The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-05-31

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 1t is very probable
that these three were the only ones in
that district. Therefore local fanatic
would begin with them What do you
think, DIR. Watson?"
'There are no limits to the POSSIBLE
tiles Of monomania." answered.
There is the condition which the mod
ern French psychologists have called
the 'idee fixe' which may be trifling 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 conceivably form
such an 'itlce fixe and under it's influ-
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 it?"
II don't attempt to do so. l would
only observe that there is certain
method in the gentleman's eccentric
proceedings. For example, in DIR. Bar
nicot's hall. where 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. it was smashed
where it stood The affair seems alb
surdly tritling, and vet dare call moth
ing trivial when reflect that some CT
my most classic cases have had the
least promising commencement. You
will remember, Watson, how the 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 a hot day. can't af-
ford, therefore, to smile at your three
broken busts. Lestraae, and I shall be
very much obliged to You if you will
let me hear of any fresh development
of 50 singular Il chain of events
Tho development for which my friend
had asked came in a quicker and an
Infinitely more tragic form than he
could have imagined. l was still dress
ing in my bedroom next morning when
there was tap at the door, and
Holmes entered, telegram in his
hand. He read it aloud:
Come Instantly. lsl Pitt street Kensng.
ton LESTRADI.
"What it ii, then?" l asked.
Don't lnow-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 Il cab at 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. 131 was one of
row. all flat chested. respectable and
most unronlantic dwellings. AS we
drove up we found the ratings in front
of the house lined by curious crowd.
Holmes whistled.
"By George, it's attempted murder
at the least. Nothing less will hold tho
London message boy There's deed
of violence indicated in that fellows
round shoulders and outstretched neck.
What's this, Watson? 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 it,
The official received us With very
grave face and showed US into sitting
room, where an exceedingly unllempt
and agitated elderly man clad in u
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
l thought perhaps you would be glad
to be present now that the affair has
taken a very much graver turn"
what has it turned to, then?"
ITO murder. Mr.. Harker, will you
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
lecting other peoples news. and now
that real piece of news has come my
own way am so confused pnd bother
ed that can't put two words together.
Ii had come in here as q journalist
should have interviewed myself and
had two columns in every evening pa
per. AS 1t is, l am giving away val
liable copy by telling any story over
and over to a string Of different people,
and can make no use Of it myself.
However, I've heard your name, Mr..
Sherlock Holmes. and if you'll only ex-
plain this queer business l shall be
paid for my trouble in telling you the
story"
Holmes sat down and listened.
cit all seems to center round that
bust of Napoleon which l bought for
this very room about four months 400