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

l NoN HO oN WITH THE SIohN
 You see, one slip and I migh
 queer the game for you, and I tol,
 you if I went into this with you T.,
 play white. Couldn't you fix it som
 way that I'd been hurt in that trail
 wreck and needed quiet, except jus
 for-for the folks who've got to be
 lieye I'm your stepdaughter anc
 Cousin Wheeler's girl?"
 Cousin Wheeler" stroked his mus tache somewhat nervously.
 Tt appears that our young friend las q remarkably clear grasp of ths situation," he remarked. Just how
 much have you told her this morning Aunt Flo?"
 Tt wasn't this morning, it was yes- terday when ] was having tea with
 you two here in this room,' Sallie explained Before that I thought everybody was cuckoo, calling me 'Alya,', but then l saw that you both were stalling along and kidding to sec how I'd act and if maybe I'd dc to pass as the real Ava. That's why l came clean with Mrs. Copeland : this morning and asked her what tnefe was III IL LOT me.
 Mrs. Copeland gasped and this l time there was a note of command in | her nephew's voice.
 Aunt Flo since it appears to be merely a question of price now, or I might more gracefully say reward, I am sure this young lady will ex1 cuse us to discuss the matter in pri- yate for few minutes before lunch"
 Anything you say" Sallie rose with a hard little laugh. "I ain't any too crazy to go back to--Shaftstown, I don't mind telling you, and I'd like to take hand in this with you, on the level, but considering the risk I'd be taking myself ought to be fixed for life sos I could steer clear of--of everything and live quiet abroad some place wherc--whcre nobody's know me. Twenty-Five grand wouldn't last forever, but it's up to you. I'll be in my room, Mrs. Copeland, when you want me-"
 She nodded to her stupefied host css, grinned derisivcly at Sloat as he held the door open for her and when she heard it close with unnecessary violence behind her the grin broan- ened. It faded, however. when at the head Of the stuirs she found her. self confronted by Fitch.
 You got the bit of newspaper l slipped. under your door last night" he dcmahded in a whisper.
 Sallie nodded. ra
 "So it was you?" .'s.+
 "I was planted here on another lay: bit Of luck, call it, that they should have brought you here. Rekernized you at once, did." He placed his finger alongside his nose with a knowing leer. 'T saw the chief larst night and told him as how 1t come about you was dug out of the wreck. Dunno what their game is---'
 And don't know what yours is nor who you are!" Sallie interrupted in fierce undertone. "Who do you think I am, anyway"
 "Aw, stow that, Bess-'Diamond Bess'! I'm a new one with your gang since you pulled the Delapicrre trick but the chief knows what Fred the Ferret can do or he wouldn't have planted me here. say." He came close to her with a cautious glance at the closed sitting room door. What did you do with them-the Delapierre sparklers? The chief wants to know and he wants 10 know at oncep
 Sallie felt her knees giving way be- meath her.
 "I don't know who Diamond Bess' is, nor what you're talking about" she began, but he laid slim, wiry fingers like bands of steel upon her arm.
 "Double-crossing. arc you?" His had become q hiss. "You know what happened to Gaffney when he tried it,a nd Chicago Molly, too. | Yoa had four of the biggest sparklers still with you when you left Philopolis ] and you must have planted 'em safe | or you'd have made q holler before | you let these toffs adopt you out Of ] the wreck. Tie chief wants--to- know. Twig that2"
 Sallie's brain had been working quickly and now she shook off his hand with fine assumption of scorn. l
 Make a holler, would I, with every 1 LICK Tn tNn BdSt-s Sne DrOkP OH Tn | seeming vexation. ''How do know | you ain't dick yourself? You bring | me something that'l1 show you come l any friends Of mine and | maybe I'll have d message for you. | saxcz? Now beat it.''
 She turned abruptly and entered I her room, closing the door softly be- hind her.
 \ nice mess she had got intoi She | might have known what that scrap of l meant! It had seemed n l splendid scheme to fall in with 'thc | plans Of this crowd Of swell croops as I Saliie Peck and then gradually get i .hpm to believe that she was in reality l this Diamond Bess' with pals on the | Dufside 10 see that no harm came 10 1 her so that they would be glad 10 let 1 her go scot free as the price Of her i silence. and now she had placed her i self at the mercy Of a gang Of cTimi- 4 lals who would stop at nothing tO 4 regain the stolen diamonds which she I lad never even seen,
 CHATTER VIII
 Tho CIicT's Message
 SalIic's disturbed reflections were l reerruptcd by a light tapping on the Ioor and without waiting for her -s t,iv Mrs. TopelauG entered