The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-06-21
Vil-THE ADVENTURE OF CHAS.
AUGUSTUS MILVERTON.-Coutin.

ued.
''Wen," said he. CURLY, you are noarly
half an hour late"
So this was the explanation If the I'm,
locked door ana Of the nocturnal vigil OF
Mtlverton. There was the gentle rustic
OF a woman's dress. | had closed the Silt
between the curtains as Milverton's face
had turned in our direction, but now
ventured +ITy carefully to open it once
more. He had Tesumed his seat, the cigar
still projecting at an ~insolent angle from
she corner Of his mouth. In front OF him,
in the full glare Of the electric light. there
stood a tall. slim, dark woman, Il veil
over her face, Il mantle drawn round her
chin. Her breath came quick and fast,
and every inch OF the l.the figure was
Quivering with strong emotion.
We'll" said M.lverton you've made me
lose a good nights rest. my dear, : hope
you'u prove worth It. You couldn't come
any other time-ch?"
The woman shook her head.
We'll. If you couldn't you couldn't. II
the countess is a hard mistress. you have
your chance to get level with her now.
Bless the girl. what are you shiVer!ng
about? That's right. Pull yourself to-
gether. Now, let US gee down to bust
ness" He took q notebook from the draw
er of his desk. you say that you have
five letters which compromise the Coun-
eSsS "a 80 - u ~ ESGl AAtNi44s 4
want to buy them. So far SO good. 1t
only remains to fix a price. I Should want
to inspect the letters, OF course. If they
are really good spec.mons-Great heavens,
is it your
The woman. without a word, had raised
her veil and dropped the mantle from her
chin. 1t was a dark, handsome, clear-cut
face which confronted Milverton-a face
with q curved nose. strong. dark eyebrows
Ghading hard, glittcring eyes, and a
straight, thin-iipped mouth set III a dan
gerous smile.
TT Is L. she said, the women whose
life you have uined."
Milverton laughed, but fear vibrated in
his voice. You were SO very obstinate"
said he. Why did you drive me to such
extremeties? l assure you I wouldn't hurt
a fly Of my W. accord. but every man
has his business, and what was I to 90? I
put the the price we'll within your means.
You would not pay"
S you sent the letters to my husband,
and he-the noblest gentleman that ever
lived. a man whose boots 1 was never
worthy to lace-he broke his gallant heart
and died. Aou remember that last night.
when came through that door. 1 begged
and prayed you for mercy, and YOU
laughed III my face as you are trying to
laugh now, only your coward heart can
not keep your lips from twitching? Yes.
49, ~ ~ SSS lllt lltlS dSdilI,
but 1t was that night which taught me
now / could meet you face to face. and
alone. Well, Charles Milverton, what
have you TO say?'
Don't imagine that you can bully me-"
@ald he, rising to his feet. 81 have only 10
raise my voice. and I could call my SER
wants and have you arrested. But will
make allowance for your natural anger.
Leave the room at once as you came. and
u will say no more"
TEE woman stood with her hand buried
In her bosom. and the same deadly smile
on her thin lips.
1ou VIII ruin no more lives as you nave
ruined mine. You will wiring no more
hearts as YOU wrung mine. I will free the
world of a poisonous thing. Take that.
you hound-and that,-and that,-and
that!-and that!"
She had drawn a littIn cleaning revol- |
yer and emptied barrel after barrel into
hilverton's body. the muzzle within two
Teet OF his shirt front. He shrank awayand
shen leu forward upon the table, coughing
Iurlously AM clawing among the papers.
Then he staggered to his feet, received an
other shot, and rolled upon the floor.
You've done me-" he cried. and Law still.
The woman looked at him intent,y. and
ground her heel into his upturned face.
looked again, but there was no sound
or movement. | heard q sharp rustic, the
49, INV LIN "lSdlGQt room. ana |
the ayenger was gone.
NO interference upon our part .o,:l5 have
saved the man from his fate, but as the
woman poured bullet after bullet INTO Mil
ve-ton's shrinking body I was about to
sprisE out, when I felt Holmes cold.
strffis grasp upon my wrist. l understood
the whole argument Of that firm. restrain
ing grip-that it was no affair Of ours that
Justice had overtaken a villain, that we
mad our own duties and our own objects.
winch We're not to be lost sight of. But
nardiy had the woman rushed from the
room when Holmes, with swift, silent
steps, was over at the other door. He
turned the key in the lock. At the same
instant We heard voices in the house and
the sound of hurry.ng feet. The revolver
shots had reused the household. With
perfect GOODNESS Holmes slipped across to
the safe, filed his two arms with bundles
OF letters, and poured them allintot the fire.
Again and again he did 1t, until the safe
WAS empty. Someone turned the handle,
and beat upon the outside of the door.
Holmes looked swiftly round. The letter
which had been the messenger of death
Tor blilyerton lay, all notified with his
blood. upon the table. Holmes tossed 1t
In among the blazing papers. Then he
drew the key from the outer door, passed
through after me-, and locked it on the
outside. This way. Watson" said he,
SNaiS Ar 5dIucu wall IN TINS Oh
rectloR."
could not ave believed that an alarm
could have spread so swiftly. Looking |
pack. the huge house was one blaze of
asht. The front door was open, and fig
ures were rushing down the drive. The
whole garden was alive with people. and
one fellow raised a yiew-halloa as we
emerged from the veranda and followed
nard at our heels. Holmes seemed to
Know the grounds perfectly. ana he
threaded his way swiftly among a plan
tat:on of small trees. L close at his heels.
and our foremost pursuer painting behind
US. 1t was a six-foot wall which barredfl
our path. but he sprang to the top and
over. AS 4 did the same ] felt the hand Of
the man behind me grab at my ankle, but
! Kicked myself free and scrambled over
= grass-strcwn coping. I fell upon my
tace among some bushes, but Holmes had
me on my feet in an instant, and together
we dashed away across the huge expanse
OF Hampstead Heath. We had run two
miles. I suppose. before Holmes at laet
halted and listened iatentiy. All was ab-
1oIutc silence behind US. I'VE had shaken
on our pur;uers and were safe.
& aa a
We had breakfasted and were smoking