The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-06-14
vII-THE ADVENTURE OF cHAs.
AUGUSTUS MILvERToN.-contin.

bulky pockctbook II cannot heir
thinking that ladies are ill-advised Ia
not making an effort. Look ut this"
He help up little note with n coat oi
arms upon the envelope. THAT be-
longs lowell. perhaps IL In hardly faiI
to tell the name until tomorrow morn.
ing. But at that time IL VIII be In ths
hands OF the lndys husband. And al
because she Will not find n beggarly
sum which she could get by turning hci
diamonds into paste. IL In such n pity!
Now. you remember the sudden end OF
the engagement between the Hon. Miss
1 Miles and Colonel Dorkingg only two
days before the wedding there was a
paragraph In the Morning Post To- say
that u was all or. And why? II Is
almost incredible. but the absurd sum
OF Ei 200 would have settled the whole
question. Il II not pltiful? And here
I ind you. a man of sense. bogglins
about terms. when your clients future
and honor are AT stake. You surprise
me. Mr.. Holmes
what say II true" Holmes an
swered. THE money cannot be found
Surely 10 In better for you to take the
substantial sum which I offer than "a
ruin this womnn's career. which can
profit you I'm no wny?"
There you make n mistake. Mr..
Holmes An exposure would profit me
l u
| have eight or ten similar cases matur-
ing. II q was circulated among them
that I had made "a severe example OF
the Lady Eva, l should find all nj them
much more open To reason. You see
my polnt?''
| Holmes sprang from his chair.
! Get behind him. Watson! Don't let
him out. Now. sir. let US see the con-
tents OF that note boo"
/ hnI iii HI I'll. 0
to the side Of the room. and stood with
his back against the wall.
Mr.. Holmes. Mr.. Holmes" he said.
turning the front OF his coat and ex-
/ hibiting the butt OF large revolver.
which projected from the inside pocket.
II have been expecting you To do some
thing original. This has been done 80
often, and what good has ever come
from III j assure you that am armed
60 the teeth. and 1 am perfectly pre-
pared TO use my weapons. knowing
that the law will support me. Besides.
your supposition that I would bring the
letters here Ia n note book IN entirely
mistaken. ] would do nothing so fool
ish. And now. gentlemen. have one
or two littl, interviews this evening.
and II Is n long drive to Hnmpsi cad"
He stepped forward. took up his coat.
laid his hand on his revolver. and
turned TO the door. picked up n chair.
but Holmes shook his head. and l laid
10 down again. With "A bow. "A smile,
and twinkle. Mi'vc III was out OF
the room. and "A few moments after we
heard the slam or the carriage door and
the rattle OF the wheels as he drove
away.
Holmes snt motionless by the fire. his
hands buried deep I'm his trouser peck.
cts. his chin sunk upon his breast. his
eyes liked upon the glowing embers.
For half an hour he was silent and
stu. Then. with the gesture OF n man
who has taken his decision, he sprang
To his feet and passed into his bed
room. little later rakish young
workman, with goutee beard and n
swagger. III his clay pipe at the lamp
before descending into the street I'll
be back some time. Watson" said he,
and vanished into the night. under
stood that he had opened his campaign
against Charles Augustus MIiverton,
but / little dreamed the strange shape
which that campaign was destined to
take"
For some days Holmes came and went
nj all hours In this attire, but beyond
remark that his time was spent at
hampstead. and that II was not wasted.
i knew nothing OF what he was doing
At last, however. on n Wild, tempeStu-
Gus evening. when the wind screamed
ana ratified against the windows. he re-
turned from his last expedition. and
having removed his disguise he sat be-
fore the fire and laughed heartily I'm
his silent inward fashion.
You would not call me n marrying
man, Watson"
mo. indeed"
engaged"
My dear fellow! congrat-"
To Milverton's housemaid."
Good heavens. Holiness"
Il wanted Information, Watson"
surely you have gone too far?'
IL was n most necessary step. am
plumber with "A rising business. Escott
by name. have walked out with her
each evening. and I have talked with
her. Good heavens. those talks,"
However. ! have got all wanted. I
know Milvcrton's house as know the
palm OF my hand"
But the girl. Holiness"
lie shrugged his shoulders.
You can't help u. my dear Watson
fou must play your cards ms best you
can when such a stake is on the table
However. ] rejoice TO say that I have
hated rival. who Will certainly cut
me out the instant that my back Is
turned. What "a splendid night Il ISL
You like this weather."
- W NtN0n.
mean To burgle Milverton's house to-
night"
had n catching OF the breath. and
my skin went cold At the words. which
were slowly uttered I'm n tone OF con-
centrated resolution. As lash Of
lightning In the night shows UP IN an In
slant every detail OF Wild landEca ne.
so at one glance | seemed To see every
possible result OF such an action-the
detection, the capture. the honored en-
reer ending In irreparable failure and
disgrace, my friend himself lying al
the mercy OF the odious Milverton.
For heavens sake. Holmes, think
what you are doing I cried.
My dear fellow. have given Il every
consideration. I am never precipitate
! I'm my actions. nor would I adopt so
| energetic and. indeed. so dangerous n
course. ~ any other were possible Let
us look ut the matter clearly and fairly.
I suppose that you will admit that the
action In morally Justlnable. though
| technically criminal. To burgle his
house is no more than To forcibly take
his pocketbook-an action In which you
were prepared TO aid me"
I turned IL over In my mind
Yes" said. 1T Is morally Justifiable
30 long as our object II TO take no
articles save those whlcn are used for
an illegal purpose"
Exactly. Since u n morally justifi-
able. have only TO consider the ques-
ton OF personal risk. Surely n gentle
-. "A H. A.