Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-06-29

TO which T listened on that April evan
Ing, a narrative which would hoa.
been utterly incredible to me bad II ~.
been confirmed by the actual s,ch+ y.
the tan, spare figure and the keen :.
ger face, which I had never thought ~
see again In some manner he hos
leaned Of my own sad bereavement
and his sympathy was shown in his
manner rather than in his Words
Work Is the best anttdote to sorrow
my dear Watson" said he, q 7 havo
a piece Of work for US both tonioht
which If we can bring it to a success.
ful conclusion will In itself Justify q
mans life on this planet" In vain 7
begged him to tell me more. lyon will
hear and q enough before morning.
be answered. I'VE have three wears of
the past to discuss. Let that suffice I'm.
til half past 8, when we start upon tha
notable adventure Of the empty house"
It was indeed like old times when at
that hour I found myself seated beside
him In a hanson, my revolver in nv
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
I saw that his brows were drawn down
in thought and his thin lips compressed,
I 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
huntsman that the adventure was a
most grave one, while the sardonic
smile which occasionally broke through
his ascetic gloom BODIED little good for
the object Of our quest.
I had imagined that we were bound
for Baker street, but Holmes stopped
the cab at the corner Of Cavendish
square. I observed that as he stepnel
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 d singular one.
Holmes knowledge of the bywayS Of
London was extraordinary, and on this
occasion he passed rapidly and with an
assured step through Il network OF
news and stables the very existence
Of which 1 had never known. We
emerged at last into a small road lined
with old, gloomy houses which led us
into Manchester street and so to Bland
ford street. Here he turned swiftly
down q narrow passage, passed through
a wooden gate into a deserted yard and
then opened with a key the back door
of a 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
house. Our feet creaked and cracked
over the bare planking, and my out
stretched hand touched a wall from
which the paper vas hanging in rib
bons. Holmes cold, thin fingers closed
around my wrist and led me forward
down a long hall until l dimly saw the
murky fan light over the door. Here
Holmes turned suddenly to the right
and we found ourselves in a large
square, empty room, heavily shadoVea
in the corners, but family lit in the
center from the lights Of the street De.
You'd. There was no lamp near, aIa
the window was thick with dust 50
that we could only just discern eael
others figures within. My companion
put his hand upon my shoulder anu
his lips close to my ear.
do you know where We are: lie
whispered.
Surely that is Baker street aH
swered, staring through the lin WIZ
dow.
Exactly. We are in Camden HOUSE,
which stands opposite to u y"
quarters"
"But why are we bere!"
Because it commands so eSceI.ent
a view Of that picturesque pile. A'sn,
l trouble you, my dear Watson, ~
draw a little nearer to the "ll'1oS,
taking every %precaution not TO snum
yourself, and then to look up at ."
old rooms-the starting point Oh ~ ~
many Of your little fairy tales:
will see if my three years OIL aps.n ~
have entirely taken away my po"e
surprise vnll"
TnnNTINUED.J