INITIALIZATION Knowledgebase: ki-dev Base Query: can you give me the path to accountant.edit from kios_routes_list.txt? Model: gpt-4-1106-preview Use Curl?: None ================================================== QUESTIONING Clarity Score: 10 Give follow-up?: False Follow-up query: ================================================== ROUTING Query type: research ================================================== PRIMER Primer: You are a highly intelligent personal assistant. Your role is to act as an expert at reading the information provided by the user and giving the most relevant information. In your responses to enterprise users, prioritize clarity, trustworthiness, and appropriate formality. Be honest by admitting when a topic falls outside your scope of knowledge, and suggest alternative avenues for obtaining information when necessary. Make effective use of chat history to avoid redundancy and enhance response relevance, continuously adapting to integrate all necessary details in your interactions. Focus on precision and accuracy of your answers information. Your answer must be in English language. Your tone must be neutral. Your writing style must be standard. ================================================== FINAL QUERY Final Query: CONTEXT: ########## File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 3 Context: The Valley Of Fearby #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 5 Context: CONTENTSPART 1—The Tragedy of BirlstoneChapter 1 The Warning2 Sherlock Holmes Discourses3 The Tragedy of Birlstone4 Darkness5 The People Of the Drama6 A Dawning Light7 The SolutionPART 2—The Scowrers1 The Man2 The Bodymaster3 Lodge 341, Vermissa4 The Valley of Fear5 The Darkest Hour6 Danger7 The Trapping of Birdy Edwards Epilogue #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 6 Context: PART 1The Tragedy of BirlstoneChapter 1The Warning"I am inclined to think—" said I."I should do so," Sherlock Holmes remarked impatiently.I believe that I am one of the most long-suffering of mortals; but I'll admitthat I was annoyed at the sardonic interruption."Really, Holmes," said I severely, "you are a little trying at times."He was too much absorbed with his own thoughts to give any immediateanswer to my remonstrance. He leaned upon his hand, with his untastedbreakfast before him, and he stared at the slip of paper which he had just drawnfrom its envelope. Then he took the envelope itself, held it up to the light, andvery carefully studied both the exterior and the flap."It is Porlock's writing," said he thoughtfully. "I can hardly doubt that it isPorlock's writing, though I have seen it only twice before. The Greek e with thepeculiar top flourish is distinctive. But if it is Porlock, then it must be somethingof the very first importance."He was speaking to himself rather than to #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 8 Context: is instance'?""Because there are many ciphers which I would read as easily as I do theapocrypha of the agony column: such crude devices amuse the intelligencewithout fatiguing it. But this is different. It is clearly a reference to the words ina page of some book. Until I am told which page and which book I ampowerless.""But why 'Douglas' and 'Birlstone'?""Clearly because those are words which were not contained in the page inquestion.""Then why has he not indicated the book?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 10 Context: "No less! When any of that party talk about 'He' you know whom they mean.There is one predominant 'He' for all of them.""But what can he do?""Hum! That's a large question. When you have one of the first brains ofEurope up against you, and all the powers of darkness at his back, there areinfinite possibilities. Anyhow, Friend Porlock is evidently scared out of hissenses—kindly compare the writing in the note to that upon its envelope; whichwas done, he tells us, before this ill-omened visit. The one is clear and firm. Theother hardly legible.""Why did he write at all? Why did he not simply drop it?""Because he feared I would make some inquiry after him in that case, andpossibly bring trouble on him.""No doubt," said I. "Of course." I had picked up the original cipher messageand was bending my brows over it. "It's pretty maddening to think that animportant secret may lie here on this slip of paper, and that it is beyond humanpower to penetrate it."Sherlock Holmes had pushed away his unta #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 12 Context: l block of print dealing, I perceive, with the tradeand resources of British India. Jot down the words, Watson! Number thirteen is'Mahratta.' Not, I fear, a very auspicious beginning. Number one hundred andtwenty-seven is 'Government'; which at least makes sense, though somewhatirrelevant to ourselves and Professor Moriarty. Now let us try again. What doesthe Mahratta government do? Alas! the next word is 'pig's-bristles.' We areundone, my good Watson! It is finished!"He had spoken in jesting vein, but the twitching of his bushy eyebrowsbespoke his disappointment and irritation. I sat helpless and unhappy, staringinto the fire. A long silence was broken by a sudden exclamation from Holmes,who dashed at a cupboard, from which he emerged with a second yellow-covered volume in his hand."We pay the price, Watson, for being too up-to-date!" he cried. "We arebefore our time, and suffer the usual penalties. Being the seventh of January, wehave very properly laid in the new almanac. It is more #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 13 Context: letter of explanation been written. Now let us see what page 534 has in store forus. Number thirteen is 'There,' which is much more promising. Number onehundred and twenty-seven is 'is'—'There is'"—Holmes's eyes were gleamingwith excitement, and his thin, nervous fingers twitched as he counted the words—"'danger.' Ha! Ha! Capital! Put that down, Watson. 