The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-01-25
charge your butler; may need him

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"All right said. Stanton, '.but I'd
like to keep him. He's a good one
81 know that" replied Cheney.
Guthrie is good at anything he I'M
dertakes, but ii don't believe he fan
cies this 'butlering' business. Come
around tomorrow afternoon and I
will tell you ALL -. A.
Now Cheney was ready to move
swiftly and surely in his work. He
was sure before that Grace Abney had
sent the threatening letters; now he
knew it, All that was left to- do, was
to bring about the denouement. 80
Just of of Cheney's ONCE was an
alcove room before the door of which
hung curtain. In this alcovve was
his secretary'ss Office, and This secre-
tary was 2 very bright woman named
May Wood. Cheney called her.
Miss Wood, tomorrow morning Il
want you to be in your Office con-
stantly. I expect a lady visitor, quite
a society woman in fact, and I want
every word spoken while she is here
taken down."
Cheney again interviewed the post
master and that gentleman promised
to have Mrs, Abney in his (Cheney's)
office the next morning. He knew her
and would not have any trouble in
inducing her to come. Cheney didn't
want her husband to comeAnot Just
yet, If at all. It depended on the
woman.
The next morning about IL o'clock
the postmaster and Mrs. Abney ar
rived. She was beautiful woman,
stylishly gowned, and possessed a pair
of blue-black eyes. The introduction
was brief and the postmaster with
drew. Mrs. Abney' had herself under
splendid control. She knew nothing
of what was in store for her. Cheney,
too, was good to look upon that morn
ing; he was we'll dressed and decorated
with red carnation.
Mrs. Abney," he began after his
guest was comfortably seated in an
easy chair, Il am connected with the
government service, and in process
of my work I have formed an idea
that something is wrong with the
stamp department of the St. Louis
post Office"
And what has that to do with me,
pray?' asked Mrs. Abney in a rich
contralto voice. Her eyes were look
ing straight at Col. Cheney.
wait, please. It is thought there
are a number of spurious stamps be-
ing sold in St. Louis. The sub sta
ton near your residence is suspected
of being implicated 49,:
What? Mr.. Johnson? Impossible,
Col. Cheney, impossible
Mrs. Abney, nothing is impossible
have not said Mr.. Johnson was i'm
plicated. I am merely Investigating
OF course Mr.. Abney buys all his
stamps downtown; but you, I pre-
sumo, purchase stamps for your cor
respondence at the sub station near
where you live
| Cheney spoke in we'll modulated
\ voice. His manner was that of a gen
tleman, his eyes we're quiet, there was
not the least sign of an Interior mo-
tive In this talk. The hook was bait
ed and dangling near the fish, and the
fish ,nibbled.
"Yes,'' replied Mrs. Abney, II buy
stamps frequently from Mr.. Johnson"
"Just so. And when did you last
buy any from him?'
"Why, let me see-three days ago,
! if I remember Alright"
Her memory was good; that was
the day Johnson reported the sale and
returned the remaining half sheet.
Not a muscle of Cheney's face moved;
the smile was still there.
Have you used all you bought on
that day, Mrs. Cheney?"
why, no. I have some of them
here now. Here they are" she said,
laying some 35 stamps on the table.
Col. Cheney carelessly took them.
The fish had. swallowed the bait, hook,
line and sinker. All that remained
was to land the prize.
! Mrs. Abney began to wonder what
all this questioning from this quiet,
masterful man meant. A slightly un-
comfortable feeling began stealing
over her. Miss Wood was seated in
the :curtained alcove, taking down
every word.
II have told you all I know, Col.
Cheney. Now beg you to excuse me;
have, an appointment and must CO."
The fish was running out with the
line; it must be brought back. -
"Wait. Just a moment, please"
said the colonel. "You know Mr..
Fred Stanton, do you not?"
Mrs. Abney's heart began beating
faster. The color faded from her face.
Eyes, 1 know him; what of it?''
"You were engaged to him, were
you not?"
"Col. Cheney, your remarks are be-
coming personal and, to say the least,
| impertient. I did not come here to
be insulted. You have no right to
talk to me like that. shall tell Mr.
@Abney and he can settle with your
She turned to leave, but Col. Cheney.
who had risen again, said: 'Wait!"
and this time there was no installing
the tone. it was =. command