The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-19
THE RETURN OF
SHERLOCK HOTTIES.
Continued from page e.
(Bv A. CONAN DOYLE.

| 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
err NIvcroft. l owe you many apologies,
nv dear Watson. but it was all impor-
FAINT that il should be thought | 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 l
turned away from you this evening
when YOU upset my books, for l 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 lin order to OBJ
tain the money which l needed. The
course of events in London did not run
so 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. l travelled
for 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 a Norwegian
named Sigerson, but l am sure that it
never occurred to you that you We're
receiving news of your friend. l then
passed through Persia, looked in at
Mecca and paid a short but interesting
visit to the khalifa at Khartum the re-
suits of which l have communicated
to the foreign Office. Returning to
France. | spent some months in re-
search into the coal tar derivatives,
which l conducted in a laboratory at
Montpelier, in the south of France
Having concluded this to my satsfac-
ton and learning that only one of my
enemies was now left in London 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.
came over at once to London, called
in 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
ly as they had always been. So it was,
my dear Watson, that at 2 o'clock to-
day l found myself in my old arm
chair in my own old room and only
wishing that l could have seen my old
friend Watson in the other chair which
he has 50 often adorned"
Such was the remarkable narrative
to which listened on that April even
ing, q narrative which would have
been utterly incredible to me had it not
been confirmed by the actual sight Of
the tall, spare figure and the keen, ca
ger face, which l 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 to sorrow,
my dear Watson" said he, 'and l have
a piece of work for us both tonight
which if we can bring it 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 I'VE have three years of
the past TO discuss. Let that suffice I'M
til half past 9. when we start uDon the
notable adventure Of the empty house."
1t was indeed like old times when at
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
and silent. AS the CLEAN of the street
lamps flashed upon his austere features
l saw that his brows were drawn down
in thought and his thin lips compressed.
/ knew not what wild beasts we were
about to hunt down in the dark jungle
of criminal London, but l was well as
sured from the bearing of this master
most grave one, while the sardonic
smile which occasionally broke through
his ascetic gloom BODIED little good for
the object of our quest.
l had imagined that we were bound
for Baker street, but Holmes stopped
the cab at the corner of Cavendish
square. l observed that as he stepped
out he gave a most searching glance to
right and left and at every subsequent
street corner he took the utmost pains
to assure that he was not followed
Our route was certainly singular one
Holmes knowledge of the byways of
London was extraordinary, and on this
occasion he passed rapidly and with an
assured step through network of
news and stables the very existence
of which l had never known We
emerged at last into small road lined
with old, gloomy houses which led us
into Manchester street and so to Bland
ford street Here he turned swiftly
down a narrow passage, passed through
wooden gate into a deserted yard and
then opened with a key the back door
of house. We entered together, and
he closed it behind us.
The place was pitch dark, but it was
evident to me that it was an empty
mousse. Our feet creaked and cracked
over the bare planking. and my out
stretched hand touched wall from