Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-08-04
The Adventure Of
the Empty House
No. ]. Of the serie.

AAO Imply MOUSC
No. ! of the Series
IT did not take long to MINK about 1t,
Watson. Again saw that grim face
look over the cliff, and I knew that it
was the precursor Of another stone.
I scrambled down on to the path. l
don't think / could have done 1t In cold
blood. 1t was hundred times more
/ difficult than getting up. But had no
time to think of the danger, for an
other stone sing past me as I hung by
my hands from the edge OF the ledge.
Halfway down slipped; but, by the
blessing Of God, landed, torn and
bleeding, upon the path. took to my
heels, did ten miles over the noun
tains in the darkness, and q week later
I found myself in Florence, with the
certainty that no one In the world
knew what had become of me.
Il had only one confidant- my broth
Or Mycroft. owe you many apologies,
my dear Watson, but 1t was all impor-
tant that 1t should be thought I was
dead, and it is quite certain that you
would not have written so convincing
an account Of my unhappy end had you
not yourself thought that it was true.
Several times during the last three
years have taken up my pen to write
{ to you, but always feared lest your
affectionate regard for me should tempt
you to some indiscretion which would
betray my secret. For that reason I
turned away from you this evening
when you upset my books, for was In
danger at the time, and any show of
surprise and emotion upon your part
might have drawn attention to my
Identity and led to the most deplorable
and irreparable results. As to Mycroft,
had to confide in him in order to OBJ
tain the, money which I needed. The
: course Of events In London did not run
10 well as had hoped, for the trial OF
the Moriarty gang left two Of Its most
dangerous members, my own most vim
dictive enemies, at liberty. Travelled
Tor two years in Tibet, therefore, and
amused myself by visiting Lassa and
spending some days with the head
lama. You may have read Of the re-
markable explorations Of q Norwegian
named Sigerson, but I am sure that 1t
never occurred to you that you were
receiving news Of your friend. I then
passed through Persia, looked in at
Mecca and paid short but interesting
visit to the khalifa at Khartum, the re-
suits of which I have communicated
to the foreign Office. Returning to
France, spent some months in re-
search into the coal tar derivatives,
which I conducted in a laboratory at
Montpelier, in the south Of France.
Having concluded this to my satisfac-
Hon and learning that only one OF my
amenities was now left in London, I was
about to return when my movements
were FASTENED by the news Of this very
remarkable Park lane mystery, which
not only appealed to me by its own
merits, but which seemed to offer some
most peculiar personal opportunities.
I came over at once to London, called
~ my own person at Baker street,
threw Mrs. Hudson into violent hys-
terics and found that Mycroft had pre-
served my rooms and my papers exact
+ u as they had always been. So 1t was,
. my dear Watson. that at o'clock to-
day / found myself In my old arm
chair IN my own old room and only
wishing that could have seen my old
friend Watson in the other chair which
he has 20 often adorned"
Such was the remarkable narrative
TO which listened on that April even
Ing, narrative which would have
bssn utterly incredible to me had 1t not
{ been confirmed by the actual sight Of
The It'll, spare figure and the keen, ca.
gr face, which had never thought to
rec again. In some manner he had
learned Of my own sad bereavement
: and his sympathy was shown In his
manner rather than In his words
Work Is the best antidote to sorrow
my dear Watson" said he, land / have
. piece Of work for US both tonight
which II we can bring 1t to a success.
ful conclusion will In itself justify q
mans life on this planet" In vain
begGed him to tell me more. sYou Will
hear and see enough before morning,
be answered. 1--WE have three years Of
he past to discuss. Let that sufiice I'M
IN half past 8, when we start upon the
notable adventure Of the empty house.
II was indeed like old times when al
that hour found myself seated beside
him In hanson, my revolver IN my
{ pocket and the thrill Of adventure in
my heart. Holmes was cold and stern
hnd silent. As the CLEAN Of the street
lamps flashed upon his austere features
saw that his brows were drawn down
I In thought and his thin lips compressed.
knew not what wild beasts we were
kbout to hunt down In the dark jungle
q criminal London, but was well as
hured from the bearing Of this master
huntsman that the adventure was a
I most grave one, while the sardonic
pmile which occasionally broke through
bis ascetic gloom BODIED little good for
he object Of our quest.
I had imagined that we were bound
Ior Baker street. but Holmes stopped
he cab at the corner OF Cayendish
hQuare. observed that as he stepped
but he gave most searching glance to
right and left and at every subsequent
btreet corner he took the utmost pains
b assure that he was not followed
Dur route was certainly singular one
y Holmes. knowledge OF the byways OF
London was extraordinary, and on this
occasion he passed rapidly and with ar
assured step through network Of
news and stables the very existence
OF which had never known. We
emerged at last into a small road lined
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