The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-02


IDENTIFY not there, for again we saw
the fash through another blind, and
then through another
Let us get to the open window. We
will nab him as he climbs out Les
trade whispered.
But before we could move. the man
had emerged again. AS he came out
into the glimmering patch of light, we
saw that he carried something white
under his arm. He looked stealthily
all round him. The silence of the de-
serted street treasured him. Turning
his back upon us he laid down his
burden, and the next instant there
was the sound Of a sharp tap. followed
by chatter 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 tiger Holmes was on his back,
and an instant later Lestrade and I
had him by either wrist, and the hand
cuffs had been fastened. AS we turned
him over / saw a hideous, sallow face.
with writing, furious features, gar-
ing up at us, and | knew that it was
indeed the man of the photograph
whom we had secured.
But it 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
louise Ii was a bust of Napoleon, like
the one which we had seen that morn
ing. and il had been broken into SIM
liar fragments. Carefully Holmes held
each separate shard to the light, but
IN no way did it differ from any other
shattered piece of plaster. He had
lust completed his examination when
the hall lights flew UP, the door opened.
and the owner of the house, jovial,
rotund figure in shirt and trousers.
presented himself.
Mr.. Josiah Brown, / suppose?' said
Holmes.
Yves. sir; and you, no doubt, are Mr..
Sherlock Holmes? | had the note
which you sent by the express messen-
ger, and I did exactly what you told
me. We locked every door on the in
side and awaited developments. Well.
I'm very glad to see that you have got
the rascal. l hope, gentlemen, that
YOU will come in and have some re-
feshment."
However, Lestrade was anxious to
get his man into safe quarters, SO with
in a few minutes our cab had been
summoned and we were all four upon
our way to London. Not word would
our captive say, but he glared at us
from the shadow of his matted hair,
once. when my hand seemed within his
reach, he snapped at 1t like hungry
wolf. We stayed long enough at the
polce-station tc learn that search of
his clothing revealed nothing save a
few shillings and a long sheath knife,
the handle of which bore copious traces
of recent blood.
That's all right" said Lestrade, as
we parted. 'fIIill knows all these gem
try, and he will give name to him.
You'll find that my theory of the
Malta will work out all right. But
I'm sure I am exceedingly. obliged to
you, Mr.. Holmes, for the worlkmanlike
way in which you laid hands upon him.
| don't quite understand it all yet"
II fear 1t is rather too late an hour
for explanations" said Holmes. Be
sides, there are one or two details
which are not finished off. and 1t is one
Of those cases which is worth working
out to the very end. If you will come
round once more to my rooms at six
o'clock tomorrow, / think / shall be
able to show you that even now you
have not grasped the entire meaning
O. this business, which presents some
features which make 1t absolutely orig
inal in the history of crime. If ever
l permit you to chronicle any more of
my little problems, Watson, l foresee
that you will enliven your pages by an
account of the singular adventure of
the Napoleonic busts.''
When we met again next evening,
Lestrade was furnished with much in
formation concerning our prisoner His
name, 1t appeared. was Beppo. second
name unknoYn. He was a well-known
ne'er-do-well among the Italian col
ony. He had once been skillful sculp-
ter and had earned an honest living,
but he had taken to evil courses and
had twice already been in jail-once
for petty theft. and once, as we had
already heard. for stabbing a fellow
countryman. He could talk English
perfectly well. His reasons for de-
stroying the busts were still unknown.
and he refused to answer any ques-
tons upon the subject h.'t the police
had discovered that thes4 same busts
might very well have beer made by his
own hanCs. since he was engaged in
this class Of work at the establishment