San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-19
Begin Here Today.


Sallie Peck, employe of the Fair
Deal Five and Ten, quarrels with her
policeman sweetheart, Michael Cur
tbs. That night Sallic goes into the
yard to take down washing for Ma
Brennan, with whom Sallie lives. a
crash shakes the earth and something
strikes Sallie 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 stcp-daughter. Sallie dis
covers that she has fallen into the
hands OF crooks and is being substitute
ed for the real Alva Copeland.
A man servant thinks he recognizes
in Sallie a member OF gang of dia-
mond thieves and helps her escape
from the house at night. Michael Cur.
tbs and his friend, Captain Trevor, are
trailing Sallie and Alya. Now go on
with the story.
But when footsore and weary Mike
returned to his friends shabby, COM
Portable bachelor quarters it was to
report no progress; he had spent the
day riding on tube trains and ferries,
questioning guards and deck hands,
and taxi drivers at the New York
terminals without result.
The newspapers had given a para
graph to the missing girl but head
quarters could report nothing except
vague rumors and there seemed to be
no alternative but to wait.
I'm about in the same boat, Mike !"
Trevor exclaimed gloomiiy. Il saw
Miss Copeland-Alva--at her window
this afternoon when Twas trailing
round the block in the car and she
seemed to be staring down straight at
me but wouldn't reply to any of my
signals until finally she made an
abrupt motion to me to 90 away! l
can't understand it.. II she didn't
recognize me why should she wave at
all aud If she did-Oh, she could not
have meant that she did not wish to
see me any more."
Never mind, we'll get on the job
again in the morning." Mike replied.
I'm likely to be up and out before
you and you'll hear from me when
you get back from that horseback ride
of yours"
He was as good as his word for
when Trevor awakened it was to find
his guest gone. After a fruitless can
ter along the bride path in the park
across the avenue from the blank win
dows of the Copeland house he re-
turned to find no message from Mike
and he paced the floor gloomily with
dire but vague plans Of abduction
forming in his mind for an hour or
more before the telephone shrilled.
THAT you, Trevor" 1t was unques'
tionably Mikes voice but shaken with
some emotion which his former lieu
tenant had never heard in it, even in
the heat of battle. II want you TO
come down here at once and watch
your step as you travel. Got your old
army revolver"
"Yes, but what's the idea and
where is 'here'?" Trevor demanded.
Mike gave an address ON an old
fashioned block in the fifties and add
cd:
II have found a lady who has a
strange story TO tell US both, for it
interests you as well as me. Look
out that somebody doesn't try to drop
brick on YOU from b housetop or
run you down with taxi crossing
street. for l thiuk you're being
watched and il they trail you here
they may try TO. get you'll"
"Oh, come, Nike Trevor laughed.
Il didn't think you'd develop nerves
at this late day."
"It's serious' Mike insisted. 81
can't talk over the phone but j have
news for you of-of the girl in the
window. Now do You underestimate"
The girl! Mike. I'll be there as
quick as taxi-H
mot strange sne." warned Mike
once more. I'll be waiting for you"
Trevor loaded bis old army eau
non" and thrust it mechanically into
his belt, then put on a topcoat TO hide
the bulge and hurried from his apart
ment. So kcenly wrought up was he
in anticipation over the possible news
which Mike might have for him that
he forgot the warning until a careen-
ing taxi nearly bowled him over as
he crossed Fifty-sixth street and two
men sprany from nowhere and start