The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-02

Two columns were occupied with "A
highly sensational and fiowery rem
dering of the whole incident Holmes
propped it against the cruet-stand and
read it while he ate. Once or twice
he chuckled.
This is all right, Watson, said he.
Listen to this: 1T is satisfactory to
know that there can be no difference
Of opinion upon this case, since Mr..
Lestrade, one of the most experienced
members of the official force, and Mr..
Sherlock Holmes, the well-known con-
sulting expert, have each come to the
conclusion that the grotesque series of
incidents, which have ended in 50
tragic fashion, arise from lunacy
rather than from deliberate crime. No
explanation save mental alteration
can cover the facts. The Press, Wat
son, is q most valuable institution, IL
you only know how to use it. And
now, if you have quite finished we
will bark back to Kensington, and see
what the manager of Harding Brothers
has to say on the matter"
The founder of that great emporium
proved to be brisk, crisp little per-
son, very dapper and quick, with q
clear head and ready tongue.
Yes. sir, / have already read the
account in the evening papers. Mr..
Horace Harker is a customer of ours.
We supplied him with the best some
months ago. We ordered three busts
OF that sort from Gelder and Co., of
Stepney. They are ali sold now. TO
whom? Oh, | dare say by consulting
our sales-book we could very. easily tell
you. Yes, we have the entries here.
One to Mr.. Harl1er you see, and one
TO Mr.. Josiah Brown, of Laburnum
Lodge, I4aburnum Vale, ChisWick, and
one to Mr.. Sanderford, OF Lower Grove
Road, Reading. No, | have never
seen this face which you show me i'm
the photograph. You would hardly
forget it, would you, sir, for I've sell
dom seen an uglier. Have we any
Italians on the staff? Yes, sir, we have
several among our workpeople and
cleaners. | dare say they might get
a peep at that sales book If they
wanted to. There is no particular
reason for keeping watch upon that
book Wen, Well it's a very strange
business, and l hope that you will let
me know if anything comes of your
inquiries"
Holmes had taken Several notes dur
ing Mr. Harding's evidence, and !
could see that he was thoroughly sat
ished by the turn which affairs were
taking He made no remark, however.
save that unless we hurried, we should
be late for our appointment with Les
trade. Sure enough, when we reached
Baker Street the detective was already
there, and we found him pacing up
and down in q fever of impotence
His look of importance showed that
his days work had not been in vain
"Well?" he asked. What luck, Mr..
Holmes?"
I'VE have had a ver'- busy day, and
not entirely a wasted one" my friend
explained. I'VE have seen both the
retailers and also the wholesale manu-
facturers. l can trace each of the
busts now from the beginning"
THE busts!" cried Lestrade. "Well,
well, you have your own methods, Mr..
Sherlock Holmes, and it is not for me
TO say a word against them. but /
think I have done a better days work
than you / have identified the dead
man"
lyon don't say so?"
and found cause for the crime"
Splendid"
I'VE have an Inspector who makes
a speciality of Saffon Hill and the
Italian Quarter Well, this dead man
had some Catholic emblem round his
neck, and that, along with his colour,
made me think he was from the South
Inspector Hill knew him the moment
he caught sight of him. His name is
Pietro Nenucci, from Naples, and he
ia one of the greatest eut-throats i'm
London. He is connected with the
Malta, which, as you know, is a secret
political society enforcing its DEGREES
by murder. Now, you see how the af-
fair begins to clear up. The other
fellow is probably an italian also, and
q member of the Malta. He has broken
the rules i'm some fashion. Pietro is
set upon his track. Probably the pho
tograph we found in his pocket is the
man himself, SO that he may not knife
the wrong person. He dogs the fell
low, he sees him enter house, he
waits outside for him. and i'm the
scuftle he receives his own death
wound, How is that Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes?
Holmes clapped his hands apprev-
lngly.
Excellent. Lestrade, excellent he
cried. But I don't quite follow your
explanation Of the destruction of the
busts.
''The busts! You never can get
those busts out Of your head. After
all, that is nothing; petty larceny six
months at the most. It is the murder
that we are really investigating. and
Continued from Page Four)