The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-08-25

child. When Flip came home from
the road in winter, he was q favorite
with all the townsfolk.
Once on the road with her, the
knowledge came to Flip the first night
OF their travels that nature had played
a freakish trick with the child-the
revelation almost shocked Flip into
spasms of grief.
The circus people had safely board
ed the train after their opening show.
Flip was sitting near the door of the
sleeper, holding little Peg on his lap
and regaling her childish fancy withe
bedtime stories.
Flip knew by the moving train that
1t was just twelve o'clock. for that
was the time they were called" as
the last moment to catch the train.
AS he gently rocked the child, she
seemed to fall sweetly to sleep.
But suddenly the little body straight
ened out, as in a spasm. The little
hands began to claw at Flip's face and
he imagined he heard a subdued growl
that reminded him of nothing so much
as the snarl Of a tiger.
In a flash. Flip realized the terrible
truth that to the little girl heredity
had strangely impaired something of
the nature of the tiger that had twice
attacked La Belle, finally sending her,
mangled and bleeding, to her untimely
death.
Logically the secret was Flip's alone.
When, in a few moments. the little
one had recovered from her strange
condition, Flip had opportunity to con-
clude what he should do.
BY close observation, Flip discov-
cred that every night, at exactly
twelve o'clock, she took these strange
spasIns. And finally he recalled that
they had told him at the hospital that
the little n had come into the world
at just the stroke OF midnight.
When the flaming bills went up In
the town where Peg a born, an
%nouncing the arrival. early in the
season, OF The Worlds Greatest
Show" there was no end of mild ex-
element among the hundreds who
knew Flip, and recalled the story OF
his little girl.
The seasons passed and THE
Worlds Greatest Show" was once
nor billed for Flip and Pegs
home town." This time tho billboards
were gay with pictures OF Pretty
Peg O. the Ring" who was now the
premier equestrienne Of the show.
They will show you the time Of
your life today" said Flip to Peg that
morning as they arrived. You will
be the great society belle Of the town
for this n day, anyhow"
And sure enough Flip's words came
true. The usual excitement of circus
day was everywhere apparent, and as
giving an added note of gayety tC the
occasion everybody was talking about
the garden party Doctor Lund had ar
ranged for that evening after the
show.
The stately Lund mansion was gay
with light.
Out in the spacious grounds there
was a brilliant illumination. with gay
lCGloellS VI Sill aOllC ~ ldll-
tastic ~drapings among the spreading
branches Of the trees.
Peg, of course, had been the first to
be presented to Doctor and Mrs. Lund
and their handsome son. She was
dressed in becoming simplicity, and
there was none who saw her who
could blame young Doctor Lund for
casting admiring glances upon the
sweetly pretty circus girl.
The elder Lunds watched proceed
ings with evident concern. The
thoughts that were running madly
through Doctor Lund's brain would
have, il made known, created a sensa-
ton among the society folk who we're
in attendance. In Peg he cav the liv-
ing image Of his neglected ard dead
wife-La Belle, the beautiful lion ia
mer he had SO heartlessly deserted.
Young Lund and Peg, oblivious to
everything and everybody but the hap
piness they were both experiencing,
danced together or chatted the while,
thorc ughly content in each others So
ciety.
This is like heaven to me-" said
Peg joyously.
We'll, Tn satisfied with earth. lust
now, without thinking of the future
said Lund; and the steady gaze OF ad-
miration that he directed upon her
pretty face made Peg lower her "
with coy modesty, while her cheeks
we're diffused with becoming bushes.
You bear your honors with easy
grace" said Lund, at another time.
ITO be a famous favcrite with the pub
lie is a. fine achievement" he con-
tinued.
But how much better 1t is to be
a ~benefactor to humanity like you are
with your brilliant knowledge OF medi-
cine, science and invention" Peg re-
piled, her look OF admiration undis-
guised.
We'll, it's all the way you are
brought up. Father has won great
fame n his day. but he has practically
retired now, and depends upon me
to carry on his work.