The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-06-25

"No."
Atwater appeared curious, and Doug
las added that there was a story con-
nected with his keeping pistol under
his head Mt night and TINT he always
carried one about him during the day.
Atwater pressed him to tell him why
he did this, but Douglas seemed. trou-
bled at the mention OF the matter, ex.
cusing himself from giving the story.
Atwater forhore to press him further
and went to his own room.
Atwater awoke In the morning.
dressed and went to his friends room
to say goodby. A fearful sight greet
cd him. Douglas was lying dead, his
head hanging or the bed so us TO ex.
pose the throat. which was dark pur-
pie, Indicating strangulation. Atwa-
ter's first Impulse was to arouse the
house, but his second was to allow
some one else 10 discover the murder.
He knew that the man caught with a
murdered person was liable to suspt-
clon, and no one can tell where such
suspicion will lead. He would depart
Us he had intended, saying nothing
about having seen his friend. He left
the room, turned to 90 down the main
staircase and, descending, went out Of
the front door. He was all of trem-
BILE when he got on the train, but went
to the city. attended to his duties as
usual and was going home, expecting
to see Douglns' death in the evening
paper when he was stopped at the
door of his office by policeman, who
arrested him on a charge of murder.
A maid had gone up the back staircase
as Atwater had emerged from the
chamber Of death and had seen him
leave the room.
! was retained to defend Atwater
and got the story / have told from
him, but could not tell such story
to jury. \ murder trial is a tilt be.
tween the prosecuting attorney and the
accused's counsel with weapons ar.
ranged for by the court, tile judge
handing them their pistols Just as
second win hand pistols to duelists. l
had no case whatever. Douglas could
give no reason for being at Royalton
except that he had gone to sleep on
the train. He was seen leaving the
victims room and had gone TO his bust
ness, saying nothing about the murder.
The prosecuting attorney made a fine
speech, calling the iury's attention to
the wisdom Of the Supreme Being who
had sent the maid up the back stair.
case in the nick of time Atwater was
convicted aud sentenced to be hanged.
1t was after the trial that got
IN my fine work. | knew from my ell.
ents story that Douglas had been ex-
pecting an attack, but from whom? /
worked night and day till l found out;
but, finding out, I.could not prove that
the person l suspected had committed
the murder. One thing of Importance
! did find out, though to do so had to
play detective. The secret enemy had
sworn TO kill not only Douglas, but an.
other man. That other man was at the
time OF Douglas death in Europe.
When he returned l asked him cues
tons, the answers to which tailed with
what l had learned
One morning found myself a dis
tlngulshed criminal lawyer. L had
slept the night before in the bed usual.
" occupied by Judge Dudley. Just be-
fore daylight man had entered the.
room, and had shot. him dead. He
proved TO be Tom keenan, and had
some ten years before been sent to
state prison by Judge Dudley, his con-
vlction having been secured by Prose.
ruting Attorney Fairfax Douglas. He
had sworn to XIII both the Judge and
the attorney, After Douglas, death
knew he would try TO kill the judge as
soon as he returned from abroad, and
] surmlsed he would take the same
method he had taken with Atwater. |
secured the judges consent that I
-Ehould receive the attack. II had
been Atwater. with my life depending