Using Generics to return a literal string or from Dictionary

Question

I think I outsmarted myself this time. Feel free to edit the title also I could not think of a good one.

I am reading from a file and then in that file will be a string

Answer 1

if(typeof(T) == typeof(string))
{
    return (T)Parameter;
}
else
{
    // convert the value to the appropriate type
}