Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-13

dreadful sound, Mr. Holmes, that ever
I heard. It will ring in my ears az
long as I live. I sat frozen with nor.
ror for Q minute or two: then seized
the poker and went downstairs. Wheel
I entered this room I found the win.
dow wide open. and at once observed
that the bust was gone from the man.
tclpiece. Why any burglar should take
such a thing passes my understand
Ing, for II was only a plaster cast ana
Of no real value whatever.
"You can see for yourself that amy
one going out through that open win.
dow could reach the front doorstep by
taking q long stride. This was clearly
what tho burglar had done, 80 I went
round and opened the door. Stepping
out into the dark. I nearly fell over
dead man who was lying there. ! ran
back for light, and there was the
poor fellow, n great cash IN his throat
and the whole place swimming in
blood lie lay on his back, his knees
drawn up and his mouth horribly open.
I shall see him In my dreams. had
Just time to blow on my police whistle,
and then must have tainted, for ]
knew nothing more until found the
policeman standing over me in the
hall"
well. who was the murdered MANI
asked Holmes.
There's nothing to show who he
was" said Lestralc. you shall see
the body at the mortuary, but we have
made nothing Of It up to now. lie Is
a tall man. sunbnrned. very powerful,
not more than thirty. He ia poorly
dressed. and yet does not appear to
be a laborer A horn handled clasp
knife was lying in pool of blood be-
side him. Whether 1t was the weapon
which did the deed or whether II be-
longed to the dead man do not know
There was no name on his clothing
and nothing in his pockets save an
apple. some string, a shilling map Of
London and photograph. Here it is"
1t was evidently taken by a snapshot
from a small camera. 1t represented
an alert. sharp featured simian man.
with thick eyebrows and very pc.
culiar projection Of the lower part Of
the face. like the mu1zle Of baboon.
And what became Of the bust?" ask.
ed Holmes after careful study Of this
picture.
1--WE had news Of It Just before you
came. 1t has been found in the front
garden OF an empty house in Camp.
den House road. 1t was broken into
fragments. I am going round now to
see 1t. Will you Gomez
"Certainly. must just take one look
round" He examined the carpet and
the window. 1.-THE fellow had either
very long legs or was most active
man." said he. "With an area beneath,
II was no mean feat to reach that win.
dow ledge and open that window. Get.
ting back was comparatively simple.
Are you coming with us TO see the re.
mains Of your bust. Mr. Harker?
The disconsolate journalist had seat.
ed himself at writing table.
II must try and make something Of
H." said ne. Though I have no doubt
that the first editions Of the evening
papers are out already with full dc.
tails. It's like my luck. You remember
when the stand fell at Doncastpr? Well,
I was the only Journalist In the stand
and my journal the only one that had
no account Of 1t. for I was too shaken
to write II. And now III be too late
with a murder done on my own door.
step"
AS we left the room we heard his pen
travelling shrilly over the fooscap.
The spot where the fragments OF the
| bust had been found was only a few
hundred yards away For the first time
our eyes rested upon this presentment
Of the great emperor. which seemed tc
raise such frantic and destructive ha
tired in the mind Of the unknown. II
lay scattered in splintered shards upon
the grass. Holmes picked up several OF
them and examined them carefully. ]
was convinced from his intent face
and his purposefnl manner that at last
he was upon n clow.
"Well?" asked Lestrade
Holmes shrugged his shoulders.
I'VE have long way to go yet" said
he. "And yet-and yet-well. we have
some suggestive facts to act upon
The possession Of this trihing bust was
worth more in Die eyes Of this strange
criminal than human life. That Il
one point. Then there IL the singular
fact that he did not break 1t in thu
house or Immediately outside thu
house. II TO break 1t was his sole oh
ject."
HE was ratified and hustled by meet
ing this other fellow. He hardly knew
what he was doing"
"Well. that's likely enough. but
wish to call your attention very partic
ularly to the position Of this house IL
the garden Of which the bust was de
stroyed."
Lestrade looked about him.
ut was m empty house. and 30 hi
knew that he would not be disturbed
in the garden"
Eyes. but there is another empty
house further up the street, which h,
must have passed before he came Il
this one. Why did he not break 1
there. since 1t IL evident that every
yard that he carried It increased thu
risk of some one meeting him?'
II give II up" said Lestrade.
Holmes pointed to the street LAM
above our heads.
"He could sec what he was dom,
4 here, and he could not there. Tha
was his reason