The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-07
CHARLES AUGUSTUS NILvERToN.
Appledore Towers.
Agent. Hampstead.

''Who Is her. I asked.
''Thc worst man in London" Holmes
answered as he sat down and stretched
his legs before the fire. rs anything on
the back of the card?"
turned II over
"Win call at 6:30-C. A. NJ" read.
"Huml He's about due. DO you feel
a creeping, shrinking sensation. Wat
son, when you stand before the SER
pents in the zoo and see the slithery,
gliding, venomous creatures, with their
deadly eyes and wicked, hattened
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 have for this fellow. And yet
/ can't get out Of doing business with
him-indeed, he is here at my invita-
tion.'
But who ls he7"
''f'll tell you, Watson. He y the king
Of all the blackmailers. Heaven help
the man, and still more the woman,
whose secret and reputation come into
the power of Mllvertonl With a smil-
ing face and heart Of marble, he Will
squeeze ard 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 1t 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 valets or maids, but fire.
quently from gentcel rufiians who have
gained the confidence and affection OF
trusting women. He deals with no Mig
gard hand. I happen to know that he
paid 400 to footman for 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
Aiilverton, 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 card back for
years in order to play 1t at the moment
when the stake is best worth winning.
have said tllat he is the worst man in
London, and / would ask you how
could one compare. the rufiian who In
hot blood bludgeons his mate with this
man who methodically and at his lei
sure tortures the soul and wrlngs the
nerves IN order to cd to his already
swollen money bagsT
l had seldom heard my friend speak
with such Intensity OF feeling.
hut surely" said /, "the fellow
must be within the grasp of the lawT'
Technically, no doubt. but practical
" not What would it profit woman,
for example, 10 get him few months
Imprisonment IL her own ruin must
Immediately follow? His victims dare
not hit back. IL ever he Dlackmailed
an innocent person, then indeed we
should have him, but he Is as cunning
es the evil one No. no; we must find
other ways to fight him"
And why is he heref"
Because an illustrious client has
placed her piteous case In my hands
II Is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the mor'
beautiful debutante OF last season
She is 10 be married IN a fortnight to
the Earl OF DoyercouTt. This fend
has several imprudent letters-impru
dent, Watson; nothing worse which
we're written TO an impecunious youna
squire In the country They would suf
fce 70 break on the match. Milverton
will send the letters 10 the earl unless
a large sum Of money Is paid him.
have been commissioned 70 meet him
and 90 make the best terms ! can
At that instant there was a clatteI
ana a rattle IN the street below Look
Ing down. ] saw stately caWlage 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 BE- was IN the room.
Charles Augustus Miiverton was q
man of Atty, with a large, intellectual
head. q round, plump, hairless face q
perpetual frozen snilt and two keeI
gray eyes which CLEANED brig4tiJ
from behind broad gold trimmed
glasses. There was something Of Mr.
Pickwick's benevoience Ia his appear
pnce. niarred only by che inslncerity
Of the hxed smile ana bg 1he hard glit