Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-10
CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILvERToN.
Appledore Towers.
Agent Hampstead.

"Who is hep l asked.
1.-The worst man In London Holmes
answered as he sat down and stretched
his legs before the fire. lis anything on
the back of the card?'
turned it over.
will call at $500. A. M" read.
Hum! Hes about due. DO you feel
a creeping, shrinking sensation, Wat
son, when you stand before the ser
penis in the ZOO and see the sllthery,
gliding venomOus creatures, with their
deadly eyes and wicked. flattened
faces? 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 l have for this fellow. And yet
i can't get out of doing business with
him-indeed, he is here at my invita-
ton
But who is hep
"IIl tell you. Watson---Ha-is-the-k 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 a Smil-
ing face and u heart OF marble. he will
squeeze and squeeze until he has drain
ed them dry. The fellow is a genius
in his way and would have made his
mark in some more savory trade. His
method is as follows: He allows it to
be known that he is prepared to pay
very high sums for letters which com
promise people OF wealth and position.
He receives these wares not only from
treacherOus Wallets or maids, but fire.
Hox
gained the confidence and affection of
trusting women. He deals with no mig
gard hand. l happen to know that he
paid fTO0 to footman for note two
lines In length and that the ruin Of
noble family was the result. Every
thing which is I'm the market goes to
Milverton. 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 10
mouth. He will hold a card back for
years in order 10 play II 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 ruttian 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 10 add 10 his already
swollen money bags
had seldom heard my friend speak
With such intensity of feeling.
But surely" said I. the fellow
must he within the grasp Of the law"
Technically, no doubt, but practical
~ not. What would IL profit Il woman,
for example, 10 get him a few months
IMPRISONMENT il her own ruin must
immediately follow? His victims dare
not hit back. II ever he blackmailed
an innocent person, then indeed we
should have him, but he is as cunning
as the evil one. No. no: we must find
other ways to fight him."
"And why is he hereF
Because an ilIustrious client has
placed her piteous case in my hands.
II is the Lady Eva Blackwell. the most
beautiful debutante of last season.
She is to be married in a fortnight 10
the Earl OF DovercOurt. This fiend
has several imprudent letters-impru-
dent Watson; nothing worse which
were written TO an impecunious young
squire In the country. They would suf-
flee to break of the match. Milverton
will send the letters TO the earl unless
large sum OF money is paid him. /
have been commissioned TO meet him
and to make the best terms j can"
At that instant there was a clatter
and a rattle in the street below. Look
ing down, / saw a stately carriage and
pair. the brilliant lamps cleaning on
the glossy launches OF the noble chest
nuts. A footman opened the door. and
a small. stout man in a shaggy as
trakhan overcoat descended. A min
ute later he was in the room
Charles Augustus Milverton was