The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-01-02

was only a young man then-
twenty-six-just married, and with a
reputation to make. At that time the
whole detective staff were engaged on
the mysterious Damian case, which
you no doubt remember. No?
1t was this Miss Damian was a
wealthy old lady who lived on the
outskirts of Windsor She was eccen-
trio, but generous, and lived alone
with a man and his wife as servants,
whom she treated very kindly.
One morning the female servant, al
most dead with fright, crawled into
the Windsor police station with the
intelligence that thieves had broken
into the house during the night, and
that something dreadful had happen
ed.
Miss Damian had heard them and
cried out. Petworth, her husband, had
gone to Miss Damian's aid. She her
self was so terrified that she dared
not move. She heard a srpan, and
lay paralyzed with terror till 1t was
light, and had then crept down the
back staircase, and brought the news.
What had really taken place she did
not know.
Two officers went back with her.
They found Petworth on the stairs,
unconscious from great wound In
his head, and Miss Damian outside
her bedroom door, stone dead.
/ Petworth was taken to the infrm-
ary at once, and the hue and CRY was
raised. Windsor telegraphed to u.s.
Two Of use went. We came to the
conclusion that It was a London job
We worked hard to secure the muir
derers. We made every inquiry at
Windsor and at the railway stations.
We closely watched all known thieves
In town, and arrested on suspicion
those whom we thought likely. But 1t
was useless. For several weeks we
exerted ourselves to the utmost, but
It became one of those many crimes
that seem fated to be a secret. OF
course the papers, who were wiser
than we, were very severe with us on
account of our failure. We had come
to the conclusion that it was one of a
series of robberies that had taken
place within a radius Of thirty miles
from London, which had all Of them
completely bafTled us.
One evening, about month after
the murder, being off duty, my wife
asked me to take a message to her
brother, Strand toDacconist's assist
ant. Ny wife used to tell me was
the handsomest man of the force, and
she delighted in making me look as
smart as possible. AS | was going
out she plucked a carnation and stuck
1t in my buttonhole, laughingly de-
claring looked lust lovely" Little
did we guess that that simple flower
would bring fortune to one and death
to another.
| found my brothT-in-law was not
there, being out on business, but was
expected back by the train due at
Charing Cross at 7.15; so strolled up
to the station to meet him. A train
had just arrived, and | sauntered up
and down the platform watching the
arrivals.
Everybody had cleared away from
the platform when veiled lady came
hurrying by. She looked at me and
I observed, took particular notice OF
the flower in my coat. She made as
If to pass me, but turned around.
Good evening, Mr.. Trenchard," she
said in an inquiring tone.
do not know what spirit Of mis-
chief it was that prompted me, but
answered Good evening""
81 should have known you by the
description I've had Of you, sir, as
well as by your flower, but thought
you would speak first"
What did that woman mean? A de-
tective is always suspicious; a yount
detective, eager to achieve fame, more
than Suspicious. There was something
about the woman l didn't like, and
determined to let her talk on, littl,
dreaming what was to follow.
l noticed that the tone of voice dit
not correspond with her dress. Sh,
was dressed richly, If not exactly ele
gantly; but her speech showed tina
she was person of little education.
Although you have never seen M
before sir, you may put full confidence
In me. l am Bills wife, you know
and one of you now. You know, sir
how things turned out?"
Eyes, but let me have the particu
lars again, said adroitly.
"Well, Bill and Alec are in a blu
funk; | never thought Bill would
so nervous as he is; they want to G
over the water for bit Bill said
must tell you as they didn't mean t
do for the old lady, nor even hurt her
Il gave such start that if the woma
had been observing me she must hav
guessed there Wa something wrong
but she screamed. and that old foo
her man. came. and It was a nes