The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-06-22
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
ADVENTURE OF cHAs.
AUGUSTUS Observation-Disclosures

vll-THE# ADVENTURE OF cHAs
AUGUSTUS MiLVERToN.-contin
uee.
We'll" said he. CURLY, you are nearly
half an hour late
So this was the explanation of the UNI
locked door and of the nocturnal vigil of
+ Mflverton. There was the gentle rustic
of womans dress had closed the slit
between the curtains as Milvcrton's face
had turned in our direction, but now |
rentured very carefully to open 1t once
more. He had resumed his seat. the cigar
still projecting ut an insolent angle from
the corner of his mouth. In front of him,
in the full glare Of the electric light, there
stood u tall, slim. dark woman, veil
over her face, mantle drawn round her
chin. Her breath came quick and fast.
and every inch OF the 1.-THE figure was
quivering with strong emotion.
WELL" said M.lverton you've made me
lose a good nights rest, my dear. hope
you'll prove worth 1t. You couldn't come
any other time--eh?"
The woman shook her head.
well. IL You couldn't YOU couldn't. II
the countess is hard mistress. you have
your chance 10 get level with her now.
Bless the girl, what are you shiverng
about? That's right. Pull Yourself to-
gcther Now let us get down to bust
er of his desk. You say that you have
five letters which compromise the Coun-
tess d'Albert. You want to soil them. l
want to buy them. So far so good 1t
only remains to fix price. | should want
to inspect the letters. of course. If they
are really good spec.mens-Great heavens.
Is 1t you?''
3 az The woman, without a word. had raised
her veil and dropped the mantle from her
chin. 1t was dark, handsome, clear-cut
face which confronted Milvcrton--a face
with curved nose. strong. dark eyebrows
shading hard, glittcring eyes. and u
straight thn-lpped mouth set in dan
gerous smile.
Tt Is J." she said, 'the women whose
t.fe you have ruined"
Milverton laughed. but fear vibrated in
his voire. you We're so very obstinate"
said he. WHY did you drive me to such
sxtremeties? I assure yon I wouldn't hurt
fly OF my own accord. bur every man
! has his business. and what was | to doo /
put the the price well within your means
You would not pay"
$50 you sent the letters to my husband.
and he--the noblest gentleman that ever
lived, a man whose boots / was never
worthy to lace-he broke his gallant heart
and died. You remember that last night,
when came through that door. begged
and prayed you for mercy. and you
laughed in my face as you are trying to
laugh now, only your coward heart can
not keep your lips from twtching? Yes
you never thought to see me here again.
nut 1t was that night which taught me
how could meet you face to face and
Alone. Well, Charles Miverton, what
= have You to say?''
Don't imagine that You can bully me,
said he, rising to his feet. II have only to
; raise my voice. and I could call my SER
wants and have you arrested But | will
q "A un mon foy,
Leave the room at once as you came. and
I will say no more"
The woman stood with her hand buried
In her bosom, and the same deadly smile
on her thin lips.
F. You Will RUN no mHre lives as you have
ruined mine. You will wiring no moro
hearts as you wrung mine. i will free the
world OF poisonous thing. Take that.
you Homeland that!-and that!-and
that. and thnt!'
4 She had drawn little cleaning revo.-
yer and emptied barrel after barrel into
Milverton's body. the muzzle within two
: feet of HIS shirt front. He shrank awayand
then fell forward upon the table, coughing
5furiously AMI clawlng among the papers
& Then he staggered to his feet, received am
other shot and rolled upon the floor.
You've done me-" he cried, and lay still.
) The woman looked at him intently and
ground her heel into his upturned face.
)
or movement. I heard sharp rustic, the
night air blew into the heated room. and
1 the avenger was gone.
35s NO interference upon our part could have
8 saved the man from his fate. but as tho
woman poured bullet after bullet into Mil
SseFton'5 shrinking bodyI was about TO
spring out. when felt Holiness cold,
stresig grasp upon my wrist. understood
y the whole argument of that firm restrain
ing srip--that 1t was no affair OF ours that
Justice had overtaken villain that we
( had our own duties and our own objects,
which were not to be lost sight Of But
hardly 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 oolness Holmes slipped across to
the safe, filled his two arms with bundles
of letters, and poured them alfinto 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
4 for Milverton lay. all NOTED 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 1t on the.
outside. This way, Watson, SAID he.
4 We can scale the garden wall in this d.
rectlon.' sas' 3
could not have believed that an alarm
could have spread so swiftly. Looking
/ back, the huge house was one blaze Of
Slight. The front door was open. and .flg-
1res were rushing down the drive. The
whole ga rt1en was illives with neonla md