Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-05-16

~ ~ 's ~
and 81. the period just an,edating the
Spanistt American war.
Some OF Cheney's cases had been
for the state department and he stood
very higi, in the cstiination OF the
federal government. He was IL man
mature in years, rich in experience
and as evenly balanced a.. q perfectly
Wade machine. He was II close and
intense student OF current events and
white hc vas an ardent partisan in
politics he never intruded his beliefs
TO the Nctrisnent of his work. Ills de
tcctive service company was all pow
erful and Il potent factor for good. Its
ramitica lions we're world wide and its
workings we're under the guidance of
the master mind of Cheney. In 1897
he was 81 years old. Few grey hairs
had Ut;sdc their appearance and he
ieaii. looked like a man of 40. he
was u. fOrceful and viriie AS ne
Ilways tad been. Guthrie. Lonergan
and others had grown up in the bust
ness and in 1895 he Incorporated his
rotapaUy and made these two equal
partners. with him. As he expressed 1t
when tie presented them their stock,
You see. fellows. I haven't ii kith OF
kin t0 tcave anything to when I'm gone
and ~ h#te 10 think of this company
busting up, so I've made you both equal
isl,'tncr; with me. You've both been
my staadtyS and-why. hang it. I'm
- N'''' ~ ~ 49, 49,
were tue ether men.
Chen.:'s vision nf his ung days
whereof! Ec saw II home had faded
away ~; years passed on. They We're
Just Vitnty apparent NOW. Somehow
visions Of u,cn ut 81 are more roseate
than those of 50.
Keeping In close touch with affairs
national II otherwise Cheney knew
that suoncr or later the United states
was going to invite Spain to leave
the western hemisphere. The invita-
lion would be declined II Spain
would to driven out. As early as SO
the United States began active. though
unknown To- the public. preparations
~ do tier part. Several delicate gov
ornamental missions were entrusted to
Cheney. Trips to Cuba. conferences
with the members of the junta, in
sps'ti0n. of certain persons and firms.
Cheney was aware what was going on
at all times nnd when war did come he
knew he would he appointed chief of
the secret service of the army.
The government Invoke TO the fact
hat il had bcen standing still for
a so far as Information as to what
the other powcr We're doing was on
cerncd. II began to Scad army and
navy men to foreign countries to gath
er Il cnita.c matters military. but
<here we're !, lumber of things civilians
could get rs we'll as scidiermen and
SailOrmen.
Cheney received " note from the
secretary of states private secretary
early in 96 asking him tn come TO
Washington. Two days later Colonel
Cheney walked into the stately old
pile known as The state. wor and navy
department. The secretary of state
received him rs cordially rs his diplo-
WAtic and official nature would admit.
Colonel Cheney" lic said. I've sent
Tor u because Il man is wanted to
do some very delicate work for the gov
eminent"
Abroad" asked Cheney.
You anticipate mo: yes. ao.oad."
replied the secretary. There was Il
slight ouch of aspcrity in his tone.
Secretaries of state do not like t, be
anticipated. Cheney merely smiled
and murmurcd, pardon me-" He was
not awed one bit by the greatness "f
h parsonage in whose presence he
was standing.
.'The president wants to sec you At
3 O'clock today. Two o'c!nci;. Colonel
Cheney-sharp!"
''The sharp was unnecessary. NJ.
Secretary. I served come time in the
army and prOmptness has always becn
n strong point with me. Coca inprn-
ing"
One moment. colonel. ;isasc." TIC
great ~personage's tone Soitencd :: bit.
He began to realize this calm grey
CyONA Ssei 49, w N'> =
After the president has finished will
you please come back. | will have
your papers ready"
you are assuming | will so. them"
"Of course you'll gu--because the
president asks it--because you will
be serving your country by so doing"
Scole n for the secretary. He
struck Cheney fairly and squareiy.
Patriotism was Cheney's long suit.
Many II time he had drunk the toast.
MY country. may she always be right:
right or wrOng--iny country He
smiled and said:
YES. MIR. Secretary. ! reckon I'll
CO."
Thank you. COLONEL"
At 2 o'clock Cheney appeared ut the
White House. Evidently he was ex-
aected hecauec within IL of the
time his card was X In Il gentle
manly secretary came out and said:
..This Is Colonel Cheney Cheney
nodded.
am president will see you in a mo-
mcnt.'
Cheney was not oppressed by the
constrained air OF Ofticialdom. A few
moments later a tiny bell rang and the
secretary led the way down three short
steps 70 h n sanctum Of the White
House. "COlonel Cheney said the
calm. brown-eyed. smooth-faced m Il
advancing with cutstretched hand.
MT. President" replied Cheney. TAX
ing the profIered hand.
''Git down. colonel" said he presi-
dent. "A cigar was lighted and the at
mOsphere sOon lacked restraint. Cheney
fell, the greatness of the president. Sim
cerity. honesty n intensity Of purpose
were written all over his face. His man.
ncr was democratic. yet dignified. n
from his brown eyes cleaned his very
soul. Cheney was not an emotional
man.. and yet II the president had
asked him 70 stand on his head on top
" the Washington monument he would
have attempted the feat.
They talked for nearly two hours.
The president unfolded his plans and
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