'There is danger—may—come—very—soon—one.' Then we have the name 'Douglas'— 'rich—country—now—at—Birlstone—House—Birlstone—confidence—is— pressing.' There,Watson! What do you think of pure reason and its fruit? If the greengrocer hadsuch a thing as a laurel wreath, I should send Billy round for it."I was staring at the strange message which I had scrawled, as he decipheredit, upon a sheet of foolscap on my knee."What a queer, scrambling way of expressing his meaning!" said I."On the contrary, he has done quite remarkably well," said Holmes. "Whenyou search a single column for words with which to express your meaning, youcan hardly expect #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 14 Context: sole reward being the intellectual joy of the problem. For this reason theaffection and respect of the Scotchman for his amateur colleague were profound,and he showed them by the frankness with which he consulted Holmes in everydifficulty. Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantlyrecognizes genius, and MacDonald had talent enough for his profession toenable him to perceive that there was no humiliation in seeking the assistance ofone who already stood alone in Europe, both in his gifts and in his experience.Holmes was not prone to friendship, but he was tolerant of the big Scotchman,and smiled at the sight of him."You are an early bird, Mr. Mac," said he. "I wish you luck with your worm. Ifear this means that there is some mischief afoot.""If you said 'hope' instead of 'fear,' it would be nearer the truth, I'm thinking,Mr. Holmes," the inspector answered, with a knowing grin. "Well, maybe a weenip would keep out the raw morning chill. No, I won't smoke, I thank #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 14 Context: sole reward being the intellectual joy of the problem. For this reason theaffection and respect of the Scotchman for his amateur colleague were profound,and he showed them by the frankness with which he consulted Holmes in everydifficulty. Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantlyrecognizes genius, and MacDonald had talent enough for his profession toenable him to perceive that there was no humiliation in seeking the assistance ofone who already stood alone in Europe, both in his gifts and in his experience.Holmes was not prone to friendship, but he was tolerant of the big Scotchman,and smiled at the sight of him."You are an early bird, Mr. Mac," said he. "I wish you luck with your worm. Ifear this means that there is some mischief afoot.""If you said 'hope' instead of 'fear,' it would be nearer the truth, I'm thinking,Mr. Holmes," the inspector answered, with a knowing grin. "Well, maybe a weenip would keep out the raw morning chill. No, I won't smoke, I thank #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 15 Context: on is dead. I aminterested; but, as you observe, I am not surprised."In a few short sentences he explained to the inspector the facts about the letterand the cipher. MacDonald sat with his chin on his hands and his great sandyeyebrows bunched into a yellow tangle."I was going down to Birlstone this morning," said he. "I had come to askyou if you cared to come with me—you and your friend here. But from what yousay we might perhaps be doing better work in London.""I rather think not," said Holmes."Hang it all, Mr. Holmes!" cried the inspector. "The papers will be full of theBirlstone mystery in a day or two; but where's the mystery if there is a man inLondon who prophesied the crime before ever it occurred? We have only to layour hands on that man, and the rest will follow.""No doubt, Mr. Mac. But how do you propose to lay your hands on the so-called Porlock?"MacDonald turned over the letter which Holmes had handed him. "Posted in #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 17 Context: he put his hand on my shoulder as we were parting, it was like a father's blessingbefore you go out into the cold, cruel world."Holmes chuckled and rubbed his hands. "Great!" he said. "Great! Tell me,Friend MacDonald, this pleasing and touching interview was, I suppose, in theprofessor's study?""That's so.""A fine room, is it not?""Very fine—very handsome indeed, Mr. Holmes.""You sat in front of his writing desk?""Just so.""Sun in your eyes and his face in the shadow?""Well, it was evening; but I mind that the lamp was turned on my face.""It would be. Did you happen to observe a picture over the professor's head?""I don't miss much, Mr. Holmes. Maybe I learned that from you. Yes, I sawthe picture—a young woman with her head on her hands, peeping at yousideways.""That painting was by Jean Baptiste Greuze."The inspector endeavoured to look interested."Jean Baptiste Greuze," Holmes continued, joining his finger tips and leaningwell back in his chair, "was a French artist who flourished be #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 17 Context: st who flourished between the years1750 and 1800. I allude, of course to his working career. Modern criticism hasmore than indorsed the high opinion formed of him by his contemporaries."The inspector's eyes grew abstracted. "Hadn't we better—" he said."We are doing so," Holmes interrupted. "All that I am saying has a very directand vital bearing upon what you have called the Birlstone Mystery. In fact, itmay in a sense be called the very centre of it." