The sawed gun was not more than two foot long--one
could carry it easily under one's coat. There was no complete
maker's name; but the printed letters P-E-N were on the fluting
between the barrels, and the rest of the name had been cut off by
the saw."
"A big P with a flourish above it, E and N smaller?" asked
Holmes.
"Exactly."
"Pennsylvania Small Arms Company--well-known American firm," said
Holmes.
White Mason gazed at my friend as the little village practitioner
looks at the Harley Street specialist who by a word can solve the
difficulties that perplex him.
"That is very helpful, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right.
Wonderful! Wonderful! Do you carry the names of all the gun
makers in the world in your memory?"
Holmes dismissed the subject with a wave.
"No doubt it is an American shotgun," White Mason continued. "I
seem to have read that a sawed-off shotgun is a weapon used in
some parts of America. Apart from the name upon the barrel, the
idea had occurred to me. There is some evidence then, that this
man who entered the house and killed its master was an American."
MacDonald shook his head.
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