New Britain herald., 1924-04-05
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

but as to the real 'AlNa.' It looks
 like we've got to trust each other or
 call the whole thing off,
 : Mrs. Copeland had sunk back in her chair at the mention of her step- daughters name and Sloat started ] neryousiy but Bellows darted warn- ing glance at each and observed: i There are reasons why Miss Alya 1 Copeland does not care to appear in
 this and if you take her place you must do so blindly, asking no ques- tions. As you say, we must trust each other; it is a question of good faith on both sides. We will let you
 know this afternoon as 10 whether or
 not We are willing to meet your terms"
 Taking this as dismissal, Sailie
 glanced at Mrs. Copeland and rose, but paused in the doorway. T wouldn't have 10 go around New , York very much, would IT It's only
 fair to warn you I've got friends in
 this town even if l ain't ever been
 here before and although I suppose tbe-the crowd back in Shaftstown think I've run away somebody might
 recognize me and write back and tell
 'em. Yesterday thought maybe I'd
 like to go home but now I've made
 tip my mind that I don't ever want
 to hit that burg or meet anybody in
 it again."
 Why" sloat began but saIlie
 interrupted him with a grin.
 "1f I ain't asking questions l ain't
 answering them, Mir. Sloat."
 She closed the door behind her and
 as in the morning found Fitch loiter-
 ing at the stairs head. sallie gcs-
 tnred toward the room she had just
 left.
 See if you can listen in and get a
 line on what they're ialkin' about in
 there.' she whispered. "Then bring a cup of tea or something 10 my room and give me the dope-on it."
 Get you" He nodded and glided past her while she shut herself in her bedroom and going to the wIn- dow drew aside tho curtain. and rested her throbbing forehead against the window pane.
 Had she been q match for them, after all? She had demanded twice the sum they offered to convince them of her willingness to enter into their scheme and her confidence that they would keep 10 their agreement. The other conditions which she had made; her desire to meet no one unnecessary 10 their plan and to go nowhere about the city were just hints which she had thrown out for them to think over later when she succeeded in making them doubt her true identity and be willing to be rid of her and buy her silence at any price. sallie knew she would have to bring things to a crisis without delay for there was hourly danger that the real "Dia- mond Bess'' might be caught but she could think Of no other way to escape { from them.
 The warm sunshine or that Sunday afternoon had filled the Avenue be- heath her window with a stream Of rars from curb to curb and the girl 1 Eazed idly down upon them for some . little time before fl was borne in upon her that certain powerfu-lookingc gray roadster had passed and re- {, passed the house at such brief in- .ersa1s that it could only have gone ,round the block, and that its bare headed driver was staring up at her window and seemed to be making notions to her. If was the man on horseback of inc previous dayi - With the conviction Of this there anne the swift intuition that he want just some guy trying to get resh: he vas waving. signaling to the yirl who should have been in that the real Alva Copeland. sallie drew back hastily but not be- ore, almost without her own volition. Inc had made a little gesture Of ienia1.
 Would he drive back again? The sim was glariug straight lpon her window turning the glass o a blurred. dazzling expanse and loubting that he could distinguish her eatures she tried with all her trength to raise the sash but it had been fastened with a pur- ,ose. For all her practicability Sal- ie's romantic heart had led her traight 10 the solution Of the mans onstant reappearance before the Iouse and if he were the real Ava 'opeland's sweetheart she meant that e should know Of the substitution.
 The minutes heightened with mo- urther sign of the gray car and al sst low. insistept tapping at the GOT made her turn to admit Fitch. hat exce1Ientiy trained footman's yes were fairly buiEing from his head nd the tea-tray clattered slightly as e set it down upon the little table.
 "so that's the game. is it?" he hoarsely. Fifty thousand hey're going to give you! They've ecided on it. Whore you double rossing. them or the ehief?''
 sallie grinned.
 "Seither one. Fitch. gotta lay 5w for awhile anyhow, sint' F. hat Is. if I'm who you think I ami"
 There's no good stslling with me. ;ess." He glanced behind him and hen advanced 10 pour the tea. You rn-.- xaos4 ranff ret away with this