Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-10-06
CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILvHRpoN.
az Appiedore Towers.
Agent. Hampstead.
Agent.

"Who is he?" 1 asked.
1.-THE worst man in London" Holmes
answered as he sat down and stretched
his legs before the fire. "Is anything on
the back Of the cardT
turned it over.
"Will call at 6:30-C. A. NJ" read.
"Huln! He's about due. Do you feel
q creeping, shrinking sensation, Wat
son, when you stand before the SER
penis in the zoo and see the slithery,
gliding, venomous creatures. with their
deadly eyes and wicked, lattened
faces7 Well, that's how Milverton i'm
presses me. I've had to do with fifty
murderers in my career, but the worst
of them never gave me the repulsion
which 1 have for this fellow. And yet
can't get out Of doing business with
hlm-indeed, he is here at my invita-
ton"
But who is hep
"Tll tell you, Watson. He Is the king
Of all the blackmailers. Heaven help
the man, and still more the woman,
whose secret and reputation come into
the power of Milverton! With smil-
ing face and heart of marble, he will
squeeze and squeeze until he has drain
ed them dry. The fellow Is genius
in his way and would have made hrs
nfark in some more sayofy trade. His
method is as follows; He allows it to
be known that he is prepared to pay
very high sums for letters which esl4.
promise peopls Of wealth and 49,
| he Vseeipes thes- ,,rion
~ wares not only from
:. eacnerous Wallets or maids, but fire.
Guently from genteel ruffians who have
gained the confidence and affection of
trusting women. He deals with no mig
gard hand. l happen to know that he
paid f700 to a footman for a note two
lines in length and that the ruin Of a
noble family was the result. Every
thing which is in the market goes to
NIilveiton, and there are hundreds In
this great city who turn white at his
name. No one knows where his grip
may fall, for he is far too rich and far
too cunning to work from hand to
mouth. He will hold a card back for
years in order to play it at the moment
when the stake Is best worth winning.
have said that he is the worst man in
London, and would ask you how
could one compare the ruf1ian who in
hot blood bludgeons his mate with this
man who methodically and at his lei.
sure fortunes the soul and wrings the
nerves in order to add to his already
swollen money bags?"
had seldom heard my friend speak
with such intensity of feeling.
"But surely" said I, "the fellow
must be within the grasp Of the law?'
Technically, no doubt, but practical
ly not. What would it profit woman
for example. to get him few months
Imprisonment If her own ruin mus
Immediately follow? His victims dare
not hit back. If ever he blackmailet
an innocent person, then indeed W.
should have him, but he isAas cunning
as the evil one. No. no; we must fine
other ways to fight him.
"And why is he here?"
Because an illustrious client ha
placed her piteous case in my hands
1t is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the mos
beautiful debutante of last season
She is to be married in fortnight t,
the Earl Of Doyercourt. This fent
has several imprudent letters-impru
dent, Watson; nothing worse-whicl
We're written to an impecunious youn
squire in the country. They would sui
fee to break off the match. Milvertol
will send the letters to the earl unles
large sum Of money is paid him.
have been commissioned to meet hin
and to make the best terms can"
At that instant there was clatte
and rattle in the street below. Lool
ing down, saw stately carriage an
pair, the brilliant lamps cleaning O
the glossy launches of the noble ches
nuts. A footman opened the door, an
small, stout man in shaggy as
trakhan overcoat descended. A mil
ute later he was in the room.
Charles Augustus NIilverton was
man of fifty, with large, intellectus
head, a round, plump, hairless face,
perpetual frozen smile and two kee
gray eyes which cleaned bright
from behind broad gold rimme
glasses. There was something Of NJ
p Pickwick's beneyolence in his appear
ance, mared only by the insincerit
a. tia Axsd siassla stsd w Shs hatd III