Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-17

NCOntfnued FROM rage One-D)
mud. He hoped to find some clue
some label, some little button, some
shred of the dead mans past life,
but it was not until the ninth day thai
he came across a cigar holder with
an amber mouthpiece marked "F
w. B." Either the murderer, the
woodsmen, or perhaps himself, had
stepped upon it, as the cigar holder
was nearly buried in the swampy
ooze.
The Old-Never-Let-Go," the
name by which he was known to
the criminal underworld through
North America, had finally discov-
cred the first clue.
On the 10th day after the great
Canadian detective had begun his in
vestigations to find the murderer OF
the unknown Englishman (for it was
obvious that he was English by the
cut of his clothes), stranger accom-
panied by his wife came to Blen-
helm and asked for an interview with
the great chief The mans name
was Reginald Birchall. He said he
came from London, England. He
told Chief Inspector Murray that he
had seen the photograph in the news
paper of the man who was found in
Dead Mans swamp" and that it
struck him that he looked very much
like man he and his wife had met
casually on board steamer coming
from London.
do you remember the mans
name?" asked Murray.
II think it was either Benswell or
Bentwell. / am not certain as only
met him on the steamer casually"
replied Reginald Birchall. "The name
of the ship was the Britannia of the
White Star line"
when did you last see him alive?"
"As we three were travelling to
Niagara Falls. I noticed him at the
falls. He had lot of luggage with
him. He told US that he was on his
way to London, Ontario"
On Way to London, Ontario.
Would you recognize his lug
gage?"
Il think | could"
"You said he was going to Lon
don. Ontario"
THAT is what he told us" replied
Birchall.
THAT is a pretty strange coinci-
dence, man coming from London,
England, and going to London, On
tario. 1t is one of the worst holes
in the wall in the whole Dominion
province. Why, they would kill
man. in that town for half a dollar.
Perhaps that accounts for his DEATH"
observed the detective.
Murray would have thanked this
man and his wife for their willing
ness to assist him, and disposed of
them, had it not been for an acci-
dental glance he happened to cast at
Birchal's wife. An expression Of re-
lief that he observed on the face of
Mrs. Birchall struck him as sus-
picious.
"You have been in Canada be-
fore?" he further questioned Birchall.
"We have" replied Birchall.
Reginald Birchall was a we'll
dressed, calm and care-free looking
Englishman.
Murray asked him a few more
questions, then suddenly producing
his note book, said: do you mind
repeating what you have told me.
| would like to take few notes in
case I forget" That look on Mrs.
Birchall's face had made him sus-
oect the couple, and in view of the
TACT that he had almost no clue to
90 by he considered it did not mat
Ter much even if he was not on the
right track just at that time.
did l understand you to say that
poy parted from the murdered man
at the falls?"
Eyes"
did you ever hear from him
afterwards"
"Just short letter"
Have you got it with you?"
Birchall turned to his wife and
asked, "Have you got Fred's note,
my dear?"
Woman Embarrassed.
Birchall's question to his wife
gave Murray feeling Of satisfac-
ton. Birchall was lying, for he told
the detective a few minutes before
that he was not quite sure of the
mans name and that he had met
him quite casually. He thought it
was rather strange that he should
refer to the dead man by his Chris
tian name.
The woman was embarrassed and
finally said that she did not know
she still had the note or
not.
Murray felt by this time that there
was more behind Birchall's story
than he was willing to tell. He was
sure that Birchall was lying.
He dismissed the Birchalls, not
they were under suspic-
ion. But he Immediately instructed
his assistants that they were not to
be left out of their sight day or
night, until they received further
from him. In the mean
time he obtained a list Of all the
passengers on board the Britannia,