The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-04-25
FaE IRON TEST"
r DING OF FIRE"

1.-THE RING OF FIRE.
'''s et..rnoop performance; . Of "J snd
Hhe afte[ iicent, Colossal Circus B anu
% Magn ?, %ss about to begin. Bert
de, r0rla aerial artist, and Edith u
NJ ana Loback rider and partner o.
Hike, bareoa 1oTds in the air, were
de in outside nrs the dressing tent EN- en-
Pding g 0r Conversation. 1t was easy easy
led in ,, ctH thew were more than
See tha' nsa H their eyes
fesSIIo iona While their lips curved
ke lo nf ynmonplace things.
EaseS o y toward the entrance
Rert ,,s s5r1 it, turned around for q
reacn nn st the girl. As he did So
gla4 tert mole came crashing down
NeaVy .I 70. him on the head, knock
slru'n IN the ground unconscious.
nim ri was W at his side in an IN
gu wing to revive him. she
E E+t1 f t5ylI help and Lewis Craven,
led ~ fashionably attired manager
suA NOW answered her call. With
tle .o s bie bluff Jenkins, the pro-
W. "'' The latter ordered two can
ILL.,, to carry Forde into MS
ntng van and Edith followed
EpiHT There she bathed the stricken
y, brow and once was rewarded
; faint smile of recognition, but
Immediately sank into uncon-
brsness again Edith, attired in
nt-cus costume, remained at her
hathing his forehead continuous
knon the wounded man had been
.iad away, Craven and Jenkins
H. an Investigation of the poles
4 and discovered that the guy rope
heen cut. To one it was a
estsrv. but to the other it was not.
auis Craven knew that a man
Pring a long raincoat, a SLOUGH hat
a red mask had severed the rope
be kept silent.
Erayen had two prizes at stake and
death of Bert Forde was neces-
Il for him to attain them, for one
Edith Paige and the other was
estate of ten million dollars which
htfully belonged to Bert, with
Rven as the next heir.
lewis Craven Beresford and Albert
nry Beresford, 3rd, were cousins,
one a granddaughter of Albert
hry Beresford, leather king, the
Ter a grandson of the old million
Craven had dropped the Name
Beresford for reasons best known
himself while his cousin had
bpted the pseudonym of Bert
tde" when he Joined Jenkins cir
to earn a livelihood.
Vert had joined the circus against
wishes of his cousin, who saw in
a rival for the hand Of Edith
be, for the girl had not hesitated
show her admiration for the ath-
b. gOod-loOking young stranger
sn he first came upon the lot and
ih=r l''nNd as the cousin of the
- Jenkins himself
AedTOrd Urhart after the later
-nonstration of his
Nadford G-,hot and a display
+hn bome ny which subdued
IT, EIG .-.ror of the show.
-- % = eSs'rtly after Bert had Joined
cirlls and the day of the pole i'll,
!nt that a prosperous and p0mpous
ircdai had driven up 20 the cir
grounds and introduced himseli
Jenkins as the attorney for the
ste Of Albert Henry Beresford. He
led that through a detective he hal
med that the grandson of the lie.
Sed millionaire had left his home in
Angeles short time before, i'm
lately following his own fathers
tn. He had spurned suggestion:
he turn to his wealthy grand
Ter for financial aid and wa.
posed to be with Jenkins circus
e1klns at first declared there wa.
Beresford with his outfit, but re
sldered and stated that a lettel
come addressed to "Cravel
eSiord and he had turned it owe,
MS manager, Lewis Craven. H,
Imohed Craven and introduced hin
NE attorney. In reply to a ques
J. craven gave the attorney his full
IT, adding, in reply to anothe
~ that he was grand-nephey
ne leather king.
why do you ask" put Craven.
because he died last month an,
d fortune of ten million dollar
us son. But the latter also i
ana the fortune descends to hi
VINO | understood. was will
circus"
raven, immediately crafty, state,
Dert was not with the circu!
, expressed the belief that he wa
guess Pm the man you're look
iOr' he said, because I'm tn,
~, DereSiord connected with rhi,
ny My uncle did. have a son, bu
was a sickly kid, and the last
~, r, VI MN he was dying. I thin!
- uS DC III his grave now, becaus,
h was inc puny side of the family
4o ldWEer said he would continue
r oearch and left his card will
r rea' asking him to send anv in.
w. ne received of the heir
,oa promised to do so, even as he
''u al Bert and Edith in converse.
= Vr Inside the dressing tent few
! Vas tas On his way back to iofr
' L;,, ne evolved a plan to have
no A.lled accidentally" AS he
erco on,ns through the horse corral
tlar Vuitered "Peaky" Finn. chic
T,s VINO complained to him thai
ave. va" 100 "bossy" and he won1d
n bin Tor thrashing Bert had
ntinnn , Mhen he tried to force his
ravon " on Edith few days before
I'M ordered Peaky to 20 with
nnTa tnen had Peaky raise the
u e'ig 10 70 perpendicular position
ppearo odAy was working, Craven