The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-05-03
CHARLES AUGUSTUS M1LvERroN.
Appledore Towers,
Agent Hampstead.

''Who is he?" l asked.
''The worst man in London" Holmes
answered as he sat down and stretched
his legs before the fire. lis anything on
the back of the card?'
Il turned it over.
Twill call at 6:3O-C. A. NJ" read.
I "Hum! He's about due. Do you feel
\ 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, fiattened
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 have for this fellow. And yet
/ can't get out of doing business With
hlm-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 smil
ing face and 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 sayory trade. His
method is as follows: He allows it to
be known that he is prepared to pay
very high sums for letters which COM
promise people of wealth and position.
sreceives these wares not only from
Fcherous ya'ets or maids, but fire.
--vs3 \tly from 6, ateel ruffians who have
I'd the ...ence and affection of
busting women. He deals with no mig
gard hand. happen t9. know that he
paid f7OO to a footman FOR note two
lAnes in length and that the ruin Of Il
noble family was the result Every
thing which is in the market goes to
Milverton, 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 fur
/ too cunning to work from hand to
mouth He will hold card back for
\ years in order to play it at the moment
Y when the stake is best worth winning.
have said that he is the worst man i'll
Y London, and would ask you how
h could one compare the ruttian who in
hot blood bludgeons his mate with this
81 man who methodically and at his lei
Il sure fortunes the soul and wrngs the
"A nerves in order to add to his already
n swollen money bags:"
81 had seldom heard my friend speak
III with such intensity of feeling.
ri But surely" said 1, 'the fellow
Y pmust be within the grasp of the law?"
" ''rechnically, no doubt, but practical
~ not What would it profit Il woman,
n for example, to get him few months
Y 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 nave him, but he is as cunning
[ as the evil one. No. no; we must find
other ways to fight him."
I "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 Dovercoult. This tiend
has several imprudent letters-impru-
dent Watson; nothing worse-whicll
were written to an impecunious young
squire in the country. They would suf
flee to break off the match. Milvertol
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 can"
At that instant there was clattel
and rattle in the street below Look
ing down, saw stately carriage and
pair, the brilliant lamps cleaning OF
the glossy launches of the noble chest
nuts. A footman opened the door, AM
small, stout man in shaggy as
trakhan overcoat descended. A min
ute later he was in the room:
n Charles Augustus NIilverton was
man Of fifty, with Il large, intellectual
head, a round, plump, hairless face, I
perpetual frozen smile and two keer
gray eyes which cleaned brightly
/ from behind broad gold trimmed
glasses. There was something of Mr.
Pickwick's benevolence in his appear
ance, married only by the insincerit!
of the fixed smile and by the hard gilt
ter of those restless and penetrating