Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-22
Part Three
sy SIR ARTHuE CONAN DoYLs

side was a large room in which fifty
manager, big, blonde German, received
us civilly, and gave clear answer to all
Holmes questions. A reference TO
his books showed that hundreds Of casts
had been taken from q marble copy of
Devino's head of Napoleon, but that
the three, which had been sent to Morse
Hudson year or so before had been
half of batch of six, the other three
being sent to Harding Brothers, Of
Kensingten. There was no reason why
those six should be different TO any of the
other casts, He could suggest no possible
cause why anyone should wish to de-
stroy them--in fact, he laughed at the
idea Their wholesale price was six
shillings, but the retailer would get
twelve or more. The cast was taken in
two molds from each side of the face,
and then these two profiles of plaster of
Paris were joined together to make the
complete bust. The work was usually
done by Italians, in the room we were in.
When finished, the busts were put on a
table in the passage to dry, and after
wards stored. That was all he could
tell us.
But the production of the photo
graph had remarkable effect upon the
manager. His face flushed with anger,
and his brows knotted over his blue
Teutonic eyes.
"Ah, the rascalw he cried. Eyes,
indeed, l know him very well. This
has always been a respectable establish
ment, and the only time that we have
ever had the police in it was over
| this, very fellow 1t was more than year
ago now. He knitted another Italian in
| the street, and then he came to the works
with the police on his heels, and he was
taken here. Beppo was his name-his
second name ! never knew. Serve me
| right for engaging man with such n
face. But he was good workman
one of the best"
What did he get?"
"The man lived and he got off with
a year. have no doubt he is out now,
but he has not dared to show his nose
here. We have cousin of his here,
and dare say he could tell you where
he is.
"No, no." cried Holmes, mot a word
to the cousin-not word,l II beg of you.
The matter is very important, and the
farther | 90 with it, the more important
it seems TO grow When you referred in
your ledger to the sale Of those casts
observed Shat the date was June 3rd
of last year, Could you give me the
date when Beppo was arrested2"
Il could tell you roughly by the
| pay-list," the manager answered. "IeS, "
he continued, after some turning over
of pages, ''he was paid last on May
20th."
Thank you," said Holmes. Il
don't think that / need intrude upon
your time and patience any more u
With q last word of caution that he
should say nothing as to our researches
we turned our faces westward once
more.
The afternoon was far advanced
before we were able to snatch n hastS
luncheon at q restaurant. A news-bi
at the entrance announced r1kensingtor
Outrage Murder by Madmsn," anc
the contents of the paper showed thai
Mr.. Horace Harker had got his account
into print after all. Two columns wer,
occupied with a highly sensational and
tiowery rendering of the whole incident
Holmes propped it against the cruet
stand and read it while he ate. Once o.
twice he chuckled.
This is all right, Watson" said he
Listen to this: ut is satisfactory {,
know thst there can be no differcnc,
of opinion upon this case since Mr.
Lestrade, one of the most experienced
members of the official force, and Mr.
Sherlock Holmes, the well-known con
sulting expert, have each come to tn
conclusion that the erotesque series O