The Complete Sherlock Holmes

McMurdo sat in silence for some time, with the
letter in his listless hands. The mist had lifted for
a moment, and there was the abyss before him.
“Does anyone else know of this?” he asked.
“I have told no one else.”
“But this man—your friend—has he any other
person that he would be likely to write to?”
“Well, I dare say he knows one or two more.”
“Of the lodge?”
“It’s likely enough.”
“I was asking because it is likely that he may
have given some description of this fellow Birdy
Edwards—then we could get on his trail.”
“Well, it’s possible. But I should not think he
knew him. He is just telling me the news that came
to him by way of business. How would he know
this Pinkerton man?”
McMurdo gave a violent start.
“By Gar!” he cried, “I’ve got him. What a fool
I was not to know it. Lord! but we’re in luck! We
will fix him before he can do any harm. See here,
Morris, will you leave this thing in my hands?”
“Sure, if you will only take it off mine.”
“I’ll do that. You can stand right back and let
me run it. Even your name need not be mentioned.
I’ll take it all on myself, as if it were to me that this
letter has come. Will that content you?”
“It’s just what I would ask.”
“Then leave it at that and keep your head shut.
Now I’ll get down to the lodge, and we’ll soon
make old man Pinkerton sorry for himself.”
“You wouldn’t kill this man?”
“The less you know, Friend Morris, the easier
your conscience will be, and the better you will
sleep. Ask no questions, and let these things settle
themselves. I have hold of it now.”
Morris shook his head sadly as he left. “I feel
that his blood is on my hands,” he groaned.
“Self-protection is no murder, anyhow,” said
McMurdo, smiling grimly. “It’s him or us. I guess
this man would destroy us all if we left him long
in the valley. Why, Brother Morris, we’ll have to
elect you Bodymaster yet; for you’ve surely saved
the lodge.”
And yet it was clear from his actions that he
thought more seriously of this new intrusion than
his words would show. It may have been his guilty
conscience, it may have been the reputation of
the Pinkerton organization, it may have been the
knowledge that great, rich corporations had set
The Valley Of Fear
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themselves the task of clearing out the Scowrers;
but, whatever his reason, his actions were those
of a man who is preparing for the worst. Every
paper which would incriminate him was destroyed
before he left the house. After that he gave
a long sigh of satisfaction; for it seemed to him
that he was safe. And yet the danger must still
have pressed somewhat upon him; for on his way
to the lodge he stopped at old man Shafter’s. The
house was forbidden him; but when he tapped at
the window Ettie came out to him. The dancing
Irish deviltry had gone from her lover’s eyes. She
read his danger in his earnest face.
“Something has happened!” she cried. “Oh,
Jack, you are in danger!”
“Sure, it is not very bad, my sweetheart. And
yet it may be wise that we make a move before it
is worse.”
“Make a move?”
“I promised you once that I would go some day.
I think the time is coming. I had news to-night,
bad news, and I see trouble coming.”
“The police?”
“Well, a Pinkerton. But, sure, you wouldn’t
know what that is, acushla, nor what it may mean
to the likes of me. I’m too deep in this thing, and
I may have to get out of it quick. You said you
would come with me if I went.”
“Oh, Jack, it would be the saving of you!”
“I’m an honest man in some things, Ettie. I
wouldn’t hurt a hair of your bonny head for all
that the world can give, nor ever pull you down
one inch from the golden throne above the clouds
where I always see you. Would you trust me?”
She put her hand in his without a word. “Well,
then, listen to what I say, and do as I order you,
for indeed it’s the only way for us. Things are going
to happen in this valley. I feel it in my bones.
There may be many of us that will have to look out
for ourselves. I’m one, anyhow. If I go, by day or
night, it’s you that must come with me!”
“I’d come after you, Jack.”
“No, no, you shall come with me. If this valley
is closed to me and I can never come back, how can
I leave you behind, and me perhaps in hiding from
the police with never a chance of a message? It’s
with me you must come. I know a good woman in
the place I come from, and it’s there I’d leave you
till we can get married. Will you come?”
“Yes, Jack, I will come.”
“God bless you for your trust in me! It’s a fiend
out of hell that I should be if I abused it. Now,
mark you, Ettie, it will be just a word to you, and
when it reaches you, you will drop everything and