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 18 Context: MacDonald smiled feebly, and looked appealingly to me. "Your thoughtsmove a bit too quick for me, Mr. Holmes. You leave out a link or two, and I can'tget over the gap. What in the whole wide world can be the connection betweenthis dead painting man and the affair at Birlstone?""All knowledge comes useful to the detective," remarked Holmes. "Even thetrivial fact that in the year 1865 a picture by Greuze entitled La Jeune Fille al'Agneau fetched one million two hundred thousand francs—more than fortythousand pounds—at the Portalis sale may start a train of reflection in yourmind."It was clear that it did. The inspector looked honestly interested."I may remind you," Holmes continued, "that the professor's salary can beascertained in several trustworthy books of reference. It is seven hundred a year.""Then how could he buy—""Quite so! How could he?""Ay, that's remarkable," said the inspector thoughtfully. "Talk away, Mr.Holmes. I'm just loving it. It's fine!"Holmes smiled. He was always wa #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 22 Context: one which presented some very perplexing and extraordinaryfeatures. That's absolutely all we have at present, Mr. Holmes." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 23 Context: e roseupon the ruins of the feudal castle. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 24 Context: popularity among the villagers, subscribinghandsomely to all local objects, and attending their smoking concerts and otherfunctions, where, having a remarkably rich tenor voice, he was always ready tooblige with an excellent song. He appeared to have plenty of money, which wassaid to have been gained in the California gold fields, and it was clear from hisown talk and that of his wife that he had spent a part of his life in America.The good impression which had been produced by his generosity and by hisdemocratic manners was increased by a reputation gained for utter indifference #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 27 Context: country policeman was unnerved and troubled by the tremendousresponsibility which had come so suddenly upon him. "We will touch nothinguntil my superiors arrive," he said in a hushed voice, staring in horror at thedreadful head."Nothing has been touched up to now," said Cecil Barker. "I'll answer forthat. You see it all exactly as I found it.""When was that?" The sergeant had drawn out his notebook."It was just half-past eleven. I had not begun to undress, and I was sitting bythe fire in my bedroom when I heard the report. It was not very loud—it seemedto be muffled. I rushed down—I don't suppose it was thirty seconds before I wasin the room.""Was the door open?""Yes, it was open. Poor Douglas was lying as you see him. His bedroomcandle was burning on the table. It was I who lit the lamp some minutesafterward.""Did you see no one?""No. I heard Mrs. Douglas coming down the stair behind me, and I rushed out #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 28 Context: ver occurred to me. Then Iheard the step of Mrs. Douglas, and I could not let her enter the room. It wouldhave been too horrible.""Horrible enough!" said the doctor, looking at the shattered head and theterrible marks which surrounded it. "I've never seen such injuries since theBirlstone railway smash.""But, I say," remarked the police sergeant, whose slow, bucolic commonsense was still pondering the open window. "It's all very well your saying that aman escaped by wading this moat, but what I ask you is, how did he ever getinto the house at all if the bridge was up?""Ah, that's the question," said Barker."At what o'clock was it raised?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 30 Context: scratching his puzzled head in his perplexity. "It will want the best brains in theforce to get to the bottom of this thing. It will be a London job before it isfinished." He raised the hand lamp and walked slowly round the room. "Hullo!"he cried, excitedly, drawing the window curtain to one side. "What o'clock werethose curtains drawn?""When the lamps were lit," said the butler. "It would be shortly after four.""Someone had been hiding here, sure enough." He held down the light, andthe marks of muddy boots were very visible in the corner. "I'm bound to say thisbears out your theory, Mr. Barker. It looks as if the man got into the house afterfour when the curtains were drawn and before six when the bridge was raised.He slipped into this room, because it was the first that he saw. There was noother place where he could hide, so he popped in behind this curtain. That allseems clear enough. It is likely that his main idea was to burgle the house; butMr. Douglas chanced to come upon him, s #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 31 Context: "And so have I," said the butler. "Many a time when the master has rolled uphis sleeves I have noticed that very mark. I've often wondered what it could be.""Then it has nothing to do with the crime, anyhow," said the sergeant. "Butit's a rum thing all the same. Everything about this case is rum. Well, what is itnow?"The butler had given an exclamation of astonishment and was pointing at thedead man's outstretched hand."They've taken his wedding ring!" he gasped."What!""Yes, indeed. Master always wore his plain gold wedding ring on the littlefinger of his left hand. That ring with the rough nugget on it was above it, andthe twisted snake ring on the third finger. There's the nugget and there's thesnake, but the wedding ring is gone.""He's right," said Barker."Do you tell me," said the sergeant, "that the wedding ring was below theother?""Always!""Then the murderer, or whoever it was, first took off this ring you call thenugget ring, then the wedding ring, and afterwards put the nugget #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 32 Context: me home to you, Mr. Holmes, or I am mistaken. And you also, Dr.Watson; for the medicos will have a word to say before we finish. Your room isat the Westville Arms. There's no other place; but I hear that it is clean and good.The man will carry your bags. This way, gentlemen, if you please."He was a very bustling and genial person, this Sussex detective. In tenminutes we had all found our quarters. In ten more we were seated in the parlourof the inn and being treated to a rapid sketch of those events which have beenoutlined in the previous chapter. MacDonald made an occasional note, whileHolmes sat