Morris tribune., 1905-08-12
CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILvERToN,
Appledore Towers,
Agent. Hampstead.
Agent.

"Nho is hep asked.
'"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 card?
/ turned it over.
"Will call at 6:30-C. A. NJ" read.
'"Hum! He's about due. DO you feel
q creeping, shrinking sensation, wat
son, when you stand before the ser
Dents in the ZOO and see the slithery,
gliding. venomous creatures, with their
deadly eyes and wicked, f1attened
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 1 have for this fellow. And yet
I can't get out of doing business with
hI1n-indeed, he is here at my invita-
ton
'But who is hep?
"I'll 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 a 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 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
of nd r,nSifinn
He receives these wares not only from
Areacherous Wallets or maids, but fire.
quently from genteel ruff1ans who have
gained the confidence and affection OF
trusting women. He deals with no mig
gard hand. l happen to know that he
paid f7OO to a fOotman for note two
lines in length and that the ruin Of
noble family was the result. Every
thing which lis in the market goes to
dilverton, 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 tn work from hand to
mouth. He will hold card back for
years in order to play it at the moment
when the stake is best worth winning.
London, and l would ask you how
could one compare the ruffian 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?"
I had seldom heard my friend speak
with such intensity of feeling.
14But surely" said I, ''the fellow
must be within the grasp of the lawY
Technically, no doubt, but practical
ay not What would it profit woman,
Tor example, to get him a few months
imprisonment if her own ruin must
Immediately follow? His victims dare
not hit back. If ever he blackmailed
an innocent person, then indeed we
should have him, but he is as cunning
ms the evil one No, no; we must find
Other ways to fight him."
@And why is he here?"
Because an illustrious client has
placed her piteous case in my hands.
at is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the most
beautiful debutante of last season.
She is to be married in fortnight to
the Earl Of Dovagcourt This fiend
has several imprudent letters impru-
4ient, Watson; nothing worse-which
were written to an impecunious young
squire in the country. They would suf-
1ice to break off the match. Milverton
will send the letters to the earl unless
n large sum of money is paid him. I
nave been commissioned to meet him
and to make the best terms I can"
At that instant there was clatter
and a rattle in the street below. Look
ing down. / saw a stately carriage and !