Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-08

career broadened with time. He
Is always a student of human ma
re and paid close attention to bust
SIS. He was also a student of other
lngs and very well-read man.
aturally, he was detective; he had
peculiarly strong intuitive power
I'D keen sense Of deduction. /
can by this, natural deduction. He
as not a Sherlock Holmes-could not
III your wife was away because a
uttOn was off your waistcoat, or that
on had lately moved your dressing
lass because your face was more
moothly shaver on one side than on
he other. These things ne left for
he realms of literature and romance.
Ie studied crime as theologian stud
ed theology and the Holy Writ First
lie would find the motive of a GRIM
nal act-there was always a motive;
hen he would find the person that had
his motive.
Cheney was esthetic in his taste,
4 lover of art, literature and music,
and always gentleman. His bachelor
apartments in St Louis were beauti-
vous for a coterie of choice spirits.
While he saw a great deal of the
seamy side of life, that great under
world so close to our very doors and
yet always covered, his nature never
became hardened. He was ever ready
70 help, and many a man, and woman,
too, for that matter, are walking the
streets to-day, free and honored by
their fellow beings, because at a cru
cial point in their career Col. Jack
Cheney had turned them up the hill
when their footsteps were carrying
them down. His fame as a detective
spread over the country and many
1attering offers were made him to
take charge of special work for large
corporations, but he was more con-
tent to work for the government I'm
til the time was ripe for him to
branch out for himself. He enjoyed
the acquaintance, confidence and hos
pitality of many persons of promi-
hence from one end of the country
to the other. Women he admired, but
that is all. His many and varied ex-
periences had taught him that women
we're not to be trusted with great Sc
crets. A good woman was an angel
TO be respected, nurtured and cared
for; a bad one, the reverse. Dan
Cupid had as yet never made him
captive, but there was always pres
snt with Jack Cheney a mental pho
tograph of a happy home presided
over by a woman he could love and
who would love and respect him.
But that was in the indefinite future,
not now.
Cheney never allowed his close con-
tact with crime to contaminate him.
When he was on a case he was all
detective, a veritable sleuth. every
nerve strained to accomplish the de-
sired end; but when the chase was
over and the quarry run to earth
Cheney forgot it.
He was sitting in his office one
morning smoking his usual cigar and
allowing his mind to run back to
some of the stirring days of the civil
war in which he played no small part
when a knock interrupted his reverie.
Come in he sharply said.
we'll dressed and of good appearance,
came in and stood before him. He
was visibly perturbed and shifted
from one foot to the other while he
aervously twirled his hat in his hands.
Are you Col. Cheney, sir?"
81 am
well, sir, my name is Stanton,
Fred c. Stanton Cheney recognized
The name as one of prominent fam
ily living in st. Louis.
We'll, Mr.. Stanton, what can l do
for you, sir? Sit down. replied
Cheney, waving his hand towards a
chair. Have a smoker"
Thank you, no. Col. Cheney. You
see l am in great trouble and Judge
Treat, who is an intimate friend of
mine. told me you might help me
out if you would He gave me this
card to you" Cheney read the card
and when he had finished said:
ANY friend of Judge Treats is a
friend of mine and if 1 can be of serv-
Ice | shall only be too glad to do so.
You are in trouble; what is it?"
Yes, 1 am in trouble, and serious
trouble at that. Last year l married
Judge Anderson's daughter and we
have a beautiful home out on Laclede
avenue. We are very happy. There
n:ver has been a cloud to mar our
domestic happiness. About two
months ago anonymous letters began
coming to Mrs Stanton. Four SO far
have been received, and similar let
ters have reached several friends of
mine saying they will get to Mrs.
Stanton sooner or later These let
tiers all contain references to me, hint
at an unsavory past and a coming
revelation which will destroy me so
cially and otherwise in st. Louis.
Mrs. Stanton is not well and in
very nervous state and the receipt of
any such letters would, | am afraid,
cause serious consequences. Mr.. Stan
ron naused for a moment to regain