absorbed, with the expression of surprised and reverent admirationwith which the botanist surveys the rare and precious bloom."Remarkable!" he said, when the story was unfolded, "most remarkable! I canhardly recall any case where the features have been more peculiar.""I thought you would say so, Mr. Holmes," said White Mason in greatdelight. "We're well up with the times in Sussex. I've told #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 32 Context: Chapter 4DarknessAt three in the morning the chief Sussex detective, obeying the urgent callfrom Sergeant Wilson of Birlstone, arrived from headquarters in a light dog-cartbehind a breathless trotter. By the five-forty train in the morning he had sent hismessage to Scotland Yard, and he was at the Birlstone station at twelve o'clockto welcome us. White Mason was a quiet, comfortable-looking person in a loosetweed suit, with a clean-shaved, ruddy face, a stoutish body, and powerful bandylegs adorned with gaiters, looking like a small farmer, a retired gamekeeper, oranything upon earth except a very favourable specimen of the provincialcriminal officer."A real downright snorter, Mr. MacDonald!" he kept repeating. "We'll havethe pressmen down like flies when they understand it. I'm hoping we will get ourwork done before they get poking their noses into it and messing up all the trails.There has been nothing like this that I can remember. There are some bits thatwill come home to you, Mr. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 32 Context: Chapter 4DarknessAt three in the morning the chief Sussex detective, obeying the urgent callfrom Sergeant Wilson of Birlstone, arrived from headquarters in a light dog-cartbehind a breathless trotter. By the five-forty train in the morning he had sent hismessage to Scotland Yard, and he was at the Birlstone station at twelve o'clockto welcome us. White Mason was a quiet, comfortable-looking person in a loosetweed suit, with a clean-shaved, ruddy face, a stoutish body, and powerful bandylegs adorned with gaiters, looking like a small farmer, a retired gamekeeper, oranything upon earth except a very favourable specimen of the provincialcriminal officer."A real downright snorter, Mr. MacDonald!" he kept repeating. "We'll havethe pressmen down like flies when they understand it. I'm hoping we will get ourwork done before they get poking their noses into it and messing up all the trails.There has been nothing like this that I can remember. There are some bits thatwill come home to you, Mr. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 36 Context: the cold, wintersunshine.Three centuries had flowed past the old Manor House, centuries of births andof homecomings, of country dances and of the meetings of fox hunters. Strangethat now in its old age this dark business should have cast its shadow upon thevenerable walls! And yet those strange, peaked roofs and quaint, overhunggables were a fitting covering to grim and terrible intrigue. As I looked at thedeep-set windows and the long sweep of the dull-coloured, water-lapped front, Ifelt that no more fitting scene could be set for such a tragedy."That's the window," said White Mason, "that one on the immediate right ofthe drawbridge. It's open just as it was found last night.""It looks rather narrow for a man to pass.""Well, it wasn't a fat man, anyhow. We don't need your deductions, Mr.Holmes, to tell us that. But you or I could squeeze through all right."Holmes walked to the edge of the moat and looked across. Then he examinedthe stone ledge and the grass border beyond it."I've had #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 37 Context: will be able to arrive at your own."He impressed me, this country specialist. He had a solid grip of fact and acool, clear, common-sense brain, which should take him some way in hisprofession. Holmes listened to him intently, with no sign of that impatiencewhich the official exponent too often produced. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 38 Context: pened—a weapon thatwas never seen in the house before. That does not seem a very likely start, doesit?""No, it does not.""Well, then, everyone is agreed that after the alarm was given only a minuteat the most had passed before the whole household—not Mr. Cecil Barker alone,though he claims to have been the first, but Ames and all of them were on thespot. Do you tell me that in that time the guilty person managed to makefootmarks in the corner, open the window, mark the sill with blood, take thewedding ring off the dead man's finger, and all the rest of it? It's impossible!""You put it very clearly," said Holmes. "I am inclined to agree with you.""Well, then, we are driven back to the theory that it was done by someonefrom outside. We are still faced with some big difficulties; but anyhow they haveceased to be impossibilities. The man got into the house between four-thirty andsix; that is to say, between dusk and the time when the bridge was raised. Therehad been some visitors, and the #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 38 Context: e visitors, and the door was open; so there was nothing to preventhim. He may have been a common burglar, or he may have had some private #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 39 Context: grudge against Mr. Douglas. Since Mr. Douglas has spent most of his life inAmerica, and this shotgun seems to be an American weapon, it would seem thatthe private grudge is the more likely theory. He slipped into this room because itwas the first he came to, and he hid behind the curtain. There he remained untilpast eleven at night. At that time Mr. Douglas entered the room. It was a shortinterview, if there were any interview at all; for Mrs. Douglas declares that herhusband had not left her more than a few minutes when she heard the shot.""The candle shows that," said Holmes."Exactly. The candle, which was a new one, is not burned more than half aninch. He must have placed it on the table before he was attacked; otherwise, ofcourse, it would have fallen when he fell. This shows that he was not attackedthe instant that he entered the room. When Mr. Barker arrived the candle was litand the lamp was out.""That's all clear enough.""Well, now, we can reconstruct things on those lines. Mr. