The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 16, 1905, Page 1

eldom heard my friend speak h such intensity of feeling. no doubt. would it profit a , to get him a few 1 imprisonment, if her own ruin st immediately follow? His victims e not hit back. If ever he black- ailed an .innocent person, then in- shguld have him, but he is as g as the Evil One. No, no, we her ways to fight him.” ¥ is he here?” Because an' illustrious client has placed her piteous case in my hands. . It is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the most beautiful debutante of last season. She is to be married in a fortnight the Earl of Dovercourt. This fiend has several imprudent’ letters—imprudent, Watsen, nothing = worse—which were ritten to #x impecunpious young squire s in the country. They would suffice to break off the match. = Milverton will end ‘the letfers to the Earl uniess a large sum of money is paid him. I have been commissioned to meet fiim, and— to make the best terms I can.” At that instant there was a clatter and a rattle in the street below. Look- ing down I saw a stately carriage and , the brilliant lamps gleaming on I ask glossy \haunches of the noble s n ir tnuts. A footman opened the door small, stout man in a shaggy s ! akhan overcoat descended. A min- f the later he was in the room. C ustus Milverton was a ! A n of fifty, with a larke, intellcctual a round, plump, hairless face, a petual, fro: smile, and two keen gray eves, which gleamed brightly ! broad, gold-rimmed glasses. There was something of Mr. Pickwick’s benevolence in his appear- & ance, marred only by the insincerity of t xed smile and by the hard-glitter ose restiess and penetrating eyes. His voice was as’smooth and suave as i his countenance, as he advanced with L a plump e hand extended, murmur- e t for having missed us at s Holmes disregarded the etched hagd and looked at him a™ face of ‘granite. - Milverton’s a broadened, he shrugged his f , removed his overcoat, folded th great deliberation ; over the s a ir and then took a v gentleman?” sald he, with a < £ b 1 mv direction. “Is it discreet? a on is my friend and part- +ddsey It is only ests that I pro- » is so very deli- g . already heard of we can proceed to business. > that you are acting for Lady . Sva. - Has she empowered you to ac- s What are your terms?” } Seven thousand pounds.” T ‘ And the alternative?” My ¢ sir, it is painful cuss it, b ‘the’ money g the 14th there certainly will be no arriage on the 18th.”” His insuffer- : smile was more complacent than fs Holmes thought for a little. « f ) € You appear to me,” he said at last, p be taking matters too much for s anted. I am, of course, familiar with r R ihe gontents of these letters. My client will certainly do what 1 may advise. s I shal! counsel her to tell her future 3 husband the whole story and to trust p b blood biu to h nerosity. th this man, who method- Milverton chuckled. 1 iis leisure tortures the “You evidently do not know the rings the nerves in order to Earl,” ‘said he. ) money- om the baffled look upon Holmes' face 1 could see clearly that he did. | S ST R “What harm is there in the letters?™ he asked. “They are sprightly—yery s Milverton answered. “The lady was a charming cor pondent. But I'can as- sure you that the Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them. How= ever, since you think othe e, we will let it rest at that. It is purely.a mat- ter of busines If you'think that it is in the best interests of your client ghtly,” that these letters'should be placed- in’ the hands of the Earl, then you would indeed be foolish to pay 8o large a sum of money to regain them.” He rose and seized his astrakhan coat. Holmes was gray with anger and mortification. “Wait a little,” he said. *“You.go too fast. We should certainly make every effort to avoid scandal in so delicate a matter.” . Milverton relapsed into his chair. “I was sure that you would see it in that light,”” he purred. S CHARLE > AOGUSTUD LU VTTON DTS ST /TN LTI A . FPERFETUAL 702N SIUE e “Atr tre same time,” rcimes con- tinued, .“Lady Eva is not a wealthy woman. I assure you that £2000 would be a drain upon her resources, and that the sum you name is utterly beyond her power. I beg therefore that you will moderate your demands and that you will return the letters the price THIS IS THE SEVENTH STORY IN THE NEW SERIES OF‘A. CONAN DOYLE'S FAMOUS DETECTIVE STORIES ; The Adventure of the Six Napoléons. | | The Adventure of the Three Students. ==“THE RETURN OF S THE OTHER STORIES TO APPEAR, ONE EACH WEEK, ARE: . The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Ne Fhe Adventure of the Missing Three:Quarter. HOLM The Adventure of the Abbey Grange. The Adventure of the Second Stain.- FoR HALF Z AN HOUE Z HOLMES IORK= - FU L7/ CONCENTEATED ENEEGY _ooom > 1 indicate, which s, T assure you, the highest that you can get." Milverton’s smile broadened and his eyes twinkled humorously. “I am aware that what you say is true about the lady’s resource! sald he. “At the same time you must ad- mit that the occasion of a lady's mar- riage is a very suitable time for her friends and relatives to make some little effort upon her behalf. They may hesitate as to an acceptable wedding present. Let me assure them that this little bundle of letters would give more joy than all the candelabra and butter-dishes in London.” “It is impossible,” said Holmes. “Dear me, dear me, how unfortu- nate!” cried Milverton, taking out a bulky pocket-book. cannot help thinking that ladies are ill-advised in not making an effort. Look at this!™ He held up a little note with a coat- of-arms upon the envelope. “That be- longs to—well, perhaps it is hardly fair to tell the name until to-morrow morning. . But at that time it will be in the hands of the lady’s husband. And all because she will-not find a beg- garly sum which she could get by turning her diamonds into paste. It i¢ such a pit Now you remember the sudden end of the _engagement be- tween the Honorable Miss Miles and Colonel Dorking? - Only two days be- fore the wedding. there! was a para- graph in the M ing Post to say that it was all off. And” why? Tt is almost incredible,’, But the absurd sum: of £1200 would - have settled the whole question. Is it not piti- ful? - And «Here I find you, a man of sense, boggling about terms, when your client’s’ futyre and honor are at stake. You “surprise me, Mr. Holmes.” “What I'say is true,”, Holmes answer- ed. - “The money .cannot be found. Surely it is better for you to take the substantial sum which I offer than to ruin this- womax's career, which can profit you in no way?” “There vou make a. mistake, Mr. Holmes. An exposure would profit me tndirectly to a ¢onsiderable extent. I have eight or ten simiar cases mas turing. If it was circulated among them that I had made-a severe exam- ple of the Lady Evd, I should find all of them mich more @pen to reasom. You see my point?” 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 book.” Milverton ‘had glided as quick as a . rat to the side of the room, and stood with his back agalnst the wall. “Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes,” he said,