The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-08

HNfI-rf AlrnrrrlH ia upon US OF an even
NfsNMNtSN ing. and bis visits wer,
SoHefEs welcome to Sherlocl
Holmes for they enabled
him TO keep In touch with all that wal
going on at the police headquarters
In return for the news which I.es!rad,
would bring. Holmes was always read,
to listen with attention to the detasl,
of any case upon which the detective
was engaged ana was able occasion
ally without any active Interference "a
give some hint or suggestion drawn
from his own vast knowledge and ex.
perience.
on this particular evening Iestrade
had spoken Of the weather and the
newspapers Then he had fallen silent.
putting thoughtfully OF his cigar.
Holmes looked keenly at him.
Anything remarkable on handY" 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 or my
mind. And yet il is such an absurd
business that hesitated 10 bother you
about II. On the other hand. although
IL Is trivial. II Is undoubtedly queer
and know that you have a taste for
all that is out Of the common. But. In
my onlnion. It comes more In DIR. wat
81. Zine than oprsp
'DiseaseT' said l.
Madness. anyhow, and queer mad
ness too. You wouldn't think there
was any one living At this time OF day
who had such a hatred Of Napoleon I.
that be would break any Image OF him
that he could see"
Holmes sank back In his chair
'''RlDat's no buslness Of mine.- said he.
Exactly. That's what / said. But,
then. when the man commits burglary.
In order TO break images which are
not his own. that brings II away fium
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.
''Ihe first case reported was four
days ago" said he. ut 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 crash. and.
hurrying in, he found q 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 ind any 'means of identifying the
rascal. II seemed TO be one OF those
senseless acts OF Hoollganlsm which
occur from time to time, and Il was re- |
ported TO the constable on the beat as
such. The plaster cast was not worth |
more than a few shillings, and the
whole AFFAIR appeared TO be tso child. |
Ian for any particular investigation.
"The second case. however, was more
serious and also more singular. II oc-
CURED only last night.
I'm Remington road and within a
few hundred yards Of Morse Hudson's
shop there lives a well known medical
practitioner pamed Or. Barnicot. who
has one OF the largest practices upon
the south side OF the Thames. His res.
idence and principal consulting room is
at Remington road. but he has
branch surgery and dispensary at Low
er BriEton 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 scuip.
tor Devine. One OF these be placed IN
his hall In the house at Remington
road end the other on the manteipiece
Of the surgery at Lower Brixton
Well, when DIR. BarnicOt came down
this morning be was astonished TO nnd
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 out and
had been dashed taYageIy against the
garden wall, under which It's splinter
I'd fragments were discovered"
Holmes rubbed his hands
This is certainly very novel," said
he.
Il thought II would please you. But
have not got 20 the end yet Or. Bar
licot was due AT his surgery at u
'clock, and you can imagine his amaze
aent when on arriving there be found
hat the window had been opened IN
he night and that the broken pieces
II his second bust were strewn al over J
be room. II had been smashed 20
ltoms where Il stocd. In neither case
we're there any signs which could give
ls clew as 10 the criminal or Innate
Who had done the mischief. Now, Mr.. I
ioimes, you have got ihe facts"
They are singular. not 10 say gro !
esque." said Holmes MAY / ask 4
whether the two busts smashed IN Or. I
rooms were the exact du. {
licates OF the one which was destroy :
d IN Morse Hudson's shOpf"
They were taken from the same }
1Old." c
"such a fact must tell against the q
heory that the man who breaks them n
, Influenced by any general hatred Z
{ Napoleon. Considering how many d
undreds OF statues Of lie great en- g
error must exist In London. II is too
,uch "a eunnoae s,,ch q ,oancidence a. ..