The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-07-07

long as | live. / sat frozen with nor
ror for a minute or two; then | seized
the poker and went downstairs. When
/ entered this room l found the win
dow wide open. and at once observed
that the bust was gone from the man
telpiece Why any burglar should take
such thing passes my understands
ing, for it was only Il plaster cast and
of no real value whatever
you can see for yourself that any
one going out through that open win
dow could reach the front doorstep by
taking a long stride This was clearly
what the burglar had done, so l went
round and opened the door. Stepping
out into the dark, | nearly fell over
dead man who was lying there. l ran
back for a light, and there was the
poor fellow, a great cash in his throat
aud the whole place swimming in
blood He lay ON his back, his knees
drawn up and his mouth horribly open.
l shall see him in my dreams. l had
just time to blow ON my police whistle,
and then ! must have tainted, for |
knew nothing more until l found the
policeman standing over me in the
hall"
We'll, who was the murdered man."
asked Holmes.
There's nothing to show who he
was said Lestrade You shall see
the body at the mortuary, but we have
made nothing Of it up to now. He is
a tall man. sunburned, very powerful,
not more than thirty. He is poorly
dressed, and yet does not appear 10
be a labOrer 4 horn handled clasp
knife was lying in a pool Of blood be-
side him. Whether it was the weapon
which did the deed or whether it 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 4 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 muzzle Of baboon.
And what became of the bust?' ask
ell Holmes after a careful study of this
picture.
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 l am going round now to
see it. viii you Gomez"
Certainly. l must inst take one look
round" He examined the CARPET and
the window The fellow had either
very long legs or was most active
man. said he. with an area beneath,
it 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 ut a writing table.
Il must try and make something of
it," said he. though l have no doubt
that the first editions Of the evening
papers are out already with full de-
tails. It's like my luck. You remember
when the stand fell at Doncaster? w, ].
I was the only journalist in the ST
and my journal the only one that
no account of it, for l was too shak
to write it. And now I'll be too Ia
with Il murder done on my own doc
step"
As we left the room we heard his pen
travelling shrilly over the foolscap.
The spot where the fragments of the
bust had been found was only few
hundred yards away For the first time
our eyes rested upon this presentment
of the great emperor, which seemed to
raise such frantic and destructive ha-
tired in the mind of the unknown 1t
lay scattered in splintered shards upon
the grass. Holmes picked up several of
them and examined them carefully. I
was convinced from his intent face
and his purpoSeful manner that ut last
he was upon Il clew
"Well:" asked Lestrade.
Holmes shrugged his shoulders.
I'VE have Il long way to 60 yet" said
he And yet-and yet-well. we have
some suggestive facts to act upon.
The possession of this trifling bust was
worth more in the eyes of this strange
criminal than human life. That is
one point. Then there is the singular
fact that ne did not break it in the
house or Immediately outside the
house, if to break it was his sole OBJ
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 in
the garden of which the bust was de-
stroyed"
Lestrade looked about him.
ut was an empty house. and so he
knew that he would not be disturbed
in the garden"
Eyes, but there is another empty
house farther up the street. which he
must have passed before he came to
this one. Why did he not break it
there, since it is evident that every
yard that he carried it increased the
risk of some one meeting him."
Il give it up" said Lestrade
Holmes pointed to the street lamp
above our heads.
HE could see what he was doing
here, and he could not there. That
was his reason"
"Rv love that's tr11nn eaid thn do