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 40 Context: d anything unusual in his conduct, yesterday,Ames?""It struck me that he was a little restless and excited, sir.""Ha! The attack may not have been entirely unexpected. We do seem to makea little progress, do we not? Perhaps you would rather do the questioning, Mr.Mac?""No, Mr. Holmes, it's in better hands than mine.""Well, then, we will pass to this card—V. V. 341. It is rough cardboard. Haveyou any of the sort in the house?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 40 Context: d anything unusual in his conduct, yesterday,Ames?""It struck me that he was a little restless and excited, sir.""Ha! The attack may not have been entirely unexpected. We do seem to makea little progress, do we not? Perhaps you would rather do the questioning, Mr.Mac?""No, Mr. Holmes, it's in better hands than mine.""Well, then, we will pass to this card—V. V. 341. It is rough cardboard. Haveyou any of the sort in the house?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 45 Context: to offend it. He could only suppose thatthe legend upon the placard had some reference to this secret society."How long were you with Douglas in California?" asked InspectorMacDonald."Five years altogether.""He was a bachelor, you say?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 48 Context: noman ever had a more loving, faithful wife—and I can say also no friend could bemore loyal than I!" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 48 Context: Barker looked sternly at the detective. "I have seen a good deal of him since,"he answered. "If I have seen her, it is because you cannot visit a man withoutknowing his wife. If you imagine there is any connection—""I imagine nothing, Mr. Barker. I am bound to make every inquiry which canbear upon the case. But I mean no offense.""Some inquiries are offensive," Barker answered angrily."It's only the facts that we want. It is in your interest and everyone's interestthat they should be cleared up. Did Mr. Douglas entirely approve your friendshipwith his wife?"Barker grew paler, and his great, strong hands were clasped convulsivelytogether. "You have no right to ask such questions!" he cried. "What has this todo with the matter you are investigating?""I must repeat the question.""Well, I refuse to answer.""You can refuse to answer; but you must be aware that your refusal is in itselfan answer, for you would not refuse if you had not something to conceal."Barker stood for a moment with his #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 48 Context: Barker looked sternly at the detective. "I have seen a good deal of him since,"he answered. "If I have seen her, it is because you cannot visit a man withoutknowing his wife. If you imagine there is any connection—""I imagine nothing, Mr. Barker. I am bound to make every inquiry which canbear upon the case. But I mean no offense.""Some inquiries are offensive," Barker answered angrily."It's only the facts that we want. It is in your interest and everyone's interestthat they should be cleared up. Did Mr. Douglas entirely approve your friendshipwith his wife?"Barker grew paler, and his great, strong hands were clasped convulsivelytogether. "You have no right to ask such questions!" he cried. "What has this todo with the matter you are investigating?""I must repeat the question.""Well, I refuse to answer.""You can refuse to answer; but you must be aware that your refusal is in itselfan answer, for you would not refuse if you had not something to conceal."Barker stood for a moment with his #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 54 Context: ne of his quick feline pounces, he placed the slipper upon theblood mark on the sill. It exactly corresponded. He smiled in silence at hiscolleagues.The inspector was transfigured with excitement. His native accent rattled likea stick upon railings."Man," he cried, "there's not a doubt of it! Barker has just marked thewindow himself. It's a good deal broader than any bootmark. I mind that yousaid it was a splay-foot, and here's the explanation. But what's the game, Mr. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 56 Context: with the joy of living, and her face still quivered with amusement at someremark of her companion. He sat forward, his hands clasped and his forearms onhis knees, with an answering smile upon his bold, handsome face. In an instant—but it was just one instant too late—they resumed their solemn masks as myfigure came into view. A hurried word or two passed between them, and thenBarker rose and came towards me."Excuse me, sir," said he, "but am I addressing Dr. Watson?"I bowed with a coldness which showed, I dare say, very plainly theimpression which had been produced upon my mind."We thought that it was probably you, as your friendship with Mr. SherlockHolmes is so well known. Would you mind coming over and speaking to Mrs.Douglas for one instant?"I followed him with a dour face. Very clearly I could see in my mind's eyethat shattered figure on the floor. Here within a few hours of the tragedy were hiswife and his nearest friend laughing together behind a bush in the garden whichhad been #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 57 Context: looked back as I rounded the far end of it, andsaw that they were still talking very earnestly together, and, as they were gazingafter me, it was clear that it was our interview that was the subject of theirdebate."I wish none of their confidences," said Holmes, when I reported to him whathad occurred. He had spent the