Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01

against the cruet stand and read 1t 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 Of
fetal force. and Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, the
well-known consulting expert, have each
come to the conclusion that the grotesqus
series of incidents, which have ended in
so tragic fashion, arise from lunacy rath-
er than from deliberate crime. No explana-
ton save mental alteration can cover the
facts The press, Watson, is a most val
liable institution If you only know how to
use 1t. And now, if you have quite finished,
we will bark back TO Kensington, and see
what the manager of Harding Brothers mas
to say on the matter"
The founder of that great emporium prov
ed to be brisk, crisp little person. very
dapper and quick, with clear head and
a ready tongue.
Yes, sir, 1 have already read the
count in the evening papers. Mr. Horace
Harker is customer of ours. We sup
piled him with the bust some months ago.
We ordered three busts of that sort from
Gelder & Co. of Stepney. They all sold
now. To whom? Oh, L dare say by con-
sulting our esalesbook we would very cas-
lily tell you. Yes, we have the entries here.
One to Mr.. Harker, you see, and one to
Mr.. Josiah Brown of Laburnum Lodge,
Ilaburnum Vale, Chiswick, and one to Mr..
Sandeford of Lower Grove road, Reading.
No, have never seen this face which you
show me in the photograph. You would
hardly forget it, would you, sir, for I've
seldom seen an uglier. Have we any 1tal-
ians on the staff? Yes sir, we have sew
eral among our workpeople and cleaners.
l dare say they might get peep at that
salesbook If they wanted to. There is no
particular reason for keeping watch upon
that book. Well. well, It's a very strange
business, and / hope that you will let me
know If anything comes of your inquiries"
Holmes had taken several notes during
Mr.. Harding's evidence, and 1 could
that he was thoroughly satisfied by the
turn which affairs We're taking He made
no remark, however, save that, unless we
hurried, we should be late for our appoint
ment with Lestrade. Sure enough, when
we reached Baker street the detective was
already there, and we found him pacing up
and down in a fever of Impotence. His
look of Importance showed that his days
work had not been in vain.
"Well?' he asked. What luck, Mr..
Holmes?'
Eve have had very busy day, and not
entirely a wasted one" my friend eX-
planned I'VE have seen both the retailers
and also the wholesale manufacturers. l
can trace each Of the busts now from the
beginning"
1.-THE busts. cried Lestrade "WeII, well.
you have your own methods, Mr.. Sherlock
against them, but I think 1 have done a
better days work than you. 1 have identi-
fed the dead man."
You don say So.
And found a cause for the crime"
Splendid"
I'VE have an inspector who makes a spe-
calty of Saffron hill and the Italian quar-
ter. Well, this dead man had some Catho-
lie emblem round his neck, and that, along
with his color, made me think he was
from the south. Inspector Hill knew him
the moment he caught sight of him. His
name is Pietro Venucci, from Naples, and
he is one of the greatest cut-throats in
London. He is connected with the Malta,
which, you know, is Il secret political So
ciety, enforcing its DEGREES by murder.
Now, you how the affair begins to
clear up. The other fellow is probably an
Italian also, and member Of the Malta.
He has broken the rules in some fashion.
Pietro is set upon his track. Probably the
photograph we found in his pocket is the
man himself, so that he may not knife the
wrong person. He dogs the fellow, sees
him enter g. house, he waits outside for
him, and in the scuff1e he receives his own
death-wound. How is that, Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes?'
Holmes clapped his hands approvingly.
Excellent, Lestrade, excellent" he cried
But didn'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. 1t is the murder that we are really
investigating, and l tell you that 1 am
gathering all the threads into my hands,
And the next stage?"
'Is very simple one. shall go down
with Hill to the italian quarter find the
man whose photograph we have got, and
arrest him the charge of murder. Will
you come with us?
II think not. 1 fancy we can attain our
end in simpler way. l can't say for GER
tain, because it all depends-weI 1t all
depends upon factor which Is completely
outside our control. But I have great
hopes-in fact, the betting is exactly two
to one-that If you will come with us to-
night 1 shall be able to help you to lay
him by the heels.
IN the italian quarter"
mo, l fancy Chiswick is an address
which is more likely to find him. If you
will come with, me to Chiswick tonight
Lestrade I'll promise to go to the Italian
quarter with you tomorrow, and no harm
will be done by the delay. And now 1
think that few hours sleep would do
us all good for do not propose to leave
before eleven O'clock and it is unlikely
| that we shall be back before morning.
You'll dine with us, Lestrade, and then
you are welcome to the sofa until 1t is
| time for us to start. In the meantime,