The Case of the Musical Cow

Last night things came to a showdown. Harvey Richmond, who I now understand is connected with the State Narcotics Division, forced his way aboard and tried to make an arrest.

A man, whom I only met yesterday, who gave the name of Rob Trenton, had smuggled in a shipment of heroin that had been concealed by him in an automobile which he had arranged to drive for a young woman who was on the ship with him. After he had smuggled this dope shipment ashore he buried it. He told the smugglers where he had buried it and they went to get it. I understand one of the gang was arrested when he went to dig it up.

This man Trenton was aboard my houseboat last night. Harvey Richmond evidently had been keeping the boat under observation. I didn’t know this. I had decided to terminate the lease on the boat and notify the police. I went ashore but left my car parked clown under a little wooden shed on an adjoining farm which I rent as a garage. I had gone to it and then recalled some personal belongings I wanted on the boat.

It was as I was returning to the boat that I heard a car drive up at high speed. Then, when I was almost to the boat, I saw this man, Rob Trenton, run off the houseboat and to the pier. I saw him cast loose the lines that held the houseboat, then someone tried to stop him. I think it was Harvey Richmond, but I can’t be sure. He called to Trenton to stop and surrender. Robert Trenton raised a gun and fired twice. Richmond, or whoever it was, fell back to the deck. I turned and started to run through the darkness to my car. I had gone about twenty yards when I looked back over my shoulder and saw the first flames coming up from my boat. I debated whether to notify the police and finally decided against it because I thought no one knew I had been aboard the boat, so I got in my car and went to my home.

That is all I know.