whole afternoon at the Manor House inconsultation with his two colleagues, and returned about five with a ravenousappetite for a high tea which I had ordered for him. "No confidences, Watson;for they are mighty awkward if it comes to an arrest for conspiracy and murder.""You think it will come to that?"He was in his most cheerful and debonair humour. "My dear Watson, when Ihave exterminated that fourth egg I shall be ready to put you in touch with thewhole situation. I don't say that we have fathomed it—far from it—but when wehave traced the missing dumb-bell—""The dumb-bell!""Dear me, Watson, is it possible that you have not penetrated the fact that the #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 57 Context: "Yes, that's it," said Barker eagerly. "Is he on his own or is he entirely in withthem?""I really don't know that I should be justified in discussing such a point.""I beg—I implore that you will, Dr. Watson! I assure you that you will behelping us—helping me greatly if you will guide us on that point."There was such a ring of sincerity in the woman's voice that for the instant Iforgot all about her levity and was moved only to do her will."Mr. Holmes is an independent investigator," I said. "He is his own master,and would act as his own judgment directed. At the same time, he wouldnaturally feel loyalty towards the officials who were working on the same case,and he would not conceal from them anything which would help them inbringing a criminal to justice. Beyond this I can say nothing, and I would referyou to Mr. Holmes himself if you wanted fuller information."So saying I raised my hat and went upon my way, leaving them still seatedbehind that concealing hedge. I looked back as I rou #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 58 Context: case hangs upon the missing dumb-bell? Well, well, you need not be downcast;for between ourselves I don't think that either Inspector Mac or the excellentlocal practitioner has grasped the overwhelming importance of this incident. Onedumb-bell, Watson! Consider an athlete with one dumb-bell! Picture to yourselfthe unilateral development, the imminent danger of a spinal curvature. Shocking,Watson, shocking!"He sat with his mouth full of toast and his eyes sparkling with mischief,watching my intellectual entanglement. The mere sight of his excellent appetitewas an assurance of success, for I had very clear recollections of days and nightswithout a thought of food, when his baffled mind had chafed before someproblem while his thin, eager features became more attenuated with theasceticism of complete mental concentration. Finally he lit his pipe, and sittingin the inglenook of the old village inn he talked slowly and at random about hiscase, rather as one who thinks aloud than as one who m #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 60 Context: those two people. She must be a heartless creature to sit laughing at some jestwithin a few hours of her husband's murder.""Exactly. She does not shine as a wife even in her own account of whatoccurred. I am not a whole-souled admirer of womankind, as you are aware,Watson, but my experience of life has taught me that there are few wives, havingany regard for their husbands, who would let any man's spoken word standbetween them and that husband's dead body. Should I ever marry, Watson, Ishould hope to inspire my wife with some feeling which would prevent her frombeing walked off by a housekeeper when my corpse was lying within a fewyards of her. It was badly stage-managed; for even the rawest investigators mustbe struck by the absence of the usual feminine ululation. If there had beennothing else, this incident alone would have suggested a prearranged conspiracyto my mind.""You think then, definitely, that Barker and Mrs. Douglas are guilty of themurder?""There is an appalling directnes #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 60 Context: those two people. She must be a heartless creature to sit laughing at some jestwithin a few hours of her husband's murder.""Exactly. She does not shine as a wife even in her own account of whatoccurred. I am not a whole-souled admirer of womankind, as you are aware,Watson, but my experience of life has taught me that there are few wives, havingany regard for their husbands, who would let any man's spoken word standbetween them and that husband's dead body. Should I ever marry, Watson, Ishould hope to inspire my wife with some feeling which would prevent her frombeing walked off by a housekeeper when my corpse was lying within a fewyards of her. It was badly stage-managed; for even the rawest investigators mustbe struck by the absence of the usual feminine ululation. If there had beennothing else, this incident alone would have suggested a prearranged conspiracyto my mind.""You think then, definitely, that Barker and Mrs. Douglas are guilty of themurder?""There is an appalling directnes #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 61 Context: Holmes looked thoughtful. "I see, Watson. You are sketching out a theory bywhich everything they say from the beginning is false. According to your idea,there was never any hidden menace, or secret society, or Valley of Fear, or BossMacSomebody, or anything else. Well, that is a good sweeping generalization.Let us see what that brings us to. They invent this theory to account for thecrime. They then play up to the idea by leaving this bicycle in the park as proofof the existence of some outsider. The stain on the windowsill conveys the sameidea. So does the card on the body, which might have been prepared in thehouse. That all fits into your hypothesis, Watson. But now we come on the nasty,angular, uncompromising bits which won't slip into their places. Why a cut-offshotgun of all weapons—and an American one at that? How could they be sosure that the sound of it would not bring someone on to them? It's a mere chanceas it is