Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-24

of tho angular eoventuro Oh tho M
poleonic busts."
When We met again next evening.
Lestrads was furnished with much
information concerning our prisoner.
His name, it appeared, was Bcppo,
second name unknown. He was n
well-known nc'er-do-well among the
Italian colony. He had once been
skilful sculptor and had .earned an
honest living, but he had taken TO
evil courses and had twice already
been in gaol--once for a petty theft,
and once, - We had already heard,
for stabbing . fellow-countryInan. He
could talk English perfectly well.
His reasons Cor DESTROYING the buste
were still unknown, and he refused
to answer any questions upon the
subject, but the police had discovered
that these same busts might very |
well have been made by his own hands,
dnce he was engaged in this class OF
work at the establishment of Gelder |
and Co. To oil his information, much |
Of which We already knew, Holmes
listened with polite attention, but l,
who knew him so well, could clearly
see that his thoughts were elsewhere,
and detected mixture OF mingled un-
easincss and expectation beneath that
mask which he was wont TO assume.
At last he started in his chair, and
nhis eyes frightened. There had been
ring at the bell. A minute later
we heard steps upon the stairs, and
an elderly, rcd-faced man with grir-
zled side-whiskers WAS ushercd in.
In his right hand he carried an old
fashioned carpct-bag, which he placed
upon the table.
"Is Mr.. Sherlock Holmes here7''
My friend bowed and smiled. "Mr.
Sandeford, of Reading, / SUPPOSE"
said he.
YES, sir, l fear that am little
late, but the trains were awkward.
You wrote 10 me about bust that is in
my possession"
- Exactly"
81 have your letter here. You said,
I desire TO possess n copy Of Devine's
Napoleon, and am prepared 90 pay
YOU ten pounds for the one which is in
your possession Is that right7"
Certainly"
Il was very much surprised at
how YOU knew that | owned such a
thing"
"Of course YOU must have been SIR
prised, but the explanation is very
simple. Mr.. Harding, of Harding
Brothers. said that they had sold YOU
their last copy, and he gave me your
address"
ooh, that was it, was itY Did he
tell YOU what ] paid for it,"
NO, he did not"
"Well. am an honest man, though
not very rich one. | only gave fifteen
shillings for the bust, and | think YOU
ought 20 know that before l take ten
pounds from you"
Il am s,hc the scruple does YOU
,, honor, Mr.. Ssndcford. But hsve
named thst price, so ! intend 10 stick
to II"
We'll, il is very handsome Of you
Mr. Holmes. ! brought the bust ur
with me, as YOU asked me 10 do. Here
I; it isr He opened his bag, and at last
we saw placed upon our table a complete
specimen of that bust which we had
already seen more than once in frag.
mcnts
Holmes took a paper from his poke,
and land a ten-pound note upon the
table.
! you will kindly sign that paper,
Mr.. Sandeford, in the presence OF
these witnesses. IL is simply 20 say
/ that YOU transfer every possible right
: that You ever had in the bust 10 me
! am a meihodical man, YOU see, anc
YOU never know what turn event:
might take afterwards. Thank YOU
? Mr.. Sandsford; here is your money
: and | wish you a very good evening. =
y When our visitor had disappeared
, Sherlock Holmes movements were sucl
! as 10 rivct our attention. lie begar
by taking a clean white cloth from ;
|, drawer and laying II over the table
2 Then he placed his newly acquired bus
IN the center OF the cloth. FINALLY, h'
e picked up his hunting crop and strucl
! Napoleon q sharp blow on the top o
' the head. The figure broke into frag
: E ments, and Holmes bent eagerly owe
u the shattered remains. Next instant
with loud shout OF triumph he held VI
: one splinter, in which a round, darl
: object was fixed like plum in pudding
l. Gentlemen" he cried, let me intro
2 |, duce YOU TO the famous black pearl o
l the Borgias"
I Tomorrow-The Adventure OF In
Six Napoleons, concluded.
Y