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


much to suppose such a coincidence as
that a promiscuous iconoclast should
chance to begin upon three specimens
Of the same bust"
"Well, I thought as you do" said
Lestrade. ION the other hand, this
Morse Hudson is the purveyor Of busts
In that part Of London. and these three
were the only ones which had been IN
his shop for years. SO. although, as
yon say. there are many hundreds OF
statues in London. It Is worry probable
that these three were the only ones in
that district. Therefore a local fanatic
would begin with them. What do 80
think. DR.. Watson?"
'"Thcre are no limits to tho POSSIBLE
tiles Of monomania." answered.
"Thcrc is the condition which the mod
ern French psychologists have called
the idce fixe.' which may be trinlng In
character and accompanied by COM
plete sanity in every other way. A
man who had read deeply about Napo-
leon or who had possibly received
some hereditary family injury through
the great war might concrivably form
such an 'idee fixe' and under its inhu-
cnce be capable Of any fantastic out.
rage"
That won't do. my dear Watson"
said Holmes. shaking his head. "for no
amount Of 'idee Axe would enable your
interesting monomaniac to find out
where these busts were situated"
well. how do you explain IT."
II don't attempt TO do 40. I would
only observe that there is a certain
method In the gentleman's eccentric
proceedings. For example. in DR.. Bar
nicot's hall, where sound might
outside before being broken. whereas
In the surgery, where there was less
danger Of an alarm. 1t was smashed
where II stood The affair seems alb
surdly traing. and yet I dare call moth.
Ing trivial when I reflect that some OF
my most classic cases have had the
| least promising commencement. You
| will remember. Watson. how tho dread
full business of the Abernetty family
was first brought TO my notice by the
depth which the parsley had sunk into
the butter upon hot day. I can't az
| ford, therefore. to smile at your three
broken busts, I.estrade, and I shall he
very much obliged to you II you will
let me hear Of any fresh development
Of so singular q chain OF events"
The development for which my friend
hnd asked came in a quicker and an
infinitely more tragic form than he
| Z c<N
Ing in my bedroom next morning when
there was tap at the door. and
Holmes entered. a telegram In his
hand. He read II nloud:
Come Instantly. 1871 Pitt street. Kensing-
ton. LESTRADE.
What II 1t, then?" asked.
Don't know may be anything. But
suspect it is the sequel Of the story
Of the statues. In that case our friend.
the image breaker. has begun opera
lions in another quarter Of London.
There's coffee on the table. Watson.
and have cab at the door"
In half an hour we had reached Pitt
street, n quiet little backwater just
beside one Of the briskest currents Of
London life. No. 1871 was one of n
row, all fat chested. respectable and
most unromantic dwellings. Az we
drove up we found the ratings in front
Of the house lined by curious crowd.
Holmes whistlcd.
by George. it's attempted murder
at the least. Nothing less will hold the
London message hoy. There's decd
Of violence indicated in that fellows
round shoulders nnd outstretchcd neck.
What's this. watson? The top steps
swilied down and the other ones dry
Footsteps enough. anyhow! Well, VOL
there's Lestrade at the front window.
and we shall soon know all about It,"
The official received us with a very
grave face and showed us into a sitting
room. where an exceedingly unkemp
and agitated elderly man clad in a
flannel dressing gown was pacing up
and down. He was introduced to US as
the owner Of the house-Mr. Horace
Harker OF the Central Press syndicate.
ITS the Napoleon bust business
again." said Lestrade. You seemed
interested last night. Mr.. Holmes. so
I thought perhaps you would be glad
to be present now that the affair has
taken n very much graver turn"
"What has 1t turned to- then?"
ITO murder. Mr.. Harker, will you
tell these gentlemen exactly what has
occurred?"
The man in the dressing gown turned
upon us with a most melancholy face.
ITS an extraordinary thing" said
he, that all my life have been col
Letting other peoples news. and now
that q real piece Of news has come my
own way am 80 confused and bother.
ed that l can't put two words together
II had come In here a. journalist
should have interviewed myself and
had two columns In every evening pa.
per. As 1t 10. l am giving away val
. liable copy by telling my story over
and over to a string Of different people
. and ! can make no use of II myself
However, I've heard your name. Mr.
Sherlock Holmes. and II you'il only ex
plain this queer business I shall be
paid for my trouble In telling you the
story"
, Holmes sat down and listened.
. ut all seems to center round that
bust Of Napoleon which bought fol
, this very room about four months ago
! picked 1t up cheap from Harding