The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-08-25
The Tanning Of MIR. Leigh

UUhTu6u INC Train bluC6 leaving MeLh-
phis, and about 1926 in the morning
Mr.. Leigh staggered up the Isle NUT
tering imprecations under his breath.
He was looking for trouble, and, as Is
usually the case, he got 1t. 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 growled, like a cur,
and tnen without the least provoca-
ton or warning, he struck her on the
cheek with his open hand.
Cheney had learned never to inter-
fere In wordy war between man
and woman, but when blow was
struck, then II was time for action.
Like a flash he went up the aisle.
Leigh was a larger man than Cheney,
but Cheney's muscles were like bands
Of steel. His life and training were
good, and he knew self-defense from
A to z. He caught Mr.. Leigh by the
back OF his coat, jerked him out OF the
seat and shook him like terrier does
a rat. With feeling of disgust Che
new threw Leigh into an unoccupied
seat across the isle and said to him:
do that again, and by the eternal
III thrash you until you can't see!"
Leigh was really too drunk to un-
derstand what It all meant. The fall
may have stunned him for a moment.
anyway. he remained quiet ana event.
ually fell into deep sleep
Mrs, Leigh was profuse in her
thanks to Cheney, but begged him to
be careful; Mr.. Leigh would be very
ugly when he awoke. In fact, she
asked Cheney to change nis location
to another car. He wasn't that kind,
however, and resumed his seat.
Leigh slumbered until about 1880,
and then awoke surly and mean. From
his yalise he took a fresh bottle IF
whisky; his supply seemed inexhaus.
tible. BY $3.50 he was again under the
influence, and this time he was fight.
Ing mad. In the smoking compart.
ment he corraled the porter and told
that worthy that he Leigh was go
ing to do Cheney.
The porter told Cheney, and that
gentleman realized there was trouble
ahead. He took his revolver from his
satchel and dropped II in his outside
coat pocket The other passengers In
the Car were terrorized. The train
crew, Pullman conductor and porter
were under the spell of Leigh, the
bad man. They all lacked nerve. so
essential In dealing with such a char.
acter; all save Cheney. He had nerve.
plenty OF 1t. He also had discretion.
valuable adjunct to nerve He
didn't want any trouble, wasn't look.
ing for II, but II It came his way he
would not dodge It.
The former trouble with Leigh
came to a climax when he slapped his
wife's face. and when he was CON.
fortably full he was ready for an.
other row. Leigh returned to his
seat. but Mrs. Leigh tried to avoid
trouble; she wouldn't talk to him, but
he grew louder in his imprecations
and again struck her, this time not
with his open hand, but with his
clenched fist. The poor little woman
screamed, and in an instant all was
turmoil and confusion. Women SHREK.
ed anu the men (poor excuses thew
were) sat paralyzed. One surlv
drunken brute had the car under his
thumb. From the liquor.maddened
Leigh all semblance OF reason or I'M.
manity fed, and once more he raised
his hand to strike the little woman
SO unfortunate as to be his wife. Che.
ney, at the first sign OF trouble, went
down the car again and seized Leigh's
uplifted hand In grip of steel. He
swung him around and struck him n
singing blow. All the blood in Che.
ney's body was in his face, and in n
minute Mr.. Leigh was reduced to sub.
missiveness. lnere had been trouble
enough for one day, and Cheney drag.
ged Leigh to the car ahead, and told
him II ne came back again he'd get