The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1907-01-19

Mrs. Abney stopped, looked at him
half over her shoulder, and. as his &C.
cusations were hurled forth at her,
she fully turned. Her color left her
and her eyes moved restlessly from
side to side. But she was a quick.
witted woman and when he had fin.
ished she had partly regained her
composure.
"a likely story. Col. Cheney, q very
likely story. indeed, you have con
cocted. CIevcr detective work" She
was sneering. You have found out
l bought paper and envelopes, that l
bought stamps. SO might any number
OF people have done the same. But
you detectives have to acc, 4. ONE
one, SO you accuse me. w go. ne
In your Office alone, und % - nre-
lenses. There are no Witnesses to
this interview. and my word will go
as far as yours. You brutel And you
call yourself gentleman"
Il expected all this. Mrs. Cheney,
ard ! admire you for the fight you are
making. You accuse me OF having
| you in my Office alone" Three steps
took Cheney to the alcove. He threw
back the curtain. There sat demure
little Miss Wood. her bright eyes
sparkling with the intensity OF the
scene.
you see,' continued the colonel.
I'VE are not alone"
Mrs. Abney had not yet given up the
fght-tho fish was still unlanded. but
the hand net was ready.
But tell you did not send those
letters. You can't prove IT," she said.
Three days ago you bought 30
stamps from Johnson 35 OF them are
on the table. You gave them to me.
The remainder OF the sheet Is in this
drawer. Here they are" he said. pro
duclng the half sheet Johnson had
sent him. Every one of those stamps
is marked with indeiible ink. !
marked them. On every other stamp
| wrote your name. Grace Abney.'
and on the others I marked my name.
John V. Cheney Here are seven OF
the letters you sent with those stamps
on them. Now look"
Mrs. Abney gazed with wide staring
eyes as Col. Cheney lighted small
alcohol lamp. He took up one letter
and held II so the heat would warm
the stamp. Slowly but surely the
name Grace Abney' appeared. COM
ing apparently from nowhere. Then
John V. Cheney" and so on through.
out the entire seven letters (the first
two letters did not have marked
stamps). and then the unused stamps
were treated To a similar process, tho
names coming out with startling dis
tinctncss.
For several minutes Mrs. Abney
stood irresolute; her composure and
self.possession left her; sobs shook
her frame as she sank In n chair. Tho
fish was landed and tho struggle was
over.
what are you going 10 do with
met" she sobbed. ooh. my God, what
an exposure! What shall ! do. what
shall ! do7"
"Do3" said Col. Cheney. Now the
harshncss and tone OF command had
gone from his voice: the keen. alert
detective was gone; he was Cheney.
the man and gentleman.
DO? Why. you are going home, and
be true TO the good man whose name
you bear. From this day forth you're
going 10 be his vito in word. thought,
act and deed; you're going TO rise and
! sin no more" Gently he took her
hand and led her To the door
Cowed, beaten and broken. the err
Ing woman suffered herself TO be led
"Yes-but." she faltered. your sec.
rotary She heard. she knows"
That's true. Mrs. Abney. sho did
hear. she does know. but Miss Wood
Is discretion itself She hears every.
thing, sees everything. and knows
nothing. Good morning" Aud the
door closed. The poor little fish was
oncg more swimming In untroubled
waNrs. sadder but wiser.
well" said Stanton at four o'clock
that afternoon, as he burst In upon
Cheney. did you find the sender OF
those letters7"
"Yes," tersely replied Cheney. II
found the sender and you will be
troubled no more"
Thank Cod" the young man NUT.
tered. who was II. and what are
you going 10 do about it?"
"Well. Stanton" drawled Cheney,
I'm not going 10 do anything about
H. It's stopped. that's all you want"
WAS II Grace Abney?" slowly asked
| Stanton.
mo. II wasn't Grace Abney," re.
piled Cheney,
We'll, you beat me. colonel. But I
suppose you know what you're doing
Now nothing remains but a settle.
ment, What's the foe?" he asked
reaching for his check book.
That's So" said Cheney, smiling
II forgot the fee. The fee will be
/ your promise 10 say nothing NOR,
about this case, You will also ex.
| tract the same promise from your
| friends who received these letters
That's all, Stanton, the ease IL ed
| Remember me TO Judge Treat when
next you zee him, And don't forget
10 get a new butler. Good evening
They shook hands and stanton went
out the door
r.oa Al.