Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-25
rrER lhe canture Of Jim FIeIsh.

n man. the moonshiuer, Cheney
y led an uneyentful life FOR six
months. True, he ram down sew
eraI cases OF more or less importance,
but there was nothing TO cause the
blood TO quicken In his veins. He was
becoming afflicted with ennui when h.
was placed on a ease requiring delicacy
tact, diplomacy and skill The first and
last qualities Col. cheney had, they
we're inherent I'm him. The second and
third, however. were somewhat under
developed. The nature Of the case need
not be mentioned here, save To say II re-
quired Cheney to be disguised, and took
him south, New Orleans being his OBJ.
Jectiye point. Cheney always was a
gentleman. so It was no disguise TO
act the part, but as his work took him
south, he assumed the part of south
crn planter who was just returning
from a trip north. Dyes made his hair
and mustache Jet black, walnut hNed
his complexion TO suit ana taken all
In an, Col. Jack Cheney was quite inn.
pressively good looking when he board
ed the New orleans sleeper al Mem
phis. he had come BY boat from ST.
Louis.
II was IN early summer, and travel
south was not very heavy yellow
ever had not been conquered then, az
low. and every SO often the Stegomyid
.ot very busy and a fever epidemic was
..c result. Neither were Pullman Sleep
,r such luXuriant palaces on wheels as
90 tae present day. There We're only
.4a. ...aI people IN the car Magenta
: .... ..-.l lett Memphis. Cheney took
.4..u ... la. TWO single ladies and a
go .Hl his wife. Cheney's section
t.e a. one end Of the car, and that
t......q by the man and his wife at
g., ,-.tI end. The man soon showed
asa. W liquor. In the smoking car
rr5frred Cheney a beautiful flask
l.ts me usual salutatlon.
u-se a drink, stranger
Thanks, no." said Cheney. TOO
warm this evening"
That the only reason?' Just a faint
suggestion OF sneer accompanied
.l,s.
That's the only one | care TO offer
.ent now said Cheney. his blue eyes
,ccoming steely gray,
The stranger was a big man, physi-
cally. lie had long jet black hair
parted way over on one side, and ms
eyes were the same color. His cX-
preston was not very prepossessing,
and something told Cheney to keep his
eyes on him.
well, there's no harm done; here's
my card"
The card read Fred Leigh" and
Cheney thought a minute, and then re-
membered the address given was In ths
gambling district in New Orleans. lie
also had heard OF bad man among
the gamblers named Fred Leigh. This
was evidently the man.
Presumably Leigh thought the mere
sight OF his name would thoroughly
COW the stranger, and perhaps DE
would give him his card In return. But
Cheney did nothing OF the kind; he
merely bowed, and CURLY said
Thanks" then returned 10 his seat In
the car.
During the evening Leigh imbibed
freely. and several times was engaged
IN animated conversation with his wife
Angry words passed between them.
Cheney kept his eyes and ears open,
but nothing untoward happened which
would warrant his interference.
The next morning Leigh resumed his
drinking, and by 1890 was ugly drunk
The conductor and porter did nothing TO
keep him quiet; in fact they informed
Cheney that Leigh was a bad man.
They knew him well, and, as the por-
ter expressed II: EFF any one crossed
Mistah Leigh, he was turrible bad
Cheney had seen "turrible bad men
plenty I'm his day, and knew that gem
orally there was a streak Of yellow in
their makeup II some o'.e rad nerve
enough to bring II out.
Quite a number Of passengers had
boarded the train since leaving Mem
phis. and about 1926 in the morning
Mr.. Leigh staggered up the aisle NUT
tering imprecations under his breath.
He was looking for trouble and as "
usually the case. he got IT, He dropped
into the seat beside his wife, who was
small and quite pretty. She appeared
afraid OF him, but demonstrated with
him in regard to his conduct
shut up." he groWl:d, like cur,
and then without the least provOcatiou
or warning. he struck her on the cheek
with his open hand.
Cheney had learned never to inter-
fere in a wordv war between man ami
woman, but when blow was struck,
then It was time for action. Like
flash he went up the aisle. Leigh was
a larger man than Cheney. but Che
ney's muscles were like bands OF steel
His life and training were good, and he
knew self-defonse from A 10 Il. He
caught Mr.. Leigh by the back OF his
coat. jorked him out Of the scat and
shook him like a terrier does rat.
with feeling Of disgust Cheney threw
Leigh into an unoccupied seat across
the aisle and said TO him:
do that again. and by tho eternal
III thrash you until YOU can't see,'
Leigh was really too drunk 10 UNDER
stand what Il all meant The fan may
have stunned him for a moment: any
way. he remained quiet aud eventually
zen into a deep sleep.
Mrs. Leigh was profuse In her
thanks to Cheney. but begged him 10
be careful; Mr.. Leigh would be very
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