The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1905-09-08


threw AIRS. Hudson into violent hys=
terles and found that Ayeroft had pre-
served my rooms and my papers exact
ly as they had always been. So il was.
my dear Watson. that ut > 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 i'm the other chair which
he has so often adorned
Such was the remarkable narrative
TO which | listened on shat April even
ing, narrative which would have
been utterly Incredible to me had it not
been confirmed by the actual sight Of
the tail. spare figure and the keen. ca
ger face. which had never thought to
see 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 10 sorrow.
my dear Watson" said he, and | have
n piece of work for us both tonight
which If we can bring II TO a success
full conclusion will in itself Justify a
mans life on this planet" In vain
begged him to tell me more You will
hear and see enough before morning"
he answered We have three years of
the past to discuss Let that suffice I'M
til half past .. when we start upon the
notable adventure Of the empty house"
1t WIS indeed ike old times when n
that hour | founi myself seated beside
him in a hanson. my revolver in IN!
pocket and The thrill OF adventure in
my heart. Holmes was cold and stern
and silent As the CLEAN OF the street
lamps flashed upon his austere features
| saw that his brows were drawn down
in thought and his thin lips compressed.
| knew not what wild beasts We were
about 10 hunt down in the dark jungle
OF criminal London but | WAS we'll as
sure1 from The bearing Of This master
huntsman that he adventure was a
most grave one. while tie sardonic
smile which occasionally broke through
his aSeetic gloom bo'led little good for
the Object Of our quest
| had imagined TIM We were bound
for Baker street. Int Holmes stopped
The cab at the corner of Cavpndish
square | observed that as he stopped
out he gave = most searching glance to
right and left and m every subsequent
street corner lac took the utmost pains
TO assure thai he was not followed.
Our route was certainly singular one. /
Holmes knowledge Of the byways OF I
London was extraordinary. and on this I
occasion he passed rapidly and with an |
assured step through network of +
news and stables the very existence I
Of which / had never known W. T
at last into a small road lined +
with old. gloomy houses which led us I
into Manchester street and 50 to Bland T
ford street. Here he turned swiftly +
Town narrow passage. passed through I
a wooden gate into deserted yard and E
then opened with key the back door .
Of house We entered together. aud I
he closed 1t behind us.
The place was pitch dark. hut II was I
evident to me that it was an empty /
house. Our feet creaked and cracked [
over the bare planking and my out /
stretched hand touched a wall from .
which the paper was hanging in rib /
bons. Holmes cold. thin fingers closed |
around my wrist and led me forward /
down long hall until | dimly saw the /
murky fan llgls over the door. Here /.
Holmes turned suddenly to the right. /
and we found ourselves in large. 1
square. empty room. heavily Swallowed /
in the corners. but family lit ia the |
center from the lights of the street be
yond. There was no lamp near. and /
the window was thick with dust. so
that we could only just discern each
others figures within. My companion
put his hand upon my shoulder and
his lips close To my ear.
DO you know where we are?" lac
whispered
surely that is Baker street" | an
swered, staring through the dim win
dow
l. I