The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-07-23


to bring about the denouement.
Just off of Cheney's Office was an
alcove room before the door of which
hung a curtain. In this alcoye was
his secretary's office, and his secre-
tary was a very bright woman named
May Wood Cheney called her.
Miss Wood, tomorrow morning I
want you to be in your office con-
stantly. I expect a lady visitor, quite
a society woman in fact, and 1 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 come-not just
yet, If at ALL 1t depended on the
woman.
The next morning about II o'clock
the postmaster and Mrs. Abney ar
rived. She was a 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 well 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
4 ~
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. 1t 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"
What? Mr.. Johnson? Impossible,
Col. Cheney, impossible"
Mrs. Abney, nothing is impossible
/ have not said Mr.. Johnson was i'm
plicated. / am merely investigating.
OF course Mr.. Abney buys all his
stamps downtown; but you, / pre-
sumo. purchase stamps for your cor
respondence at the sub station near
where you live"
Cheney spoke in well mOdulated
voice. His manner was that of a gen.
tleman, his eyes were 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. Il buy
stamps frequently from Mr.. Johnson"
Just SO. And when did you last
buy any from him 2
why, let me see-three days ago,
if / remember Alright"
Her memory was good; that was
the day Johnson reported the sale and
returned the remaining half sheet.
Not muscle of Cheney's face moved;
the smile was still there.
Have you used all you bought on
that day, Mrs. Cheney?"
why, no. / 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 I'M
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 l beg you to excuse me; |
1 have an appointment and must go"
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 i
faster. The color faded from her face.
Yes, know him; what of it?"
You were engaged to him, were
you not?"
"Col. Cheney, your remarks are be-
personal and. to say the least,
impertient l did not come here to
talk to me like that / shall tell Mr.
Abney and he can settle with YOU"
She turned to leave, but Col. Cheney.
who had risen again, said: Watt"
and this time there was no installing
the tone; 1t was a command.
Excuse me, Mrs. Abney, but / do
not think you will tell Mr. Abney any
hing about it. You were in love with
Fred Stanton, and you are yet. He
married another woman and you de-
to get even with him. You
couldn't attack him, you couldn't find
/ weak spot in his armor; but you
knew his wife, you knew her condi-
ion. You would strike him through
her. Then you used the most damn
able of weapons. the anonymous let
.er. You sent them to Mrs. Stanton,
rou sent them to his friends. Just
,ne falling in Mrs. Stanton's hand
and your revenge would have been
complete. You wouldn't write the let.
.ers, you cut words out of the news
paper and pasted them on a sheet
Similarly you prepared the addresses
You bought the paper at the station
cry store near your house, the stamps
rom Johnson. and while your husband
IL, ~ l. 1