Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-26

doWnStairS. 4 listened. but they We're
not repeated ard concluded that
they came from outside Then sud
denly. about Eve minutes later. there
came most horrible yell-the most
dreadful sound. Mr.. Holmes. that ever
heard. II will ring In my ears as
long as l live. I sat frozen with hor-
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 i at once observed
that the bust was gone from the man
telpieee- Why any burglar should take
such a thing passes my understand
ing, for il was only a 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 went
round and opened the door Stepping
out into the dark. I nearly fell over
dead man who was lying there. / ran
back for a light. and there was the
poor fellow. great cash in his throat
and the whole place swimn9g in
blood. He lay on his back. his knees
drawn up and his mouSa horribly open.
L shall see him IN my dreams. 1 had
just time 10 blow on my police whistle.
and then I must have tainted. for
knew nothing more until found the
policeman standing over me in the
hail.
'Weli, who was the murdered man ?"
asked Holmes.
There's nothing 20 show who he
was" said Lesrade. You shall see
the body at the mortuary, but we have
made nothing of it up 70 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. A horn handled clasp
knife was lying in pool OF blood be
side him. Whether il was the weapon
which did the deed or whether il be-
longed to the dead man do not know.
There was no name on his clothing
and nothing Ia his pockets save an
apple. some string. a shilling map OF
London and photograph. Here It is
Ii was evidently taken by a snapshot
from a small camera. 1t represented
an alert, sharp featured sinian man.
with thick eyebrows and a very pc
cullar projection OF the lower part of
the face. like the muzzle OF baboon.
And what became OF the bustE" ask
ed Holmes after a careful study OF this
picture.
I'VE had news Of IL Just before you
came. Ii has been found in the front
garden OF an empty house In Camp
den House road. II was broken into
fragments. I am going round now 20
see 1t. VIII you Gomez
Certainly. I must just take one look
round" He examined the carpet and
the window. The fellow had either
very long legs or was a most active
man." said be. 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 10 see the re-
mains OF your bust Mt Harkerg"
The disconsolate Journalist had seat
ed himself at a writing table.
II must try and make something OF
t." said he though I have no doubt
that the first editions OF the evening
papers are out already with full de-
tails. It's Ike my luck You remember
when the stand fell at Doncasterf Wen.
I was the only journalist in the stand
and my journal the only one that had
no account OF IL. FOR I was too shaken
20 write H. And now I'll be too late
with murder done on my own door
step"
As we left the room we heard his pen
travelling shrlliy over the foolscap.
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 70
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 purposeful manner that at last
he was upon clew
"WellEr asked Lestrade
Holmes shrugged his shoulders.
"We have long way TO go yet" said
he. And yet--and yet-well. we have
some suggestive facts 10 act upon
The possession OF this trlfiing 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 be did not break II Ia the
house or Immediately outside the
house, II TO break II was his sole OBJ
ject"
she was ratified and hustled by meet
ing this other fellow. He hardly knew
what he was doing"
''Well. that's likely enough. but (
wish 10 call your attention very partic-
ularly to the position or this house in
the garden OF which the bust was de-
stroyed."
Lestrade looked about him.
1T was an empty house. and so he
knew that be would not be disturbed
In the garden"
"Yes, but there is another empty
house farther up the street. which he
must have passed before he came 10
this one. Why did be not breas It
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