A Romance from a Detective's Case-Book.

By Dick Donovan.

Author of * The Nan frone Aanchester,

was somewhere about the year 1820 that a poor and almost friendless youth named Samuel Trelawney found him- self i Liverpool with not cven the proverbial sixpence in his IFortunately he attracted the notice .C:ls't India trade. This gentleman took such a fancy to Samuel that hc offered to scnd him out to his house m Bombay, where he would recelve a commercial training. This was the oolden opportunity, and ecagerly scized upon by the young man, who, after five ycars i the Fast Tndies, returned to Liverpool owing to the death of his patron. But this time he was no longer a penniless youth. He had managed to scrape a httle money together, and having acquired a thorough knowledge of commercial matters, he set up in business on his own account i a very small way. That was the beginning of the great concern that was to extend its ramifications to the four quarters of the globe.

Under Samuel’s able guidance the business continued to grow, and he took 1n a partner---a Mr. Richard lindmark. Soon the concern began to assume gigantic proportions, and the partners decided to turn it into a joint- stock company. Such a reputation had they gained that the required capital was sub- scribed three times over.

pocket. of a guntlcman cngaged 1 the

“Aracked to oo,

Dincan 2 o Delectiod's Triwmphs,” I the Gripof the Law,

Y Caught at Last,” IV ho Dolsoncd Helty

s, cle.y cle.

So much for the history of the firm of Trelawney, Tindmark, and Co. And 1t is necessary now that some reference should be madce to the private history of Mr. Trelawney, who not only rctained a very large financial interest in the company, but as managing director had almost the entire control of it. At this pertod wonder was often expressed why Mr. Trcelawney had never married. But there was a tender passage in his life that he carcfully concealed from the vulgar gaze of the curious. He had had his little romance. The lady he loved was a light- headed, frivolous person who, knowing not the treasure she was throwing away, gave him up and bestowed her hand on a handsome but worthless Italian adventurer. There i; not the shightest doubt that Mr. I'relawney had been passionately attached to the lady, and he felt the disappointment with a keen- ness that the world knew hittle of. But concealing his sorrow as best he could, he took his youngest sister Bertha as his house-

keeper. He had bought a charming estate con the Cheshire side of the Mersey, consisting of a mansion standing in about seven acres of grounds. It was known as the “ Dingle,” and here Mr. ‘Trelawney and his sister Bertha dispensed lavish

hospitality. Soon a mystery in connection with this place cropped up, and set the tonguces of the gossips wagging. It was this.