The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-04-12

llOu IAe sea, anu an army could come
up in rear of the city from Batabano,
40 miles away. Would the Spanish
army be ready for such a movement?
This was the information Cheney
wanted to get: He had numerous
civilian employees and officers of the
army under his command, but just
the right person did not appear He
was not hampered for funds and
could pay any price for this Informal
| tlon. He offered a thousand dollars
or more to several men. Three of
them tried it, but the Spaniards were
| came of the attempts.
The first man got to Batabano all
right, and then his feet became cold
and he came back. The second tried
| to get in from the sea side, but
failed. The third man, bright Irish
man named Murphy, landed at Matan.
zas and approached Havana from the
east. He got in the city, but nothing
more was ever heard of him. Pre-
sumably he was captured, tried as a
spy and shot. Spain treated spies
differently than America-she shot
them. We kept them prisoners, fed
them on the fat of the land and after
three months let them go.
One morning, about the 10th OF
May, Cheney sat in his Office in the
Tampa Bay hotel, when a card was
brought to him.
Miss Frances Dodge he read
wonder what woman wants with
me? Show her in
"You are Col. Cheney?' The colonel
looked up and found himself gazing
into pair of very pretty black eyes
The face and figure that went with
them, too, were beautiful. The woman
looked like Spaniard
Eyes, I am COL Cheney. What can
1 do for you, Miss Dodge?"
The young lady (she wasn't over
25) quietly handed him a letter.
"Sit down, won't you, please?" he
said, as he broke the seal. Miss
Dodge seated herself demurely and
waited for the colonel to finish the
letter. He read it through once, and
then again. The letter was from the
secretary of war, introducing Miss
Frances Dodge, who was DESTROYS Of
entering the secret service, and who
the secretary thought could be Of
great use to Col. Cheney. Cheney hat
used women in his detective service
company many times, and they ha6
done good work, but in war he failed
to see where they could be used. AND
this one, this pretty little dark-haired
and black-eyed bit of femininity-
what could she do in this conflict oil
men?
$50 you want to enter the secret
service, Miss Dodge?" said Cheney
with an almost patronizing smile.
Eyes, Colonel, I do The answer
was tense and earnest and the voice
soft and low.
And what do you want to do
pray?'
Il want to go to Havana" Her rec
lips parted, showing even white teeth
and she leaned forward slightly.
'You want to go where?" almost
gasped Cheney.
Havana, senior"
"And what do you want to dc
there?" said the colonel, noting the
Spanish used.
Senor Ell Colonel answered Miss
! Dodge, rising and leaning over his
desk, you want information about
Havana; you have sent men and they
have failed; now send a woman. she
won't fail. Wait, please, colonel
seeing Cheney was about to interrupt
my mother was a full-blooded Span.
lard, and / speak the language like a
Castilian. From my looks l could be
taken for native; that is in nv ia.
vor. Now, Col. Cheney, give me the
chance. I can't do less than fail. and
that costs you nothing. If suc.
coed, pay me as my services deserve
You see, colonel, I need the money y
But, my dear Miss Dodge" expos
tulated the colonel, think of the dan
ger attendant upon such an undertake
ing! Men have failed as you say
"A woman HASN'T interrupted the
lady, And, besides, colonel, I am
oAoAo III IAe "Ol1u. m newspaper
woman and am used to taking care OF
myself"
"Have you talked this over with
the secretary of war, Miss Dodge?'
Eyes, have, and that letter to Won
is the result. He wouldn't have writ
ten the letter if he hadn't believed in
me, would he?"
That's logic. How do you propose
getting into Havana in case YOU COP
"All l ask is to be put ashore ten
miles west of Havana, and I'll do the
rest. BY May 80 I'll be back here
Col. Cheney, with the information Won
want"
Miss Dodge" he said, after think.
ing hard over the proposition. I'll
give you the chance. You may leave
tonight for Key West. A vessel will
be there to land you where you de-
sire. You know the risk, you are
willing to take it. If you yet the in.
formation we want I'll pay you ST..
5OO.''
Then you may have the warrant
drawn, Col. Cheney, because I'll be
back here to claim it 20 days from
now"
Il hope you will" He then gave
her specific instructions and offered
her money for expenses.
Thank you, Colonel, I don't need
that. I have sufficient funds with
me-
Cheney arranged for the vessel by
telegraph, and that evening Miss
Dodge was gone. Three days later he
received telegram from the vessels