New Britain herald., 1924-04-07
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY


 straight 10 the point, "AlVa has asked me when you are going to present her with an engagement ring"
 sloat stared and flushed.
 "l wasn't aware that we were taking this little arrangement quite so seriously-." he began stiffly, but Bellows laughed.
 'The young lady's request is per fectly in order. l see she means to be thorough in every detail of her part and that is good sign So our agreement is ratified, my dear?''
 He held out his hand to Sallie and although she shrank inwardly she placed hers within it.
 For fifty thousand? Yes Mir. Bellows, and I'll play fair. You said I wasn't to ask any questions but isn't there something you want 10 wise me ID to now, before the old lady gets back"
 Mrs. Copeland gasped and Sroat swore softly but Bellows merely drew his hrows together and repeated:
 ""Fhe old lady?'"
 My grandmother" Sallie explained with an air of impatience. Isn't she the one we're all pulling off this trick for?"
 The lawyer brought his hand down sharply on the arm Of his chair.
 young woman, what do you know Of this?" he demanded. "whe toiA you--?"
 Mrs. Copeland and Cousin Wheeler did yesterday" replied Sallie. I've got a grandmother who can't last longer than six months. She hasn't seen me since I was a baby but she wants 10 now and that's why l was taken out Of that convent and brought all the way back from Switzerland. Now today I'm asked to take this Alva's place for a time that may end any day and won't be longer than six months. Ii seemed 10 me to mean while the old lady lived and l kind Of connected LID the two, but that's none of my business: I'll be Alra Copeland to anybody you say for fifty grand."
 "Young woman," Bellows eyes twinkled, "I wish I could have you in my office when your work here is over: we'd make money, Your grandmother. Mrs. Stanton Copeland, is very anxious that her dead daugh- ter's son, Mir. Wheeler Sroat, shall marry his cousin Ava. She will die happy if she sees you and believes that you two are engaged. and we wish 10 please her. Do make my self cloar?"
 Sallie laughed.
 I'll say you do. I'm wise to why Alra had 10 be produced even if you dug her out of wreck. but it's all right with me as long as get mine,"
 Then we will consider it settled" the lawyer rose. "You will only see your grandmother for a few minutes at time and Mrs. Copeland will coach you in every word to say"
 AS he took his leave Therese an. peared to say that the doctor had come to dress the wound in Miss Copeland's head and sallie followed her. leaving her nerly adopted rela- tives to discuss her as they would,
 She shiNered slightly. remember ing Dr. Qualters' implacably hard ened tone at the secret conc,ave inc night before when he asserted that whether she agreed or not to their scheme her supposed grave should never Dc reopened, but now he greet cd her with his suave. unctious pro. fessional manner and during his brief visit he made no reference however yelled. to his knowledge of her real identity.
 After his departure Miss Tidmsrsh the nurse came 10 bid her thin- lipped farewell and when saliie re- called the. man in the gray roadster who had signaled 10 her from the Avenue il was too dark for her to have distinguished one car from an- ether.
 Iherese brought her dinner 10 her. announcing tha Madame was enter aiming some gu rsts but it was nearly lo o'clock before .5aliie heard a single motor roll slowly ID to the door and peering from the window as on the previous night she saw an invalid rhair wheeled across the sidewalk and heavily muffled figure assisted care fully into'it by two finale attendants. Merciful goodness. had Grand mother" arrived so soon"
 Creeping to her closed door she listened to stined signs and Efoans and the creak Of the chair as if and It's burden were borne upstairs. and t had scarcely passed when a slip Of white vas thrust over her sill, jus. touching her slipper. Unfolding it Sallie sead in awkward, bastiIy 'crawied penciling:
 Come to head Of stairs 1 o'clock Iure."
 What could Fitch want os herr Dared she throw herself on his mercy md try to convince him who she 'eally vas, or was it too late for that low?
 In an agony or doubt and ipcer- ainty SaIiic paced the floor softly intil the appointed hour and then. .xtinguishing her night-ight slie srept out 10 the landing. Tn the ietni-darkness she made out a sra- iowy figure on the stairs and in an- other moment hand gripped her srm. Just come from the chief." Fitch ] You got another chance. ] for I told him you wouldn't give me |