Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-06-14

Win no TlSSa"u mana. i NAPIER TO
know y 4 he paid seven hundred
pounds to u ootinan for Il note two
lines iii length, and that the ruin of a
whole noble family was the result.
Everything which is in the market goes
to Milvcrton. and there are hundreds
in THIS great city who tHrn white at
his name No one knows where his
grip may fail. for he is far too rich
and far too cunning to work from
hand to mouth. He viii hold a card back
for years in order to play it at the mo-
!nent when the stake is best worth
winning. l have said that he is the
worst man in London. and I would ask
YOU how could one compare this ruff
tian. who in hot blood %bludgeons his
mate, with this man. who m~ethodicaly
and at his leisure fortunes the soul and
WringS the nerves in order to add to his
already swollen money bags
| had seldom heard my friend speak
with such intensity of feeling.
But surely" said l. the fellow must
be within the grasp of the law"
"Technically. no doubt. but practical-
ly not. What wou 1t profit IL
for example. to get him Il few months'
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 have him, but he Is as cunning
- ~ eNCs ~ W. ~ Allld
other ways to fight him.
And why is he here"
because an illustriOus client has
placed her piteous case in my haads.
II is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the most
beautiful debutane of last season. She
Ia to be married in Il fortnight to the
Earl of Dovercourt. This fiend has
several imprudcnt letters-imprudent.
Watson. nothing worse-which were
written tn an impecunious IL squire
In the country. They would suffice to
break off HI match. Milverton will
send the letters to the earl unless a
large sulm of money is paid him. l
have been commissioned to meet him
and-to make the best terms 1 cam
At that instant there was a CHATTER
and a rattle in the street below. Look
ing down l saw a stately carriage and
pair. the brilliant lamps cleaning ON
the glossy launches of the noble chest
nuts. A footman opened the door. and
Il small. stout man in a shaggy astra-
khan overcoat descended. A minute
later. he was In the room.
Charles Augustus Milverton was a
man of fifty, with IL large. intellectual
head. Il round. plump. hairless face. a
perpetual. frozen smile. and two keen
gray eyes. which cleaned brightly
from behind broad. gold trimmed glass
es. There was something OF Mr.. Pick
wicks benevolence In his appearance,
married only by the inslncerity OF the
fixed smile and by the hard glitter of
those restless and penetrating eyes. His
voice was as smooth and suave as his
c-ountenance. as he advanced with a
plump little hand extended, murmuring
his regret for having missed us at his
first visit. Holmes disregarded the
outstretched hand and looked at him
~broadened. he shrugged his shoulders,
with a face of granite. Milverton's smile
removed his o%vercoat, folded it with
great deliberation over the back OF 9
chair. II then took a seat.
This gentleman" said he, with a
wave in my direction. rs it discreet!
Is 1t right"
"Dr. Watson is my friend and part.
ner."
Very good, Mr.. Holmes. 1t is only il
your clients interests that l protested
The matter is so very delicate-"
DIR. Watson has already heard of it,"
Then we can proceed to business.
You say that you are acting for Lady
Eva. Has she empowered you to &C.
cept my terms?"
What are your terms?"
Seven thousand pounds"
And the alternatives"
MY dear sir. it is painful for me to
discuss it. but If the money is not
paid on the 14th. there certainly will be
no marriage on the 18TH" His insult
ferable smile vas more complaccnt
than ever.
Holmes thought for a little.
You appear to me- he said, at last.
Ito be taking matters too much for
granted. / am, of course familiar with
the contents Of these letters. My client
will certainly do what l may advise.
l shall counsel her to tell her future
husband the whole story, and to trust
to his generosity"
Milverton chuckied.
You evidently do not know the
earl" said he.
From the bafNed look upon Holmes
face. | could see clearly that he did.
What harm is there in the letters?'
he asked.
They are sprightly-very sprightly."
Milverton answered. 1.-The lady was a
charming correspondent. But l can as
sure you that the earl of D~overcourt
would fail to appreciate them. How.
ever. since you think otherwise, we will
let 1t rest at that. 1t is purely a matter
Of business. If you think that it is in
the best interests of your client that
these letters should be placed in the
hands of the earl. her you would in
deed be foolish to pay so large ii sun,
of money to regain them" He rose and
seized his astrakhan coat.
Holmes was grey with anger and
modification.
Wait Il little" he said. you go too
fast. We should certainly make every
effort to avoi scandal in SO delicate a
matter"
Milverton relapsed into his chair.
Il was sure that you would see it in
that light" he purred.
AT the same time" Holmes con-
inued Lady Eva is not a wealthy
woman. l assure you that G2, 900 would
be a drain upon her resources. and
hat the sum you name is utterly be-
You'd her power. l beg. therefore. that
you VIII moderate your demands, and
That you will return the letters at the
price indicate. which is, 1 assure you.
the highest that you can get"
Milverton's smile b%roadened and his
eyes twinkled humorously.
II am aware that what Won say II