The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-07-06

ter and rattle. The man was so inten
upon what he was doing that he nevel
heard our steps as we stole across tn,
grass plot. With the bound of a tigel
Holme was on HIS back, and an instan'
later Lestrade and 1 had him by eithel
wrist, and the handouts had been fas-
tened. AS we turned him over l saw 8
hideous, sallow face, with writing, fur.
ious features, glaring up at US, and
knew that it was indeed the man of the
photograph whom we had secured.
But 1t was not our prisoner to whom
Holmes was giving his attention. Squatted
on the doorstep. he was engaged in most
careful examining thai which the man
had brought from the house. 1t was a
bust of Napoleon, like the one which we
had see that morning, and 1t had been
broken into similar fragments. Carefully
Holmes held each separate shard to the
light but in no way did 1T differ from any
other shattered piece of plaster. He had
Just completed his examination when the
haH lights flew up, the door opened, and
the owner of the house, a jovial, rotund
figure in shirt and trousers, presented
himself.
MIR. Josiah Brown, 1 suppcse?'' said
Holmes.
Yes, sir; and you, no doubt, are Mr..
Sherlock Holmes? I had the note which
you sent by the express messenger, and 1
did exactly what you told me. We locked
every door on the inside and awaited de-
veloprnents. Well, i am very glad to see
that you have got the rascal. / hope, gen.
tlenen, that you will come in and have
some refreshment."
However, Lestrade was anxious to get
his mar into safe quarters. SO within a
few minutes our cab had been summoned
and we were all four upon our way to
London. Not a word would our captive
say. but he giared at us from the shadow
Of his matted hair. and once, when my
hand seemed within his reach, he snapped
at 1t like a hungry wolf. we stayed long
enough at the police station to learn that
a search of his clothing revealed nothing
save a few shillings and a hong sheath
knife, the handle of which bore cepious
traces of recent blood.
That's all right" said Lestrade, as we
parted. "Hill knows all these gentry, and
he Will give a name to him.. You'll find
that my theory Of the Malta will work out
all right. But Tn sure 1 am exceedingly
obliged to you. MIR. Holmes, for the work
manlike way in which you laid hands upon
him. 1 don't quite understand It all yet"
II fear 1t is rather too late an hour for
explanations" said Holmes. Besides.
there are one or two details which are not
finished off, and it is one Of those cases
which are worth working out to the very
OA1N. ~ VI VIII COA11C AOuIlo OlSS
to my rooms at 6 o'clock tomorrow, I
think I shall be able to show you that
even now you nave not grasped the entire
meaning of this business. which presents
some features which make it absolutely
original in the history of crime. If ever
l permit you to chronicle any more of my
little problems. Watson, I foresee that you
will enlfven your pages by an account of
the singular adventure of the Napoleontc
busts."
When we met again next evening, Les
trade was furnished with much informa-
ton concerning our prisoner. His name, 1t
appeared. was Beppo. second name I'M
known. He was a w~ell-known ne'er-do-
we'll among the italian colony. He had
once been a skillful sculptor and had
earned an honest living, but he had k
to evil courses and had twice already been
in %gaol-once for a petty theft, and once,
as we had already heard, for stabbing a
fellow countryman. He could talk Eng
fish perfectly we'll. His reasons for de-
stroying the busts We're still unknown, and
he refused to answer any questions 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 establishment of Gelder & Co. To all
this information, much of which we al
ready knew. Holmes listened with polite
attention, but I, who knew him so well,
could clearly see that his thoughts were
elsewhere, and I detected q mixture of
mingled u%nea@iness and expectation be-
meath hat mask which he was wont to
assume. At last he started In his chair,
and his eyes Frightened. There had been
q ring at the bell. "A minute later we
heard steps upon the stairs, and an ell
derby. red-faced man with grtzzled side
wfiskers was ushered in. In his right
ha ,-l 10 -~,-|o ~ 111 %a-HA~~o1 rorNat
bag, which he placed upon the table.
us Mt. Sherlock Holmes here?"
My friend bowed and smiled. "Mr.
he.
Yes, sir, I fear that I am a little late.
but the trains were awkward. You wrote
to me about a bust that is In my possess
sion."
Exactly"
81 have your letter here. You said. Il
desire to possess a copy Of Devine's Ma
poleon. and am prepared to pay you ten
pounds for the one which is IN your pos
session. Is that right?"
"Certanly."
II was very much surprised at your let
ter. for I could not imagine how you
knew that I owned such a thing"
o course YOU must have been sur
prised, but the explanation is very sim
pie. Mr.. Harding. Of Harding Brothers.
said hat they had sold you their last
copy. and he gave me your address,"
"Oh, that was 1t. was 1t? Did he tell
you what I paid for it?"
mo, he did not"
Well. I am an ZONES man, though not
a very rich one. l only gave fifteen shill-
ings for the bust. and I think you ought
to know that before I take ten pounds
from you"
II am sure the scruple does you honor,
Mr.. Sandeford. But 1 have named that
price, SO I intend to stick to it,
well, it is very handsome Of you, Mr..
Holmes. l brought the bust up with me,
as you asked me to do. Here 1t Isl" He
opened his bag, ana at last we saw placed
upon our table a complete specimen of
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