The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-12


learned of my own sad bereavement and his SYM
pathy was shown IN his manner rather than IN his
words Work Is the best antidote to sorrow my
dear Watson said he ~and have piece OF work
for us both tonight which, if can bring tito a
successfu conclusion viii IN itself Justify mans
HE on this planet" In vain l begged him to tell
me more. you viii hear and see enough before
morning. he answered I'VE have three wears OF
the past to discuss. Let that suffice until haIf-past
nine, when we start upon the notable adventure of
tho empty house"
1t was indeed like old times when. at that hour
L found myself seated beside him in a hansom nv
revolver in my pocket and the thrill of adventure
10 my heart Holmes cold and stern and silent
As the CLEAN Of the street lamps flashed upon his
austere features I that his brows were drawn
down. Ia thought and his thin lips compressed
knew not what wild beast we were about to hunt
down IN the dark jungle of criminal London, but
l well assured from the bearing Of this master
huntsman, that the adventure most grave
one-winle the sardonc smile which occasionally
broke through his ascetic gloom BODIED little good
for the object of quest
l. had imagined that bound for Baker
street, bat Holmes stopped the cab at the corner
OF Cavendlsh square. L observed that he stepped
out he gave most searching glance to right and
left, and at every subsequent he took
the utmost pans to assure that he not fol-
lowed Our route certainly a singular one.
Holmes knowledge of the by-ways of London was
extraordinary. and on this occasion he passed rap
idly and with 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 with old, gloomy houses, which led
INTO Manchester street, and to Blandford street
Here he turned swiftly down a narrow passage.
passed through wooden gate into a deserted yard.
and then opened with key the back doo- of a
house We entered together, and he closed 1T be-
hind us
The place was pitch-dark. but it was evident to
that 1t empty house. Our feet creaked
and cracked over the bare plan>ing, and my out
stretched hand touched a wall from which the ~aper
was hanging in ribbons. Holmes cold. thin fingers
closed round my wrist and led forward down
a long hall, until | dimlv the murky fanlight
over the door. Here Holmes turned suddenly to
the right and we found ourselves IN a large square,
empty ROOM heavily Swallowed in the corners, but
family lit in the from the lights of the street
beyond There lamp near, and the window
was thick with dust. that could only just
discern each others figures within. My companion
put his hand upon my shoulder and his lips close
my
"Do you know where we are 2" he whispered.
Surely that Is Baker street, l answered, star
ing through the dim window.
Exactly. We are in Camden House, which
stands opposite TO our own old quarters"
But why heTe!"
Because it commands so excellent view of
that picturesque pile. Might | trouble you, my
dear Watson TO draw a little nearer to the window.
taking every precaution not to show yourself and
then to look up old rooms-the starting
point of so many of your little fairy tales1 We
viii see if my three years of absence have entirely
taken away my power to surprise you
/ crept forward and looked across at the ia
L
gasp and a cry of amazement. The blind was down
and strong light was burning IN the room. The
shadow of a man who seated in chair within
was thrown in hard black outline upon the lumin-
Gus screen of the window. There mistalling
the poise of the head, the sGuareness of the shout
ders the sharpness of the features. The face
turned half around, and the effect that of one
of those black silhouetteS which our grandparents
loved to frame. 1t perfect reproduction of
Holmes. So amazed / that L threw out my
hand to make sure that tho himself was stand
ing beside me. He quverinG with silent
laughter.
"WelIl7 said he.
Good heavens" I cried. at is marvellous"
!. 81 trust that age doth not wither nor custom
in his voice the JOY and pride which the artist takes
in his own creation. 1T really Is rather like me,
is it not"
II should be prepared to that it YOU"
's'Thc credit of the execution is due 10 Monsieur
Oscar Mcunier, of Grcnoble who spent some days
IN doing the moulding. It Is a bust in wax. The
rest / arranged myself during my visit to Baker
street this afternoon"
But whyz'
Because my dear Watson, had the strongest
possible for wishing certain people TO THINK
that / was there when l was really elsewhere
And YOU thought the rooms were watchedE'
81 knew that they were watched"
"By whom
BY my old enemies Watson. BY the charming
sociatv whose leader lies in the Reichenbach all.
You must remember that they knew, and only they
knew that / was still alive. Sooner or later they
believed that l should come back TO my rooms.
,