The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-15

eusatiOns were hurled forth at her
she fully turned. Her color left her
and her eyes moved estsssly from
side to side. But sne was a quick
wltted woman and when he had fin
ished she had partly regained her
composure.
ga likely story, Col. Cheney. a very
likely story. indeed you have con-
eocted Clever detective work. She
was sneering. you have found out
I bought paper and envelopes, that
bought stamps. so might any number
Of people have done the same. But
you detectives have to accuse some
one, so you accuse me. You get me
in your Office alone, under false pre-
lenses. There are no witnesses to
this interview, and my word will go
as far as yours You brutel And you
call yourself a gentleman"
Il expected all this, Mrs. Cheney.
and 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,
1--WE are not alone"
Mrs. Abney had not yet given up the
ight-the 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 80
stamps from Johnson; S5 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-
ducing the half sheet Johnson had
sent him. Every one Of those stamps
is marked with indelible ink. /
marked them. On every other stamp
wrote your name, Grace Abney,
and on the others / marked my name,
| John " 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 it 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, the
names coming out with startling dis
tinctness.
For several minutes MS. Abnes
stood irresolute; her composure ant
self-possession left her; sobs shool
her frame as she sank in chair. This
fish was landed and the struggle wal
over.
: what are you going to do will
J Ime?" she sobbed "Oh, my God, wha
an exposurel What shall I do, wha
: shall l do?"
} "Do?" said Col Cheney Now tn
harshness and tone of command ha
I gone from his voice; the keen, aler
detective was gone; he was Cheney
the man and gentleman.
do? Why, you are going home. AM
/, be true to the good man whose nam
YOU bear. From this day forth your
$ going to be his wife in word, thought
] act and deed; you're going to rise an
!. sin no more" Gently he took he
hard and led her to the door
Cowed, beaten and broken, the err
a ing woman suffered herself to be lee
"Yes-but," she faltered, your set
a retary. She heard, she knows"
|, That's true. Mrs. Abney. she di
!. hear. she does know but Miss Woo
i. IS discretion itself She hears every
(, thing, sees everything, and know
d nothing. Good morning" And tn
door closed The poor little FISH wa
t once more swimming in untrouble
t. waters sadder but wiser
L well" said Stanton at four ocloc
g that afternoon, as he burst in upo
4 Cheney, "did you find the sender {
n those letters?"
Yes" tersely replied Cheney,
!. found the sender and you win |
I; troubled no more"
THANK God!" the young man mu
2 tered. "Who was it, and what al
you going to do about it?v
!" 'sWell, Stanton" drawled Chene
r I'm not going to do anything abol
it. It's stopped, that's all you want
g 'Was it Grace Abney?" slowly askt
9. Stanton.
mo, it wasn't Grace Abney." r
g piled Cheney.
We'll, you beat me. colonel. But
e suppose you know what you're doin
t Now nothing remains but settI
% ment. What's the fee7" he aslSe
o reaching for his check book
r That's So said Cheney. smilin
s q forgot the fee, The fee will
7, your promise to say nothing mo
8 about this case. You will also e
g tract the same promise from yo
friends who received these lettel
ID That's all, stanton. the case Is close
VI Remember me to Judge Treat VIII
h next you see him. And don't forg
Ie to get a new butler Good evening
Na~r