The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-07-03
A Coral
Sleeve Button
By ALLAN G.. LAMOND

\ murder was committed in Naples,
Italy Siguor Lancani, single gentle
man living in apartments, was the vic
tim. and since he was we'll off and fond
of display he had conSidera bic jewelry
for Il man-which was taken. The po-
lice learned of the missing articles so
far as they could be determined and
gave description of them to Giuseppe
Varilli. a member of the Carabinieri,
or national police, who was given the
case to make out of it what he could,
There was missing one gold chronom-
.ter watch, two gold chains, a number
of shirt studs and other articles Of
similar character. The assassin and
robber in making his exit had dropped
a link sleeve button on the floor. They
make i'll Italy of pink coral exquisite
adornments. and this single sleeve but
ton was twin roses of the most deli
cate carving. set in gold.
Narilli looked a it admringly. who
ever has the mate to it, he said, will
scarcely be able to refrain from wear
ing it. so beautiful is it. If he had it
rs well as its mate, he will surely be-
tray himself on account of it, How
ever the officer put it in his vest pocket
with the vague expectation that it
might lead to a clew.
The murder had been committed at
an hour when number of persons
were about, but no one could be found
who would admit that he Lad seen any
| one in the building who did not belong
| there at the time of the assassination.
yarilli. who knew the criminal side of
Naples well, assumed that this ret
icence indicated that the murderer was
a member of the dreaded Camorra, and
! if any one dared to peach upon him
! he would do so at the risk of his life.
4 year passed without the slightest
| clew to the Lancani murder. Several
of the missing articles OF jewery turn
ed up, but were always found on per-
sons above suspicion. They were
ready to tell where they got them, but
! either the person from whom they
were obtained or the next possessor be-
yond could not remember just how the
| Jewel had come to him. But the sleeve
button was never regained. 1t is too
| beautiful" said Narilli The rascal
will not part with it. He will not
wear it in his cuff, for he has no mate
| for it, He will not get a mate made,
! for he can only secure one from skill.
ed carver such as made the one he
has. Were l in his place would have
| it made into two studs. ! would not
turn it into scarfpin, for one rose
would do for that. and l could not use
the other rose Yes, that is the only
| thing to do with it. and if the assassin
wears it he will do so as couple of
shirt studs. He will wear a necktie
and not a scarf, because the scarf
would hide it. My theory rests on the
idea that his vanity will get the better
of his caution"
One dag Varilli's chief started him
to London, where news had been re-
ceiyed that a certain bandit, who had
murdered traveller on the road be-,
| tween Sorrento and Amalf who could
not or would not furnish ransom, was
living apparently in a well to do conl
Gition. On his arrival in London Va
rilli sought the Italian quarter, but his
quarry, passing under the name of
Scalpo, was not to be found there.
Varili spent couple of months at
the English capital and was about to
give up his quest and return to Naples
when one evening he entered a music
hall and, taking a seat at 4 table, cali
ed for the English drink, ale, and a
| cigar Unlike nearly all Italians the
detective had light hair and eyes.
Moreover, though he spoke English in
differently he had learned to speak it
| without the Italian pronunciation.a In
I deed, q stranger would have taken him
| rather for q German than an Italian.
Noticing a man at the next table to
him sitting alone, he got up and took
seat opposite the other. The man
looked at him with pair of suspicious
! eyes from under the rim of his hat,
evidently rot relishing his movement :
Don't disturb yourself" said Earilli
~ think | have seen you in Berlin
Are you not Herr Berhoff. brewer?''
Il have neva been in Berlin in ma
fife" said the other. showing by his
speech that he was an Italian. land /
am not a brewer"
Then | have been mistaken" said
Varilli. who had desired to get closer
to the man and hear him speak Now
that | see those beautiful coral studs
you wear take it you are from Italy.
l have never seen such carving as that
except in Naples"
At this the man changed counte-
nance. involuntarily drawing his coat
over his shirt front. Then he glanced
about him as if looking for an exit
Il am from Naples myself" Varilli
went on saying. Il know \rxactly
where those studs came from. There
is shop in Naples facing the bay
where they are sold | have Il pair Of
roses composing Il link sleeve button
The man gsared and. rising stood at
bay. Varilli put his hand in his vest
pocket took ont the sleeve button and
held il up before the other.
In public music hail" he contin-
ued. in the center of London it will be
impossible for you to escape. At the
slightest connection policemen will
come. If you will go quietly with ME
there need he no disturbance.
week from that evening Narilli
delivered his prisoner. who turned ont
to he both the bandit he was after and
the murderer of Lancani. To the au-
thoritieS ut Naples He was condemns
ed to that which is worse than death
solitary Confinement for life.