Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-10-24
The Adventure of
the Six Napoleons
No. s of the Series.

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 to
raise such frantic and destructive ha-
tired in the mind of the unknown. It
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 at last
he was upon a clew.
"Well?" asked Lestrade.
Holmes shrugged his shoulders.
1--WE have a 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 the eyes Of this strange
criminal than a human life. That is
one point. Then there is the singular
fact that he 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
ms this other fellow. he hardly knew
what he was doing"
"Well, that's ns.,v enough hr+ T
- 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.
1T 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 1t increased the
risk Of some n meeting him?"
II 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"
by Jove, that's true" said the de-
tective. Now that I come to think Of
1t, DR.. Barnicot's bust was broken not
far from his red lamp. Well, Mr..
Holmes, what are we to do with that
fact?"
ITO remember ito docket it. We
Tmay come on something later which
will bear upon it. What steps do you
propose to take now, Lestrade?"
'The most practical way Of getting
at 1t, in my opinion, is to identify the
dead man. There should be no diff
Guilty about that. When we have found
who he is and who his associates are
we should have a good start in learning
what he was doing in Pitt street last
night and who it was who met him and
killed him on the doorstep of Mr.. Hor-
ace Harker. Don't you think so?"
No doubt, and yet it is not quite the
Nay in which l should approach the
case"
"What would you do, thenY
"Oh, you must not let me influence
you i'll any way. I suggest that you
go Oh your line and l on mine. We
can compare notes afterward, and each
will supplement the other"
very good" said Lestrade.
"If you are going back to Pitt street
you might see Mr.. Horace Harker. Tell
him for me that 1 have quite made
up my mind and that it is certain that
a dangerous homicidal lunatic with Ma
poleonic decisions was in his house
last night. 1t will be useful for his
article"
Lestrade stared.
you don't seriously believe that?"
Holmes smiled.
Don't I? Well, perhaps I don't, but
l am sure that it will interest Mr..
Horace Harker and the subscribers of
the Central Press syndicate. Now,
Watson, I think that we shall find that
we have a long and rather complex
days work before us. I should be
glad, Lestrade, if you could make ii
convenient to meet us at Baker street
at 6 o'clock this evening. Until then
| should like to keep this photograph
found In the dead mans pocket. 1t is
/ pOSS1OlC GldI l llOy doNC " oSh yOuk
company and assistance upon a small
expedition which will have to be I'm.
dertaken tonight if my chain Of req.
soning should prove to be correct. I'm.
til then, goodby and good luck"
Sherlock Holmes and I walked to-
gether to the High street, where we
stopped at the shop of Harding Bros.
whence the bust had been purchased
A young assistant informed us that
MI. Harding would be absent until
after noon and that he was himself
a newcomer who could give us no in
formation. Holmes face showed his
disappointment and annoyance.
"Well well, we can't expect to have
it all our own way, Watson" he said al
last. "We must come back in the aft
ernoon, if MI. Harding will not be here
until then. l am, as you have no doubt
surmised, endeavorlng to trace these
busts to their source in order to find II
there is not something peculiar which
may account for their remarkable fate
Let us make for Mr.. Morse Hudson OF
the Remington road and see IL he car
throw any light upon the problem"
A drive of an hour brought us to the
picture dealers establishment. He was
a small, stout man, with a red face and
a peppery manner.
Yes, sir. On my very counter, SIR
said he. What we pay rates ant
taxes for l don't know, when any ruff
fan can come in and break ones
goods. Yes, sir, 1t was l who sold DR.