The Washington herald., 1912-03-03

nope you'll prove worth II. You
couldn't come at any other time -ehf"
The woman shook her head.
We'll, If you couldn't you couldn't
II the countess is hard mistress, you
have your chance TO get level with her
now. Bless the girl, what are you shiv-
ering about That's right Pull your
self together. Now, let us get down to
business" lie took notebook from
the drawer of his desk You say that
you have five letters which compromise
the Countess d'Albert. You want to
sell them. / want to buy them. So
far, so good. 1t only remains to FIX a
price. ! should want to inspect the
letters, Of course II they are really
good specimens-great heavens, is II
your"
The woman, without a word, had
raised her veil and dropped the mantle
from her chin. II was a dark, hand
some, clear-cut face which confronted
Milverton-a face with curved nose,
strong, dark eyebrows shading hard,
glittering eyes, and a straight, thin
at is l." she said, the woman whose
life you have ruined"
Milverton laughed, but fear vibrated
in his voice. You were so yery OBJ
stinate," said he "Why did you drive
me to such extremitiesl assure you
i wouldn't hurt fly OF my own ac-
cord, but every man has his business,
and what was | to do? ] put the price
swell within your means. You would
not pay"
so you sent the letters to my hus-
band, and he-the noblest gentleman
that ever lived, a man whose boots /
was never worthy 10 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 cannot keep your lips
from twitching? Yes, you never thought
10 see me here again, but it was that
night which taught me how | could
meet you face to face, and alone. Well.
Charles Milverton, what have you to
sayi"
Don't imagine that you can bully
me- said he, rising to his feet. II have
only to raise my voice, and ! could call
my servants and have you arrested. But
] will make allowance for your natural
anger. Leave the room at once, as you
came, and | will say no more"
The woman stood with her hand
buried in her bosom, and the same
deadly smile on her thin lips.
You will ruin no more lives as you
have ruined mine. You will wiring no
more hearts as you wrung mine ! will
free the world OF a poisonous thing:
Take that, you Homeland that and
that and that and thatp
She had drawn a little cleaning re-
Vnlyar and atnnttaI harral aftar harral
into Milverton's body, the muzzle within
two feet of his shirt front. He shrank
away and then fell forward upon the
table, coughing furiously and cllwing
among the papers. Then he staggered
to his feet, received another 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. She looked
again, but there was no sound or move
ment. ! heard a sharp rustic, the night
air blew into the heated room, and the
avenger was gone.
No interference upon our part could
have saved the man from his fate, but
as the woman poured bullet after bullet
into Alilverton's shrinking body | was
about to spring out, when | felt Holmes
cold, strong grasp upon my wrist. ]
understood the whole argument OF that
firm, restraining grip-that was no af-
fair of ours, that justice. had overtakcn
a 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 hurrying feet. The revolver
shots had aroused the household With
perfect GOODNESS Holmes slipped across
to the safe, filled his two arms with
bundles of letters, and poured them all
into the fire. Again and again he did
it, until the safe, was empty Some one
turned the handle, and beat upon the
outside of the door Holmes looked
swiftly around The letter which had
been the messenger of death for Mil
verton lay, all notified with his blood,