The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-22

he ran 5uHn several eases Of more
or less Importance. but there vas
nothing to cause the blood to quicken
in his veins He was becoming af-
aicted with ennm when he vas placed
On q case requiring delicacy tact.
diplomacy and skin. The first and
last qualities Col Cheney had; they
we're Inherent In him. The second
znd third, howeFer. we're somewhat
under developed. The nature Of the
case need not be mentioned here. save
70 say It required Cheney to be dis
guised, and took him south. New
Orleans beng his objective point
Cheney always vas q gentleman, 50
it was no disguise to act the part;
but as his work took him south. he
assumed the part Of a southern plant
er who was Just returning from a
trip north. Dyes made his hair and
mustache Jet black: walnut dxea his
complexion 10 suit: and taken all in
all. Col Jack Cheney vas quite i'm
prasslyely good looking when he
boarded the New Orleans sleeper at
Memphis. He had come BY boat
from St Louis.
It was IN early s1mmer, and travel
south vas not very heavy Yellow
fever had not been conquered then
as nov, and every so often the
stegomyia got very busy and a fever
epidemic was the result. Neither
were Pullman sleepers such luxuri-
ant palaces on wheels as in the pres
ent day. There were only four other
people tn the car Magenta as the
train left Memphis. Cheney took them
all IN. two single ladies' and man
and his wife. Cheney's section was
NEAR one end OF the car. and that cc-
cupIed By the man and his wits 81
the other end. The man soon showed
signs Of liquor. In the smoking car
he proffered Cheney beautiful flask
with the usual saIutati0n:
Have a drink, stranger"
Thanks. no. said Cheney. TOO
warm this evening"
THAT the only reason2" Just a
faint suggestion Of sneer accom-
panied this.
@That's the only one care to offer
right now" said Cheney. his blue
eyes becoming steeIy gray.
The stranger was big man, phys
icaIly. He had long jet black hair,
parted way over on one side, and
his eyes we're the same color. His
expression was not very prepossess-
ing. and something told Cheney to
keep his eyes on him.
Well. there's no harm done; here's
my card"
The card read Fred Leigh" and
gave street address ia New Orleans.
Cheney thought minute, and then
remembered the address given was in
the gambling district in New Or
leans. He also had heard Of bad
man" among the gamblers named
Fred Leigh. This was evidently the
man.
Presumably Leigh thought the mere
sight Of his name would thoroughly
COW the stranger, and perhaps he
would give him his card In return
But Cheney did nothing Of the kind;
he merely bowed. and curtly said
Thanks" then returned TO his seat
In the car.
During the evening Leigh imblbed
freely. and several times vas engaged
IN animated conversation with his
wife. Angry words passed between
them. Cheney kept his eyes and ears
open, but nothing untoward happened
which would warrant his interfer-
ence.
The next morning Leigh resumed
his drinking, and by 10:3O was ugly
drunk. The conductor and porter did
nothing to keep him quiet; in fact.
they informed Cheney that Leigh was
a bad man. They knew him well.
and, as the porter expressed it: "Ef
any one crossed Mistah Leigh, he
was turribIe bad" Cheney had seen
~turrlble bad" men a plenty in his
day, and knew that generally there
was a streak OF yellow in their make
up If some one had nerve enough to
bring It out.
Quite a number Of passengers had
boarded the train since leaving Mem
phIs, and about 1875 in the morning
Mr. Leigh staggered up the isle NUT
tering snprecations under his breath.
He was looking for trouble. and. as Is
usually the case, he got it. He dropped
Into the seat beside his wife, who was
small and quite pretty. She appeared
afraid Of him, but demonstrated will
him in regard to his conduct.
Shut up. he growIed, like cur.
and then without the least pF0voCa
ton or warning. he struck her on
the cheek with his open hand.
Cheney had learned never to inter
fere in q wordy war between man
and woman, but when a blow was
struck, then 1t as time for action.
Like a fash he went up the aisle Leigh
was larger man than Cheney, but
Cheney's muscles were like bands Of
steel His life and training we're good
and he knew selfdefenae from A to
z. He caught Mr. Leigh By the back
OF hls coat. ierked him out Of the
seat and shook him like q terrier does
q rat. With 2 feeling of disgust Che