Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-06

CnanncI.
Several times I had observed that
Milverton looked at his watch, and
once he had risen and sat down again,
with gesture Of Impotence. Tho idea,
however, that he might have an np-
pointment Mt so strange an hour never
occurred TO mo until faint sound
reached my ears from the veranla out
side. MIlverton dropped his papers and
sat rigid In his chair. The sound was
repeated, and then there came n gen
tie tap Mt the door. Milvcrton rose and
opened IL.
well" said he CURLY, "you are near.
~ half on hour late"
SO this was the explanation Of the
unlocked door md Of the nocturnal
vigil Of Milvcrton. There was the gen.
tie rustic Of woman's dress. I had
closed the slit between the curtains ms
Milvcrton's face had turned in our di.
rcction. but now ventured very care
fully to open II once more. lie had re-
s,imcd his seat, the cigar still project
ing Mt an insolent angle from the cor.
nor of his mouth. In front Of him. in
stood n tall. slim, dark woman, veil
over her face, mantle drawn round
her chin. Her breath came quick and
fast and every inch NJ the 1.-THE figure
was quivering with strong emotion.
| "Well.' said Mivcrton, you've
made me lose a good nights rest. my
dcnr hope you'll prove worth it.
You couldn't come any other time
chg"
The woman shook her head.
well. If you couldn't you couldn't.
If the countess is hard mistress you
have your chance to get level with her
now. Bless the girl. what are you
shivering about? That's right. Pull
yourself together. Now let us get
down to business" He took note
book from the drawer Of his desk.
"You say that you have five letters
which compromise the Countess DIAL
bert. You want to sell them. I want
to buy them. So far so good 1t only
remains to fix a price. 1 should want
to inspect the letters. of course. II
they are really good specimens Great
heavens. Is it your
The woman, without word, had
raised her veil and dropped the man
tie from her chin. 1t was a dark,
handsome, clear cut face which con-
fronted MilvertOn--a face with curv-
cd nose. strong. dark eyebrows shad-
ag hard. glittering eyes. and a straight,
hin Tipped mouth set in a dangerous
smile.
1T is l." she said-"the woman whose
| life you have ruined"
Milverton laughed. but fear vibrated
In his voice. You were so very obsti-
nate said he. "Why did you drive
me to such extremities: put the price
well within your means. You would
not pay"
80 you sent the letters to my hus
band. and he-the noblest gentleman
that ever lived. "A man whose boots
was never worthy to lace-he broke his
gallant heart and died. You remem
Der that last night. when I came
through that door, begged and pray
ed You for mercy, and you laughed in
my face as You are trying to laugh
now. only your coward heart cannot
keep your lips from twitching! Yes
You never thought to see me here
again. but it was that night which
taught me how could meet you face
to face and alone. We'll. Charles Mil.
verton. what have you to say?"
Don't imagine that you can bully
me-" said he, rising TO his feet II
have only to raise my voice and could
call my servants and have you arrest.
cd. But l will make allowance fol-
your natural anger. Leave the room al
more"
The woman stood with her hand
buried in her bosom and the same
deadly smile on her thin lips.
Won will ruin no more lives as you
have ruined mine. You will wiring no
more hearts as you wrung mine.
will free the world Of poisonous
thing. Take that. you Homeland that
and that-and that-nnd that"
She had drawn little cleaning re-
volver and emptied barrel after barrel
into Milverton's body, the nuzzle with.
in two feet of his shirt front He
shrank away and then fell forward
upon the table. coughing furiously and
clawing among the papers. Then he
staggered to his feet. received another
shot and rolled upon the floor. you've
done me-" he cried and lay still. The
woman looked at him intently and
ground her heel into his upturned face.
She looked again. but there was no
SOUND or movement. heard a sharp
rustic, the night air blew into the heat
ed room and the avenger was gone.
No interference upon our part could
have saved the man from his fate but
as the woman poured bullet after bull
let into Milverton's shrinkn; body
was about to spring out when felt
Holmes cold, strong grasp upon my
wrist. understood the whole argu-
ment of that firm, restraining grip
that it was no affair of ours, that JUS
tice had Overtaken a villain that we
had our own duties and our own OBJ
jects. which were not to be lost sight
Of But hardly had the woman rushed
from the room when Holmes with
swift, silent steps was over ut the 9TH
or door. He turned the key in the lock-
At the same instant we heard voices in
the house and the sound Of hurrying