to bear.
It was wild, rough and tumble fight-
ing. four men against one.
Nevertheless, Lund was more than
holding hts own. The madly fighting
men swayed back and forth across the
,la*rk until at an instant young Lund
- • ..*. .# ’***"--v*;-*1**,*'**
was fight In the csatai •i the room,
Chockro shouted:
"He’s too much for us; quick, stand
hack!" and Lund stood si on* racing
his opponents.
Dodging under the stairs Chockro
pulled a lever.
Tlio floor beneath young Lund sank
boneath his feet.
A heavy trap door fell, precipitating
Lund Into the waters of an old milk
race that flowed under the building.
Peg crouching In tho cornor, saw
Chockro and hia men run nuickly up-
stairs. Bound, helploss, she realized
Lund's danger and hor brain whirled
with the madness of despair.
For a moment there was stillness
about her. She struggled to free her
self from Iho bonds that made her a
She Was Helpless In the Strong
Grasp of Her Rugged Captors.
helpless prisoner. She had seen Lund
disappear from sight, but had no way
of finding out what had actually
come of him.
Although the edge of the open trap
wns only a few feet away, her brain
palsied by the suddenness of the har-
rowing experienco could not devise a
plan that, in hor helplessness, she
could even hope to execute.
And as she crouched there In the
corner she gradually began to realize
that a new danger was at hand.
Through a door that had been opened
by some unseen force, there appeared
in stealthy, catlike procession, foul
lions—perhaps tho very ones that had
monaccd tho life of herself and youns
Lund a few hours before.
Tho hateful face of the Hindoo
leered at her from the top of th«
stairs. He watched her struggles to
free her bonds. lie saw the lion*
stealthily enter tho room and then
with a Jeering laugh ho called out tc
her:
“You’ll be quite safe there, younp
lady," and ho was gone.
Chockro assembled his gang in fronf
of tho building. They were greatly
unnerved by their experience, and
were about ready to desert, but th*
Hindoo renewed their courage by
passing to each one of them a bulky
roll of hills.
"Don't weaken," said Chockro. "Yon
will bo well paid for what you do. I
am now going back to report at head-
quarters the progress we have made.
With the girl bound tightly as she if
and practically fed to the lions, It
looks to me as though we would soon
collect.
"I’ll play fair with you, boys," the
Hindoo continued, “and we will all
have enough money to keep us th*
rest of our lives, when this Job is well
done. You men stay here for a whila
and watch, then meet me this after
noon at the show grounds. Today’s
town Is not far from here, and you
have plenty of time to get there. I’m
going back and report.”
And Chockro started off to walk
back to the little station by the lum-
ber yard where he hoped to soon catch
a train. His three hired thugs dis-
appeared behind the house, and to all
outward appearance the storehouse of
the East India Animal company was
deserted.
The terror-stricken girl, crouching
in the corner of the cellar, found some
relief in believing that Chockro had
gone. Although she knew not why
there Beemed some faint hope when
her human enemies had removed them-
selves from the scene.
Although she was alone and bound
helpless, at the mercy of the wild
beasts, she resigned herself to fate
with a greater satisfaction, believing
the hated Hindoo and his gang were
not there to taunt her.
Through the open trapdoor she
could faintly hear young Lund splash-
ing in the waters below.
The lions sneaking Blowly around the
room, close to the wall, had thus far
seemed to pay little attention to the
poor girl as she crouched In the cor-
ner. The moments that seemed as
hours to the helpless circus girl
dragged slowly along.
Only an occasional shout from young
Lund and the faint splashing of hie
arms and legs in the water broke the
silence. Peg crouched as far Into the
corner as she could.
She fixed her frightened eyes star-
ingly upon the foremost of the Hone
I as they slunk along the wall, crouch-
ing close to the floor and steadily
moving nearer.
She watched them Intently, as they
seemed to return her frightened gase
with eyes that glinted fiendishly-
nearer they crept toward the terrified
girl—and then all was darkness before
her.
(SND SXRlflU -
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West, H. C. The Tribune-Progress (Mountain View, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, August 11, 1916, newspaper, August 11, 1916; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc914640/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.