Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-17

HGRKAAE ing, and his visits were
k5PHG&N welcome to Sherlock
Holmes. for they enabled
him to keep in touch with all that was
going on at the police headquarters
In return for the news which Lestrade
would bring, Holmes was always ready
70 listen with attention to the details
OF any case upon which the detective
was engaged and was able occasion
ally without any active Interference to
give some hint or suggestion drawn
from his own vast knowledge and ex-
perience
On this particular evening Lestrade
had spoken of the weather and the
newspapers Then he had fallen silent,
putting thoughtfully at his cigar.
Holmes looked keenly at him.
Anything remarks able on hand" he
asked.
''Oh, no, Mr.. Holmes-nothing very
particular"
Then tell me about IT,"
Lestrade laughed.
well, Mr.. Holmes, there is no use
denying that there is something on my
mind. And yet it is such an absurd
business that hesitated to bother you
about it, On the other hand, although
II is trivial. il is undoubtedly queer,
and | know that you have a taste for
all that is out OF the common. But. In
my opinion, it comes more in DR.. Wat
sons line than ours
''DiseaseF" said l.
Madness. anyhow. and a queer mad
ness too. You wouldn't think there
was any one living at this time Of day
rhn haI 7
that he would break any image of him
that he could see''
Holmes sank back In his chair.
That's no business OF NINE" said he.
Exactly. That's what | said. But,
then. when the man commits burglary
IN order to break images which are
not sis own. that brings ii away from
the doctor and on to the policeman"
Holmes sat up again.
Burglary, This is more interesting
Let me hear the details"
Lestrade took out his official note
book and refreshed his memory from
Its pages.
''The first case reported was four
days ago." said he. 1T was at the
shop OF Morse Hudson, who has a
place for the sale of pictures and stat
ues in the Remington road. The as
sistant had left the front shop for an
instant when he heard a crash, and.
hurrying in, he found a plaster bust
of Napoleon, which stood with several
other works OF art upon the counter.
lying shivered into fragments. He
rushed out into the road but, although
several passersby declared that they
had noticed "a man run out OF the shop.
he could neither see any one nor could
he find any means of identifying the
rascal. 1t seemed to be one OF those
senseless acts of HOoliganism which
occur from time TO time, anCrit was re-
ported TO the constab BILE on the beat as
such. The plaster cast was not worth
more than n few shillings. and the
whole affair appeared to be too child
ish for any particular investigation.
The second case. however, was more
serious and also more singular. Ii oc-
CURED only last night.
In Remington road and within a
few hundred yards OF Morse Hudson's
shop there lives well known medical
practitioner named DR.. Barnicot. who
has one OF the largest practices upon
the south side OF the Thames. His res
at Remington road, but he has
branch surgery and diSpensary at Low
er Brixton road. two miles away. THIS
Dr. Barnicot is an enthusiastic admir-
er OF Napoleon, and his house is full
OF books, pictures and relics of the
French emperor Some little time ago
be purchased from Morse Hudson two
duplicate plaster casts OF the famous
head OF Napoleon by the French sculp-
tor Devine. One or these he placed in
his hall In the house at Remington
road and the other on the mantelpiece
OF the surgery at Lower Brixton.
Well, when Dr. Barnicot came down
this morning he was astonished TO ind
that his house had been burgled dur
ing the night. but that nothing had
been taken save the plaster head from
the hall. Ii had been carried ont and
had been dashed Savagely against the
garden wall. under which its splinter
ed fragments were discovered"
Holmes rubbed his hands.
This is certainly very novel," said
he
Il thought IL would please you. But
/ have not got TO tie end yet. Or Bar
nicot was due at his surgery at II
O'Clock. and you can imagine his amaze
ment when on arriving there he found
that the window had been opened in
the night and that the broken pieces
OF his second bust were Strewn all over
the room. IL had been smashed to
atoms where IL stood. In neither case
We're there any signs which could give
US clew as to the criminal or lunatic
who had done the mischief Now Mr.
Holmes, you have got the facts"
They are singular. not TO say gro
tesque." said Holmes. MAY ! ask