The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-26

tell you where he is"
NO, no." cried Holmes, mot q
word to the cousin-not a word. l
beg of you. The matter is very inn
portant, and the farther I go with
it, the more important il Seems TO
grow. When you referred in your
ledger to the sale of those casts l
observed that the date was June Sd Of
last year. Gould you give me the
date when Beppo was arrested.
I could tell you roughly by the
pay-list." the answered.
Yes he continued. after some turn
ing over of pages, h was paid last
on May GOTH"
Thank you said Holmes. 4
don't think that / need intrude upon
Your time and patience any more"
| With a last word of caution that he
searches, we turned our faces west
ward once more.
The afternoon was far advanced
before we were able to snatch q haSty
luncheon at a restaurant. A news
bill at the entrance announced ken
SingtOn Outrage. Murder by a Mad
man" and the contents of the paper
showed that Mr.. Horace Harker had
got his account into print after all.
TWO columns We're occupied with a
highly sensational and f1owery ren-
dering Of the whole incident. Holmes
propped it against n cruet-stand n
read it while he ate. Once or twice
he chuckled.
This is all right, WATSON said he.
Listen to this: Tt is satisfactory to
know that there can De 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
consulting expert, have each come to
the conclusion that the grotesque
series OF incidents. which have ended
in so tragic a fashion, arise from
lunacy rather than from deliberate
crime. No explanation save mental
a berration can cover the facts The
Press, Watson, is a most bic in
stitution, if you only know how to
use it. And now, if you have quite
finished we will hark back to Ken
sington, and see what the manager Of
Harding Brothers has to say on the
matter"
The founder Of hat great en-
porium proved to be a brisk, crisp
little person, very dapper and quick,
with a clear hea1 and a ready tongue.
Yes, sir, l have already read the
account in the evening paper. Mr..
Horace Harker is a customer Of ours.
We supplied him with the bust some
months ago. We ordered three busts
of that sort from Gelder and Co, of
tp1lcy. IIlCy d1C al SUI Row. IL
whom? oh, | dare say by consulting
our sales-book we could very easily
tell you. Yes, we have the entries
here. One to MIR. Harker, you see,
and one to Mr.. Josiah Brown, OF
Laburnum Lodge, Laburnum Vale,
ChisWick, and one to Mr.. S~andeford,
Of Lower Grove Road, Reading. No,
l 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 IN Italians on the staff ?
Yes, sir, We have several among our
workpeople and cleaners. [ dare say
they might set a peep at that sales
book if they wanted to. There is
no particular reason for keeping a
watch upon that book. Well, well,
it's a very strange business, and l
hope hat you will let me know if
anything comes Of your Inquiries"
Holmes had taken several notes
during MIR. Harding's evidence, and
l could see that he was thoroughly
satisfied by he 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
found him pacing up and down i'm a
fever OF impotence. His look of
Importance showed that his days
work had not been in vain.
"Well?' he asked. What luck, Mr..
HOimeS?"
We have had a very busy day,
and not entirely a wasted 6ne. nv
friend explained. We nave seen both
the retailers and also the Wholesale
manufacturers. ! can trace each Of
the busts now from the
The busts!' cried Lestrade. well. |
u-ol1 Won have ,nIIr n W. -.
Sherlock Holmes, and it is not for me
tc say a word against them. but
think l have done a better DAVIS
work thar you. l have identified the
dead man
You don't say sou
And found a cause for the rhine"
"~Splendid.'