Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-26

"Let US get 10 the open window.
We Will nab him as be climbs out"
Lestrede whispered.
But before we could move the man
had emerged again. AS he came out
into the glimmering patch Of light we
saw that ne carried something white
under his arm- He looked stealthily
all round him. The silence OF the de-
serted street treasured dim. Turning
his back upon US, he laid down his bur
den. and the next instant there was the
sound Of a sharp tap. followed by a
clatter and rattle. The man was SO
intent upon what he was doing that he
never heard our steps as we stole
across the grass plot. With the bound
OF a tiger, Holmes was or his back.
and an instant later Lestrade and
had him by either wrist and the hand
cuffs had been fastened AS we turn
ed him over saw a hideous. sallow
face. with writing. furious features.
glaring up at US. and knew that IL
was indeed the man OF the photograph
whom we had secured
But IL was not our prisoner to whom
Holmes was giving his attention.
Squatted on the doorstep. he was en-
gagged in most carefully examining that
which the man had brought from the
house. It was bust OF Napoleon, like
the one which we had seen that morn
ing. ard Il had been broken into similar
fragments Carefully Holmes held each
separate shard to the light, but in no
way did II differ from any other shat
tered piece of plaster He had Just
D. H. a.
hall lights few up. the door opened and
the owner OF the house. jovisl. rotund
figure in shirt and trousers, presented
himself
"Mr. Josiah Brown. suppose?' said
Holmes.
Yes, sir; and you. no doubt. are Mr..
Sherlock Holmes? I had the note
which you sent by the express messen-
ger, and / did exactly what you told
me. We locked every door on the In
side and awaited developments Well,
I'm very glad that you have got the ras-
al I hope. gentlemen. that you will
come in and have some refreshment-"
However. Lestrade was anxious to
get his man into safe quarters. so
within a few minutes our cab had
been summoned and we were all four
upon our way 60 London. Not word
would our captive say but he glared
at Us from the shadow OF his matted
hair. and once when my hand was
within his reach he snapped at IL like
a hungry wolf. We stayed long enough
at the police station 20 learn that a
search OF his clothing revealed nothing
save few shillings and long sheath
knife. the handle OF which bore CO.
pious traces OF recent blood.
That's all right" said Lestrade as
we parted. "Hll knows all these gen
try, and he will give a name 20 him.
You'll End that my theory OF the Msfa
will work out all right. But I'm sure
1 am exceedingly obliged 20 you. Mr..
Holmes. for the workmanlike way in
which you laid hands upon him.
don't quite understand IL all yet"
II fear il is rather too late an hour
for explanations" said Holmes. BE
sides. there are one or two details
which are not finished of. and 10 is
one Of those cases which are worth
working out 20 the very end. II you
will come round once more 60 my
rooms az q o'clock tomorrow think l
shall be able 20 show you that even
now YOU have not grasped the entire
meaning Of this business. which pre-
sents some features which make IL
absolutely original IN the history OF
crime. IL ever | permit you 20 chron-
icle any more OF my little problems.
Watson. foresee that you viii enliv-
en- your pages by an account Of the
singular adventure OF the Napoleonic
busts"
When we met again next evening Lee
strade was furnished with much in
formation concerning our prisoner. His
name, IL appeared. was Beppo. second
name unknown. de was well known
ne'er-do-well among the Italian col
ony He had once been a skillful sculp-
tor and had earned an honest living.
bat he had taken 20 evil courses and
had twice already been in tail-once for
petty theft and once as we had al
ready heard, for s.abbing a fellow
countryman. He could talk English
perfectly we'll. His reasons for de-
stroying the busts were still unknown.
and be refused 10 answer any ques-
lions upon the subject. but the police
had discovered that these same busts
might very we'll have been made by
his own hands. since he was engaged
In this class of work at the establish
ment OF Colder & Co.
To all this information. much OF
which we already knew, Holmes lis
| tened with polite attention, but /, who
knew him so well. could clearly see
that his thoughts were elsewhere and
detected a mixture OF mingled I'M
easiness and expectation beneath that
| mask which he was wont TO assume.
/ At last he started in his chair, and his
eyes Frightened. There had been a
ring at the bell minute later we
heard steps upon the stairs. and an
elderly. red faced man with griEzled
side wbiskers was ushered in. In his
ga