* | The Return of Sherlock Holmes 11 DY A. CONAN DOYLE. Copyright 1903. Cooyrilht. 1903. I by A. Conan DoyU and Calliar'a Weekly. by McClure. Phillips ® Ca. 9 VII—THE ADVENTURE OF CHAS. AUGUSTUS MILVERTON.—Contin ued. “Dear me. dear me. how unfortu nate!” cried Milverton, taking out a bulky pocketbook. "I cannot help thinking that ladles are ill-advised In not making an effort. Look at this!” He help 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 tomorrow morn ing. But at that time it will be in the hands of the lady's husband. And all because she will not find a beggarly sum which she could get by turning her diamonds Into paste. It is such a pity! Now, you remember the sudden end of the engagement between the Hon. Miss Miles and Colonel Dorking? Only two days before the wedding there was a paragraph in the Morning Tost to say that It was all off. And why? It Is almost incredible, but the absurd sum of £1,200 would have settled the whole question. Is it not pitiful? And here I find you, a man of sense, boggling about terms, when your client's future and honor nre at stake. You surprise «ne, Mr. Holmes." “What I say Is true,” Holmes an swered. "The money cannot be found. Surely It is better for you to take the •ubstantlal sum which I offer than to ruin this woman's career, which can profit you In no way?” “There you make a mistake, Mr. Holmes. An exposure would profit me Indirectly to a considerable extent. X have eight or ten similar cases matur ing. If It was circulated among them that I had made a severe example of the I-ady Eva, I should find all of them much more open to reason. 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 boo’.:." Milverton had glided as quick as a rat to the side of the room, and stood with hi* back against the wall. “Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes," he said, turning tho front of his coat and ex hibiting the butt of a large revolver, ^rtilch projected from the Inside pocket. “I have been expecting you to do some thing original. This has been done so qften, and what good has ever come from It? I assure you that I am armed to the teeth, and I am perfectly pre pared to use my weapons, knowing that the law will support me. Besides, rour supposition that I would bring the letters here In a note book is entirely mistaken. I would do nothing so fool ish. And now, gentlemen, X have one •or two llttl! interviews this evening, •ad It Is a long drive to Hampstead.” He stepped forward, took up his coat. Said his hand on hls revolver, and turned to the door. I picked up a chair, hut Holmes shook hls head, and I laid It down again. With a how, a smile, and a twinkle, Mllve: "'it was out of the room, and a few moments after we hoard the slam of the carriage door and tho rattle of the wheels as he drove Otway. Holmes* sat motionless by the fire, his ^Stands burled deep in his trouser pock "•ta, his chin sunk upon his breast, his fixed upon the glowing embers, an hour he was silent and r«tllt. Then, with the gesture of a man who has taken his decision, he sprang to his feet and passed Into his bed room. A little later a rakish young workman, with a goatee beard and a •wagger, lit his clay pipe at the lamp ••fore descending Into the street. "I'll •Be back some time, Watson," said he, ,*nd vanished Into the night. I under • Stood that he had opened his campaign .•gainst Charles Augustus Milverton, ‘but I little dreamed the strange shape •which that campaign was destined to