San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13
Begin Here Today.

Sallie Peck, employe of the Fair
Deal Five and Ten. quarrels with her
policeman sweetheart, Michael Curtis.
That night Sallie goes into the yard
i to take down washing for Ma Bren-
nan, with who mSallie lives. A crash
shakes the earth and something strikes
Sallie n blow on the head.
When she regains consciousness, the
girl finds herself in strange surround
ings. A French maid calls her Alva
Copelond and Madame Copeland, a
tall, richly gowned woman, claims
her as her step-daughter. Sallie meets
Cousin Wheeler, who makes love to
her. She resolves to solve the mystery
of why she is being substituted for
the real Alva Copeland.
Michael Curtis and his friend, Cap
Alva ond Sallie. Sallies decides to pre-
tend that she is acting in accord with
the wishes of the Copelands. Now 90
on with the story.
Look. Mees Alva! Are they not
beautiful?" the maid exclaimed gush-
ingly as she took a huge bunch OF
violets from the box. "This envelope
is for you, of course, but will this
not be tres chic against the gray Of
your robe?"
Sallie looked at the card to gain
time to consider the most consistent
move in this double role she was play
ing and arriving at a quick decision,
yawned and threw the card face up
ward upon the atble. It was plain
one and bore. in the peculiar slanting
writing which had accompanied the
roses of the day before, just three
words, Good morning. from Wheeler"
"I'll say they're all right" Sallie
exclaimed in as tough manner as
she could assume. cousin Wheeler's
the little white-haired boy, amt he?
Sure I'll wear 'em this time. Therese,
but what's doing? Is lie gonna call
mornings, too"
Madame have invited M'sieu Sloat
for lunch, / think, and as you are so
happily recovered, Mees Alva, it is
permitted that you again take your
place" Therese's head was bowed as
she pinned the violets to the gray
girdle but her tone was dignified and
somewhat shocked. MADAME is wait
ing for you in her sitting ROOM"
Broad sunlight streaming in at a
great bay window replaced the candle
glow of the previous day and the
mauve room appeared larger and more
austere in spite of its elaborate fur
nishings. Mrs. Copeland. too, as she
rose to receive the girl seemed to have
lost little of her gracious poise and
beneath the cosmetics her face was
haggard.
"Good morning, Alva. dear" She
bent forward as though to kiss her but
Sallie drew back. -.
Good morning. Mrs. Copeland"
she responded deliberately. I'm glad
to get a chance for this talk with
you"
IL don't understand J" Mrs.
Copeland faltered. taken aback at the
boldness of the attack.
"Oh. you got me all right" retort-
ed Sallic coolly. "You know I'm not
your step-daughter, this 'Alva' kid,
and you know there amt anything
more the matter with my head than
there is with yours!'
IF YOU are not my step-daughter,
Mrs. Copeland said slowly as she sank
into a chair and mechanically ges-
tured to another. "Who are yOuT"
Don't you wish you knew" Sallie
sneered tauntingly.
MY dear, We all know about you,
Mrs. Copeland rose to the bait. You
are Sarah Peck, and you worked in
store in Shaftstown-"
"Sure / do! That's me-" Sallie in
terrupted. with elaborate over-eager-
ness. You don't know who my folks
are. though. nor the crowd l travel