Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-09-21
CHARLES AUGUSTUS M1LvERToN,
Appledore Towers,
Agent. Hampstead.
Agent.

"Who is he%' l asked.
'The worst man in London" Holmes
answered as be sat down and stretched
his legs before the fire. us anything on
the back of the card?"
I turned it over.
"Will call at 6:30-C. \. NJ" l read.
Hun. He's about due. DO YOU feel
a creeping, shrinking sensation, Wat
son, when YOU stand before the SER
penis in the zoo and see the Slithery,
gliding, venomous creatures, with their
deadly eyes and wicked, tiattened
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
him-indeed, he is here at my invita-
ton
But who is he"
"Ill 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 a smil-
ing face and a 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 CON-
promise people Of wealth and position.
He receives these wares not only from
~treacherous Wallets or maids, but fire.
Quently from genteel ruf1ans who have
gained the confidence and affection Of
trusting women. He deals with no mig
gard hand. I happen to know that he
paid f7O0 to a footman for a 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
Milverton, and there are hundreds in
this great city who urn 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. Ele will hold q card back for
years in order to play it at the moment
Wleu the stake is best worth winning.
l hare said that he is the worst man in
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 bis already
swollen money bags?
I had seldom heard my friend speak
with such intensity of feeling.
But surely" said I, "the fellow
must be within the grasp of the law"
"Technically, no doubt, but practical
ly not. What would it profit a
for example, to get him a few months
Imprisonment if her w ruin must
Immediately follow? His victims dare
not hit back. If eve he blackmailed
an innocent person, then indeed we
should nave him. but hs is as cunning
as 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.
1t is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the most
beautiful debutante Of last season.
She is to be married in a fortnight to
the Earl Of Dovercourt. This fiend
has several imprudent letters-impru-
dent, Watson; nothing worse-which
were written to an ilnpecunious young
squire i'll the country. They would suf-
flee to break off the match. Milverton
will send the letters to the earl unless
a large sum of money is paid him. |
have been commissioned to meet him
and to make the best terms l can"
At that instant there was a CHATTER
and Il rattle in the street below. Look.
ing down, | saw u stately carriage and
pair, the brilliant lamps cleaning or
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 Milvcrton was a
man Of fifty, with a large, intellectual,
head, a round, plump, hairless face, q
perpetual frozen smile and two keer
gray eyes which CLEANED bright,
from behind broad gold trimmed
glasses. There was something of Mr.
pickwick's Denevolencc in his appear
ancc, married only by the insinccrity
Of the fixed smile and by the hard gilt
ter Of these restless and penetrating