that Mrs. Allen did not start out to inquire for the slamming #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 63 Context: "Well, I'll borrow that if I may.""Certainly—but what a wretched weapon! If there is danger—""Nothing serious, my dear Watson, or I should certainly ask for yourassistance. But I'll take the umbrella. At present I am only awaiting the return ofour colleagues from Tunbridge Wells, where they are at present engaged intrying for a likely owner to the bicycle."It was nightfall before Inspector MacDonald and White Mason came backfrom their expedition, and they arrived exultant, reporting a great advance in ourinvestigation."Man, I'll admeet that I had my doubts if there was ever an outsider," saidMacDonald, "but that's all past now. We've had the bicycle identified, and wehave a description of our man; so that's a long step on our journey.""It sounds to me like the beginning of the end," said Holmes. "I'm sure Icongratulate you both with all my heart.""Well, I started from the fact that Mr. Douglas had seemed disturbed since theday before, when he had been at Tunbridge Wells. It was at Tunb #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 63 Context: ells. It was at Tunbridge Wellsthen that he had become conscious of some danger. It was clear, therefore, that ifa man had come over with a bicycle it was from Tunbridge Wells that he mightbe expected to have come. We took the bicycle over with us and showed it at thehotels. It was identified at once by the manager of the Eagle Commercial asbelonging to a man named Hargrave, who had taken a room there two daysbefore. This bicycle and a small valise were his whole belongings. He hadregistered his name as coming from London, but had given no address. Thevalise was London made, and the contents were British; but the man himself wasundoubtedly an American.""Well, well," said Holmes gleefully, "you have indeed done some solid workwhile I have been sitting spinning theories with my friend! It's a lesson in beingpractical, Mr. Mac.""Ay, it's just that, Mr. Holmes," said the inspector with satisfaction."But this may all fit in with your theories," I remarked. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 65 Context: nd the sound of shots is so common in anEnglish sporting neighbourhood that no particular notice would be taken.""That is all very clear," said Holmes."Well, Mr. Douglas did not appear. What was he to do next? He left hisbicycle and approached the house in the twilight. He found the bridge down andno one about. He took his chance, intending, no doubt, to make some excuse ifhe met anyone. He met no one. He slipped into the first room that he saw, andconcealed himself behind the curtain. Thence he could see the drawbridge go up,and he knew that his only escape was through the moat. He waited until quarter-past eleven, when Mr. Douglas upon his usual nightly round came into the room.He shot him and escaped, as arranged. He was aware that the bicycle would bedescribed by the hotel people and be a clue against him; so he left it there andmade his way by some other means to London or to some safe hiding placewhich he had already arranged. How is that, Mr. Holmes?""Well, Mr. Mac, it is very g #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 65 Context: nd the sound of shots is so common in anEnglish sporting neighbourhood that no particular notice would be taken.""That is all very clear," said Holmes."Well, Mr. Douglas did not appear. What was he to do next? He left hisbicycle and approached the house in the twilight. He found the bridge down andno one about. He took his chance, intending, no doubt, to make some excuse ifhe met anyone. He met no one. He slipped into the first room that he saw, andconcealed himself behind the curtain. Thence he could see the drawbridge go up,and he knew that his only escape was through the moat. He waited until quarter-past eleven, when Mr. Douglas upon his usual nightly round came into the room.He shot him and escaped, as arranged. He was aware that the bicycle would bedescribed by the hotel people and be a clue against him; so he left it there andmade his way by some other means to London or to some safe hiding placewhich he had already arranged. How is that, Mr. Holmes?""Well, Mr. Mac, it is very g #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 65 Context: may be sure that I had his description on the wires within five minutes of hearingit—we shall be better able to judge. But, even as it stands, we have surely gone along way. We know that an American calling himself Hargrave came toTunbridge Wells two days ago with bicycle and valise. In the latter was a sawed-off shotgun; so he came with the deliberate purpose of crime. Yesterday morninghe set off for this place on his bicycle, with his gun concealed in his overcoat.No one saw him arrive, so far as we can learn; but he need not pass through thevillage to reach the park gates, and there are many cyclists upon the road.Presumably he at once concealed his cycle among the laurels where it wasfound, and possibly lurked there himself, with his eye on the house, waiting forMr. Douglas to come out. The shotgun is a strange weapon to use inside a house;but he had intended to use it outside, and there it has very obvious advantages, asit would be impossible to miss with it, and the sound of shot #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 66 Context: "Well, Mr. Holmes, if this is true, we only tumble out of one mystery intoanother," said the London inspector."And in some ways a worse one," added White Mason. "The lady has neverbeen in America in all her life. What possible connection could she have with anAmerican assassin which would cause her to shelter him?""I freely admit the difficulties," said Holmes. "I propose to make a littleinvestigation of my own to-night, and it is just possible that it may contributesomething to the common cause.""Can we