The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-22
The Adventure of the
Six Napo1eons

netty family was first brought my notice by the
depth which the parsley had sunk into the butter upon
hot day. can Z afford, therefore, to smile at your
three broken busts, Lestrade and shall be very much
obliged TO you if you will let henr of any fresh de-
veopment of singular chain of events
The development for which my friend had asked
came in a quicker and infinitely tragic form
than he could have imagined. I still dressing 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, 1s1 Pitt street, Kensington.
"LESTRADE"
'what is it, thenf' 1 asked.
"Don't know-may be anything But ] suspect
it is the sequel of the story of the statues In that
friend, the image breaker, has begun opera
tions in another quarter Of London. There's coffee
the table, Watson and have cab at the door,
In half hour we had reached Pitt street, quiet
little backwater just beside Of the briskest
OF London life. No. 13l one Of row, all
fatchested, respectable and most unromantic dwell
lings AS drove up, found the ratings in front
of the house lined by curious crowd Holmes whstled.
''By George! it's attempted murder at the least,
Nothing less will hold the London geboy There's
deed of violence indicated in that fellows round
shoulders aud outstretched neck. What's this, Wat
SOM The top steps swilled down and the other
dry. Footsteps enough anyhow! WELL well, there's
Lestrade at the front window, and shall know
all about it,
The official received with a very grave face and
showed us into sitting room Where an exceedingly
unkempt and agitated elderly man, clad in flannel
dressing gown pacing up and down. He was in.
troduced to the Of the bouse--Mr. Horace
Harker Of the Central Press Syndicate.
'It's the Napoleon bust business again" said Les
trade You seemed interested last night, Mr.. Holmes,
thought perhaps you would be glad to be present
that the affair has taken very much graver
turn
"what has it turned to, thens''
''To murder Mr.. Harker, will you tell these gen.
tlemen exactly what has occurred?n
The in the dressing gown turned upon with
a most melancholy face,
"Its extraordinary thing" said he, f'that all
my life have been collecting other peoples news,
and that real piece of news has my own
way I confused and bothered that can put
two words together. If ] had in here jour
nalist, should have interviewed myself and had two
columns in every evening paper. As IL Is, am giving
away valuable copy by telling my story and over
to a string of different people, and make
of it myself However I've heard your name, Mr..
Sherlock Holmes and If you II only explain this queer
business sbal be paid for my trouble in telling you
the story"
Holmes sat down aud listened,
"It all seems to center round that bust Of Napoleon
which bought for this very room about four months
ago, picked 1t up cheap from Harding Brothers two
doors from the High street station. great deal Of
journalistic work is done at night, and often write
until the early morning. So it was today. sit
ting in my deu which is at the back Of the top of the
house, about clock, when convinced that
heard some sounds downstairs I listened, but they
not repeated, and I concluded that they came
from outside. Then suddenly, about Eve minutes Ia
ter there most horrible yellthe most dreadful
sound, Nh Holmes, that heard 1t will ring in
my long live. sat frozen with horror for
minute or two. Then I seized the poker and went
downstairs. When entered this found the win
dow wide open, aud at once observed that the bust
gone from the msntelpiece. Why any burglar
should take such thing passes my understanding for
it only plaster cast, and Of real value what
ever
''You can see for yourself that anyone going out
through that open window could reach the front door
step by taking a long stride. This clearly what
the burglar had DONE went round and opened the
door. Stepping out into the dark, nearly fell
dead man, who was lying there. back for light,
and there was the poor fellow, great cash In his
throat and the whole place swimming in blood. he lay
his back his knees drawn up and his mouth horribly
Sor shall see eos him IN ny snS Dsn had st time
fsnsed for knew nothing more until found the po'
@So tie sas asked Holmes
There's nothing to show who he was, said Les,
have made nothing of it up to now, He is a tall
man. sqnburned very powerful, not more than 80, He
boTer A bornhsndied clasp knife was lying in pool
of blood beside him. Whether it the weapon which
did the deed, whether it belonged to the dead man
do not know. There was name bis clothing, and
nothing in his pockets save an apple, some string
II was evidently taken by snapshot from small
It represented alert sharp-feat siman
man. with thick eyebrows and very peculiar proiec.
ton of the lower part of the face like the muzze Of
baboon
''And what became Of the bustf' asked Holmes
after careful study Of this picture.
eve had news Of II just before you came It hs.
been found in the front garden Of empty house in
Campden House road It was broken into fragments.
] am going round now to see it. Will you comet"
examined the carpet and the window. '.The fellow
had either very long legs or most active man
said be. ''With beneath IL was no mean feat
to reach that window ledge and open that window
Getting back was comparatively simple. Are YOU
Harker7''
The disconsolats journalist had seated himself at q
writing table.