The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-08
The Adventure of
Charles Augustus
MiIverton

aA' 4NANNEA NNHrtN lutIt WIS II moist
somewhere within the house. A door
slammed in the distance Then a con
fused, dull murmur broke itself inte
the measured thud Of heavy footsteps
rapidly approaching. They were in the
passage outside the room. They paused
at the door. The door opensd. There
was a sharp snlck as the electric light
was turned on. The door closed once
more, and the pungeut reek of a strong
cigar was borne to our nostrsls. Then
the footsteps continued backward and
forward, backward and forward. with
in a few yards OF US. Finally there
was a creak from a chair, and the foot
steps ceased. Then a key clicked In a
lock, and heard the rustic OF papers.
SO far / had not dared 70 look out.
but now l gently parted the division
of the curtains In front Of me and
pseped through. From the pressure OF
Holmes shoulder against mine knew
that he was sharing my observations
Right In front Of us and almost within
our reach was the broad, rounded back.
OF Aiilvert0n II was evident that we
bad entirely iniscalculated his move.
ments; that he had never beeR to his
bedroom, but that he had been ssttlne
up In some smoking or billiard room
In the farther wing OF the house, the
windows Of which we had not seen.
His broad, gyizzled head. with its shin
Ing patch of badness, was In the i'm
mediate foreground of our vision. He
was legnlng far back In the red leather
chair, his legs oustretched, long
black cigar projecting at an angle from
bis mouth. He wore a semimilitary
smoking jacket claret colored, with
black velvet collar. In his haAd he
held a long legal document, which he
was reading in an indolent fashion,
blowing rings OF tobacco smoke from
his lips as he did so.
! felt Holmes hand steal into mine
and give me reassuring shake, as II
TO say that the situation was within his
powers and that ne was easy in his
mind. / was not sure whether he had
seen what was only too obvious from
my position. that the door OF the safe
was imperfectly closed and that Nil
verton might at any moment observe
It, In my own mind / had determined
that II l were sure from the rigidity OF
his gaze that Il had caught his eve |
would at once spring out, throw my
greatcoat over his head, pinIon him
and leave the rest to Holmes But Mil
verton never looked np. He was Ian
guidly interested by the papers In his
hand, and page after page was turned
as he followed the argument OF the !
lawyer. At least, ! thought, when he
had finished the document and the |
cigar be will go TO his room, but before |
he had reached the end OF either there |
came remarkable development which
turned our thoughts into quite another
Several times l had observed that
Milverton looked at his watch. and |
oi4ce he had risen and sat down agaln,
with a gesture Of impatience. The idea.
however, that he might have an ap-
polntment at so strange an hour never
occurred to me until a faint sound
reached my ears from the veranda out
side. Milverton dropped his papers and
sat rigid in his chair The sound was
repeated, and then there came a gen.
tie tap at the door. Milyerton rose and
opened II.
WELL" said he curtly. "you are near
" half an hour later
SO this was the explanation OF the
door and OF the nocturnal
vigil Of Milverton. There was the gen
he rustic OF woman's dress. had
,losed the slit between the curtains as
face had turned IN our di.
-ection, but now / ventured very care
fully 70 open Il once more He had re-
iumed his seat, the cigar sthl project
ng at an insolent angle from the cor
ler Of his mouth. Ia front OF him, in
he full glare OF the electric light, there
'tood tall. slim, dark woman, veil
'ver her face, a mantle drawn round
ler chin. Her breath came quick and
asst and every inch OF the 1.-THE figure
vas quiverIng with strong emotion.
WELL" said Milverton. you've
oade me lose good nights rest. my
lear. / hope you'll prove worth IL l'l
tou couldn't come any other time
hY'
The woman shook her head.
well, II you couldn't you couldn't.
I the countess Is a hard mistress yOu
ave your chance 10 get level with her
iow. Bless the girl. what are you i
hvertng aboutf That's right. Pull
ourself together. Now let us get
own TO business" He took a note
ook from the drawer OF his desk.
You say that you have fve letters
Fhich compromise the Countess d'Al.
ort YOu want TO sell them. | want ,
D buy them. So far so good. II only
emains % nx q price. should want
0 inspect the letters. OF course. II
hey are really good specimens Great
eavens! Is II your
Tie woman. without a word. had
aiaed her veil and dropped the man
e from her chin. Il was dark.
ancsome, clear cut face which con
ronted Aiiyerton-a face with q curv-
. nose. strong, dark eyebrows shad-
lg hard, siitfering eyes, aud a straight .
lin Tipped mouth set ia a dangerous
nile.
1T Is /, she said-"tho woman whose
fe you have sulned" .
Milverton laughed, but fear Tibrnted \
J his voice You were so very obsu. 4
ate,' said be. why did you drive
e to such extremitesl put the price .