The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-26

NAA ~
Dr. Barnic0t was Que at his surgery
at twelve o'clock, and you can imagine
his amazement when, on arriving
there. he found that the window had
been opened in the night, and that
the o pieces Of his second bust
We're streWn all Yer the room. 1t
had been smashed to atoms where it
stood. In neither case were there any
signs which could give us a clue as
to the criminal or lunatic who had
done the mischief. Now, Mr.. Holmes,
you Rave got the facts"
are singular, not to say
grotesque," said Holmes. MAY / ask
whether the two busts smashed in
DR.. Barnicots rooms were the exact
duplicates Of the one which was de-
stroyed in Morse Hudson's shop"
They were aiken from the same
mould"
such a fact must tell against the
theory that the man who breaks them
is influenced by any general hatred
of Napoleon. Considering how many
hundreds Of statues of the great EN-
peror must exist in London. it Is too
much to suppos such a coincidence
as that a promiscuous iconociast
should nance to begin pom three
specimens Of the same bust"
well, | thought as you do" said
Lestrade. On 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 you say. there are many
hundreds Of statues in London, it is
very probable that these three were
the only ones in thataaistriet. There
fore, a local fanatic would begin with
them. What do you think, DR.. Wat
SOM"
There are no limits to the pos
sibilities Of ~monornania,' / answered.
There is the condition which the
modern French psychologist have
called the idee fxe.' which may be
trif1ing in character, and accom-
panied by complete sanity in every
other way. A man who had read
deeply about Napoleon. or who had
possibly received some hereditary
family injury through the great war,
might conceivably form such an
'idee fixe' and under it's influence be
capable Of any fantastic outrage :.
That wont 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 stu
ated."
Well. how do you explain it,
Il don't attempt to do so. l
would only observe that there is a GER
tain method in the gentleman's &C.
centric proceedings. Fol example, in
DR.. Barnicot'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, it was
smashed where it stood. The affair
seems absurdly trifling. and yet l
dare call nothing trivial when | re-
t fect that some OF my most classic
5 cases have had the least promising
l commencement. You will remember.
IT, ten NC 80 IF
the Abernetty family vas first brought
to my notice by the depth which the
: parsley had sunk into the butter upon
: d hot day. ! can't afford, therefore,
to smile at your three broken busts,
3 Lestrade, and I shall be very much
obliged to you if you will let me
hear Of any fresh development or
!, SO singular a chain Of events
Tho development for which my
friend had asked came in a quicker
and an infinitely more tragic form
than he could ave imagined. | was
! morning, when there was a tap at
,, the door and Holmes entered. a teie-
gram in his land. He read it aloud
!, Come instantly. 131, Pitt Street,
;. Kensington.-Lestrade.'
r What is it. them" | asked.
Don't knoW-may be anything
e Put l suspect it is the sequel OF the
story, Of the statues. In that case
: our friend, the mage-breaker. has
f begun operations in another quarter
q of London. There's coffee on the
e table. Watson. and | nave a CAP a
t the door"
In half an hour we had reached
t Pitt Street, a quiet little back ate
just beside one OF the briskest cur
rents of London life. No. 131 was
enc Of a row., ali f~at-chested. re-
spectacle, and most unromantic dwell
ings. AS we drove up. we found the
+ ratings in front of the house lined
by a curious crowd. Holmes whiStled
by George. it's attem pied murder
at the least. Nothing less will hold
the london message-bOy. There's a
deed of violence indicated in that
fellows round shoulders and out