San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-17
Begin Here Today.

Sallie Peck. cmploye OF the Fail
Deal Five & Ten, quarrels with hel
policeman sweetheart, Michael Curtis
At night Sallie goes into the yard tt
take down a washing for Ma Bren
nan. with whom Sallie lives. A crash
shakes the earth and something strikes
Sallic a blow on the head.
| When she regains consciousness, the
girl finds herself in strange surround.
ings. A French maid calls her Alva
Copeland and Madame Copeland. a
tall, richly gowned woman. claims her
as her stepdaughter. Sallie meets
Cousin Wheeler, who makes love to
her. She resolves to solve the mys-
fiery of why she is being substituted
for Alva Copeland.
Sallie tells the Copelands she is wise
to their game and that, if they pay her
enough. she will play hand for them.
The COpelands accept Sallie's offer.
Now go on with the story.
81 believe your Sallie exclaimed.
Ones about as phoney as the other.
oh: Did You think you were going
to put that fake over on me?"
my dear girl" Sloat assumed n
shocked expression. That diamond
is worth thousands-but how could
you be expected to judge?"
That paste rock isn't worth a tenth
Of what the setting cost" she retorted.
sure of her ground now. "Never mind
how know, but you come across with
the real goods, understand?"
Sallie had purposely allowed a
rough, hardened note to creep into her
voice and Sloat sighed and shook his
head as he slipped the box back into
his pocket.
"You misjudge me. There is lady
coming here today, however. who until
recently owned some magnificent jew
es hersef and Mrs. Delapierre will tell
you what this is WORTH
Mrs. who?" 1t was the chance for
which she had waited and Sallie rose
precipitately. Look here, I'm not
going to see her. 1t was in the agree
ment that didn't have to meet any
body :"
Anybody not necessary to our
plans, my dear Alva!" Sloat's little
was fairly twitching with
Unsurpassed excitement. However,
Mrs. Delapierre-"
Not me! Mrs. Cope-mother-
said l didn't have to meet any of the
danes who come here to call and l
won't! That's flat"
Sallie turned as if to rush from the
room but he caught her by the wrist,
THE idea of palming yourself off
on my grandmother doesn't faze you
why are you afraid to come face to
face with Mrs. Delapierre? Is it be-
cause you have met before? You
started when she was announced the
other day, you know false diamonds
from real ones at glance-did you
learn that behind the counter of
store? Woman, you
are Diamond Bess' Hilker!'
Sloat's voice squeaked and q flush
darkened his. pasty cheeks. Sallie felt
n hysterieal impulse TO laugh but in
stead she struggled guiltily in his
grasp for a moment and then relaxed
with a shrug.
did / ever say who wasp she
demanded. "You don't dare face that
Delapierre woman with me, or the
little game you've all been trying to
pull here will be up.> and you don't
lare call for the bulls for the same
1t was you picked me out of
the train wreck. remember-much!
obliged. I'm sure"
Bellows" Sloat called loudly.
Bellows, did you hear? She admits
t."
The door leading from a smaller re-
.eption room opened and the attorney
appeared. His hawk-like face was set
n lines of almost ferocious intensity
Ind Sallie's heart quailed at the look
ne bent upon her but his tone was as
lryly composed as ever.
80 it appears he remarked. "Let
her go, Sloat, and lock the door. Now,
1oung woman, suppose we come to an
Understandings -.
Il thought we had yesterday" Sal
lie retOrted with brazenness she was
ar from feeling. "What have / done
IN all this, anyway, / should like to
know? Il got hit on the head in a
rain smash-up and woke up to find
myself kidnapped and brought here,
with everybody in a game to call me