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

peror must exist in London. IL is too
much to suppose such a coincidence as
that a promiscuous iconoclast should
chance 70 begin upon three specimens
Of the same bust"
"Well. l thought as you DO" said
Lestrade. ION the other hand. this
Morse Hudson is the purveycr 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
you say. there are many hundreds OF
statues in London. it is very probable
that these three were the only ones in
that district. Therefore a local fanatic
would begin with them. What do you
think. DR.. WatsonE'
'There are no limits 70 the POSSIBLE
tiles OF monomania." answered.
There IS the condition which the mod
ern French psychologists have called
the 9dee fixe.' which may be trining 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 cOnceiyabiy form
such an idee IKE and under its infu-
ence be capable OF any fantastic out
rage"
THAT won't do. my dear Watson. -
said Holmes. shaking his head. "for no
amount Of 'idee fixe' would enable your
interesting monomaniac to find out
where these busts were situated"
well, how do you explain itg''
II don't attempt 10 do so. would
only observe that there is a certain
method In the gentleman's eccentric
proceedings For example. in Dr. Bar
nicot's hall. where a sound might
arouse the family. the bust was taken
outside before being broken, whereas
In the surgery, where there was less
danger OF an alarm. II was smashed
where II stood. The AFFAIR seems alb
surdly trifing. and yet dare call moth
Ing trivial when reflect that some OF
my most classic cases have had the
least promising commencement. You
will remember, Watson. how the dread
ful business OF the Abernetty family
was first brought 20 my notice by the
depth which the parsley had sunk into
the butter upon n hot day. can't az
ford therefore. 20 smile AZ your three
broken busts. Lestrade. and I shall he
very much obliged 20 you II you viii
let me hear OF any fresh development
OF so singular Il chain OF events"
The development for which my friend
had asked came In quicker and an
infinitely more tragic form than he
could have imagined. I was stlll dress
ing In my bedroom next morning when
there was tap az the door. and
Holmes entered telegram IN his
hand. He read Il aloud
Come Instantly. is1 Pitt street Kenslng-
ton LESTRADE.
what IL H. them" I asked.
Don't know-may be anything. But
suspect IL Is tue 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 a cab az the door"
In half an hour we had reached Pitt
street quiet little backwater Just
beside one Of the briskest currents OF
London life. No. l3I was one OF a
row, all fiat chested respectable and
most unromantic dwellings As we
drove up we found the ratings In front
OF the house lined by a curious crowd.
Holmes whistled.
by George it's attempted murder
at the least, Nothing less VIII hold the
London message boy. There's deed
OF violence indicated IN that fellows
round shoulders and outstretched neck.
What's this, Watsons The top steps
swilled down and the other ones dry.
Footsteps enough, anyhow Well, we'll
there's Lestrade at the front window,
and we shall soon know all about H."
The official received US with a very
grave face and showed US into a sitting
room, where an exceedingly unkempt
and agitated elderly man clad IN a
flannel dressing gown was pacing up
and down. BE was introduced 20 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
thought perhaps you would be glad
TO be present now that the affair has
taken a very much graver turn"
What has 1t turned TO. then ?"
''To murder. Mr. Harker, will you
tell these gentlemen exactly what has
occurred2'
The man in the dressing gown turned
upon US with a most melancholy face.
Its an extraordinary thing" said
he. that all my life 1 have been col
lecting other peoples news, and now
that real piece Of news has come my
own way am so confused and bother
ed that can't put two words together.
IL had come In here as a journalist |
should have interviewed myself and
had two columns in every evening pa
per. AS il is. I am giving away val
liable copy by telling my story over
and over 90 q string OF different people,
and can make no use OF it myself
However. I've heard your name. Mr.
Sherlock Holmes. and II you'll only ex-
plain this queer business shah be
paid for my trouble In telling you the
story"
Holmes sat down and listened.
III -