Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-15
VII-THE ADVENTURE OF CHAs.
AUGUSTUS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

deal me. dear me, how unforlu-
mattel" cried Milverton, taking out a
bulky pocketbook. II cannot help
thinking tina ladies are ill-advised in
not making an effort. Look at this"
He help up a little note with a coat OF
arms upon the envelope. THAT be-
longs towel. perhaps 1t is hardly fair
to tell the name until tomorrow morn
ing. But at that time Ii viii be in the
hands of the lady's husband. And ali
because she will not find a beggarly
sum which she could get by turning her
diamonds into paste. II Is such q pity!
Now, you remember the sudden end Of
the engagement between the Hon. Miss
Miles and Colonel Dorking? Only two
days before the wedding there was a
paragraph in the Morning Post TO say
tina it was all off. And why? 1t is
almost incredible, but the absurd sum
of E1, 200 would have settled the whole
question. Is 1t not pitiful? And here
/ find you, a man of sense, boggling
about terms, when your clients future
and honor are at stake. o surprise
me, Mr.. Holmes
What / say Is true" Holmes an
severed. THE money cannot be found.
Surely IL is better for you to take the
substantial sum which / offer than to
ruin this woman's career. which can
profit o in no way?"
There you make a mistake, Mr..
Holmes. An exposure would profit me
indirectly to n considerable extent. L
have eight or ten similar cases matur-
ing. II Il was circulated among them
that i had made "A sever example Of
h Lady Eva, / should find all of them
much more open to reason. You see
my point?"
Holmes sprang from his chair.
Get behind him, Watson! Don't let
him out! Now, sir, let us see the con-
tents of hat note boo"
Milverton had glided as quick as a rat
to the side of the room, and stood with
his back against the wall.
"Mr, Holmes, Mr.. Holiness" he said,
turning the front of his coat and eX-
hibiting the butt OF a large revolver,
which projected from the inside pocket.
II have been expecting o to do some
thing original. This has been done SO
often, and what good has ever come
from itp / assure you that / am armed
20 the teeth, and / am perfectly pre-
pared to use my weapons, knowing
that the law will support me. Besides,
your supposition that / would bring the
letters here in a note book is entirely
mistaken. / would do nothing so fooi-
ish. And now. gentlemen. / have one
or w little interviews this evening,
and it is a long drive 10 Hampstead"
He stepped forward, took up his coat,
a his hand on his revolver, and
durned TO the door. / picked up a chair,
but Holmes shook his head, and / laid
IL down again. With a bow, a smile,
and q twinkle, Milve: IN was out of
abe room. and a few moments after we
heard the slam of the carriage door and
the rattle of the wheels as he drove
away
Holmes sat motionless by the fire, his
hands buried deep In his trouser pock-
cts. his chin sunk upon his breast. his
eyes liked upon the glowing embers.
For half an hour he was silent and
still. Then. with the gesture of q man
who has taken his decision, he sprang
to his feet and passed into his bed
room. A little later a rakish young
workman, with a goatee beard and a
swagger, lit his clay pipe at the lamp
before descending into the street. 'TH
be back some time, Watson said he,
and vanished into the night. / under
stood that he had opened his campaign
against Charles Augustus Milverton,
but I little dreamed the strange shape
which that campaign was destined to
take,
For some days Holmes came and went
at all hours in this attire, but beyond
a remark that his time was spent al
Hampstead, and that IL was not wasted,
i knew nothing Of what III was doing.
- $685. t0NN w. ~ h nlfAt lClilDCSgd~
'ous evening, when the wind screamed
and ratified against the windows, ie re-
turned from his last expedition. and
having removed his disguise he sat be-
ffore the fire and laughed heartily in
his silent inward fashion.
You would not call me a marrying
man. Watson?"
mo, indeed"
You'll be interested to hear that I'm
engaged"
My dear fellow, / congrat-"
ITO Milverton's housemaid.'
Good heavens. Holiness"
II wanted information, Watson"
Surely you have o too far?"
1t was a most necessary step. | an
a plumber with a rising business, Escott
by name. l have walked out with hel
each evening, and / have talked witt
her. Good heavens, those talksi'
However, / have got all / wanted.
know Milverton's house as l know tn,
palm of my hand"
"But the girl, Holmes?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
You can't help 1t. my lear Watson
You must play your cards as best vol
a when such a stake is on the table
However, / rejoice to say that ] hav,
a hated rival. who will certainly GU
me out the instant that my back i
turned. What a splendid night II isl"
you like this weather."
1T suits my purpose. Watson.
NEAR TO burgie Milverton's house to
night"
L had n catching of the breath, an
my kin went cold at the words. whic'
were slowly uttered in a tone OF cor
centrated resolution. AS a lash q
lightning In the night shows UP in an In
stant every detail of a wild landscap,
so at one glance I seemed to see ever
possible result OF such an action-th
detection. the capture. the honored "a
eer ending In i~rreparable failure an
disgrace. my friend himself lying a
h mercy of the odious Milyerton.
sFor heavens sake, Holmes. thin
what you are doing" I cried.
MY dear fellow, I have given IL ever
consideration. I am never precipitat
In my actions. nor would / adopt 5
energetic and, indeed, so dangerous
course. IL any other were possible. l.,
us vol at the matter clearly and fairl
4 suppose that you will admit that III
action Is morally justiiable. thoug
technically criminal. 70 burgle II
hOuse Is no more than TO forcibly tai
his pocketbook-an action In which yo
verc prepared to aid me"
I turned II over In my mind.
Yes l said. 1T Is morally justilab
aasss as eur object Il to takee j
articles save those when are used Z,
an Illegal purpose"
Exactly. Since II Is morally justi,
-h1o I have only tn consider rbo uuo