The Ely miner., 1907-02-08

phone receiver in answer to ring.
Hello"
"Yes, this is Cheney"
"Oh, it's you, Van Cott. Sure thing
I'm glad you're in town. Come right
up"
Ten minutes later Mr.. Cornelius
Van Cott, general superintendent of
one of the large express companies,
appeared in Cheney's Office. Cheney
and Van Cott were old friends.
well, what on earth brings you
here, Van?" said Cheney, after shak-
ing hands. whatever it is, I'm glad
to see you. I'll put you up while you're
in the city"
Hold on, Cheney, this is business
trip not for pleasure"
Wife with your" interrupted Che
ney, laughing.
stop your foolishness. I came
here to see you personally-on bust
ness, Observation-Disclosures business.
You won't put me, up, either, nor will
you be here for a few days after I
get through with YOU"
'Phew! It's the real thing, then"
Cheney had pretty good idea of the
nature of the business. His detective
service company had done lot of
valuable work for Van Colts corpora
ton, and whenever anything unusual
happened Cheney was called upon to
do the work necessary to solve the
case This, Notwithstanding Van Colts
company had pretty good secret
service department of its own. The
head of this department, John Cogh-
Ian, was a warm admirer of Cheney,
personally, and he had no jealous feel
ings when Cheney was called in on
difficult case.
1T hasn't been in the papers, as yet,
but I presume you know our st. Louis
Office was touched to the extent of
100000 few days since. The money
disappeared as if by magic. 1t was
checked in all right, and apparently
checked out the same way, but when
the package was opened by the con-
signee it was found TO contain tissue
paper"
who was the consignee?"
Third National 1t was remit
tance from a Pacific coast bank. We
put our own men to work on the
case, and notified the st. Louis police.
There hasn't been much progress
made, and that's the reason I'm here.
/ want you to take the case-you, per-
sonally, understand"
Suspect anyone at ALP" asked Che
ney, biting off the end of cigar
mo, not soul. I've looked up the
record of every man in the office, and
they all appear good to me-"
'Who receives the money in the st.
Louis Office; mean large amounts?"
Marc Catlin received this package"
"Catlin?" said Cheney, interroga-
lively. "Is that your presidents
name?"
"Yes, and Marc Catlin is his nephew.
Oh. he's all right"
"How old?"
About 49,"
"Habits?"
Good, now. About seven years ago
he got mixed up financially. Thought
he was a Napoleon of Wall street.
Usual result-went broke and through
bankruptcy. His uncle put him in the
express business, and he has since
done mighty good work. We are on
the eve of promoting him to a better
position"
Anyone else around Catlin while
this particular package was being
handled?"
There was another clerk, Daniels
by name, but Catlin says the package
wasn't out of his sight from the min
ute he received it until it was handed
the bank messenger. And the bank
messenger, by the way, was one of
the assistant cashiers, who was sent
down purposely by the president for
this remittance. He brought another
man with him, and the package was
delivered to the bank as received"
That's what the assistant cashier
says, eh?"
"Yes, and that's true, all right,
Cheney. The bank officer, Chad wick,
and the other man, are well-known in
society, financially well fixed, no bad
habits. I've had them looked UP.
They didn't take it,
you've certainly got heap of
mystery there, Van Cott. Who of the
St Louis force has been active on the
case?'
'"The chief gave me his best man,
Lieut.. Darrell, and he, in turn, has had
several men working with him; but,
apparently, they're UP against blank
wall. Now, it's UP to you, Cheney.
Are you willing to take it?"
"Yeg, I'll do it," replied Cheney.
ANY other officer of the company
know you were coming to me?"
"No, I'm the only one. You work it
out, and your reward will be commen-
surate with the size of the case"
Don't you worry about that, Van.
I'll make my bill ample enough to suit
all requirements" All through the
conversation Cheney had assumed
spirit of raillery towards Van Cott,
but underneath it all he waE doing
a lot of thinking, and his mind was
quickly made up.
go back to ST. Louis, Van Cott.
Pursue your investigation and later