help you, Mr. Holmes?""No, no! Darkness and Dr. Watson's umbrella—my wants are simple. AndAmes, the faithful Ames, no doubt he will stretch a point for me. All my lines ofthought lead me back invariably to the one basic question—why should anathletic man develop his frame upon so unnatural an instrument as a singledumb-bell?"It was late that night when Holmes returned from his solitary excursion. Weslept in a double-bedded room, which was the best that the little country inncould do fo #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 67 Context: The SolutionNext morning, after breakfast, we found Inspector MacDonald and WhiteMason seated in close consultation in the small parlour of the local policesergeant. On the table in front of them were piled a number of letters andtelegrams, which they were carefully sorting and docketing. Three had beenplaced on one side."Still on the track of the elusive bicyclist?" Holmes asked cheerfully. "Whatis the latest news of the ruffian?"MacDonald pointed ruefully to his heap of correspondence."He is at present reported from Leicester, Nottingham, Southampton, Derby,East Ham, Richmond, and fourteen other places. In three of them—East Ham,Leicester, and Liverpool—there is a clear case against him, and he has actuallybeen arrested. The country seems to be full of the fugitives with yellow coats.""Dear me!" said Holmes sympathetically. "Now, Mr. Mac and you, Mr. WhiteMason, I wish to give you a very earnest piece of advice. When I went into thiscase with you I bargained, as you will no doubt rem #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 69 Context: "Tut, tut, Mr. Mac!—the first sign of temper I have detected in you. Well, Iwon't read it verbatim, since you feel so strongly upon the subject. But when Itell you that there is some account of the taking of the place by a parliamentarycolonel in 1644, of the concealment of Charles for several days in the course ofthe Civil War, and finally of a visit there by the second George, you will admitthat there are various associations of interest connected with this ancient house.""I don't doubt it, Mr. Holmes; but that is no business of ours.""Is it not? Is it not? Breadth of view, my dear Mr. Mac, is one of theessentials of our profession. The interplay of ideas and the oblique uses ofknowledge are often of extraordinary interest. You will excuse these remarksfrom one who, though a mere connoisseur of crime, is still rather older andperhaps more experienced than yourself.""I'm the first to admit that," said the detective heartily. "You get to your point,I admit; but you have such a deuced r #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 73 Context: tin the fatal study. Everything else was dark and still."How long is this to last?" asked the inspector finally. "And what is it we arewatching for?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 74 Context: herman lands a fish—some large, round object which obscured the light as itwas dragged through the open casement."Now!" cried Holmes. "Now!"We were all upon our feet, staggering after him with our stiffened limbs,while he ran swiftly across the bridge and rang violently at the bell. There wasthe rasping of bolts from the other side, and the amazed Ames stood in theentrance. Holmes brushed him aside without a word and, followed by all of us,rushed into the room which had been occupied by the man whom we had beenwatching.The oil lamp on the table represented the glow which we had seen fromoutside. It was now in the hand of Cecil Barker, who held it towards us as weentered. Its light shone upon his strong, resolute, clean-shaved face and hismenacing eyes."What the devil is the meaning of all this?" he cried. "What are you after,anyhow?"Holmes took a swift glance round, and then pounced upon a sodden bundletied together with cord which lay where it had been thrust under the writingtable."T #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 77 Context: not following up the hint which you conveyed to me through my friend, Dr.Watson; but, at that time I had every reason to believe that you were directlyconcerned in the crime. Now I am assured that this is not so. At the same time,there is much that is unexplained, and I should strongly recommend that you askMr. Douglas to tell us his own story."Mrs. Douglas gave a cry of astonishment at Holmes's words. The detectivesand I must have echoed it, when we were aware of a man who seemed to haveemerged from the wall, who advanced now from the gloom of the corner inwhich he had appeared. Mrs. Douglas turned, and in an instant her arms wereround him. Barker had seized his outstretched hand."It's best this way, Jack," his wife repeated; "I am sure that it is best.""Indeed, yes, Mr. Douglas," said Sherlock Holmes, "I am sure that you willfind it best."The man stood blinking at us with the dazed look of one who comes from thedark into the light. It was a remarkable face, bold gray eyes, a strong, #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 78 Context: aste ourselves upon asearch that you knew to be an absurd one?""Not one instant, my dear Mr. Mac. Only last night did I form my views ofthe case. As they could not be put to the proof until this evening, I invited youand your colleague to take a holiday for the day. Pray what more could I do?When I found the suit of clothes in the moat, it at once became apparent to methat the body we had found could not have been the body of Mr. John Douglas atall, but must be that of the bicyclist from Tunbridge Wells. No other conclusionwas possible. Therefore I had to determine where Mr. John Douglas himselfcould be, and the balance of probability was that with the connivance of his wifeand his friend he was concealed in a house which had such conveniences for afugitive, and awaiting quieter times when he could make his final escape.""Well, you figured it out about right," said Douglas approvingly. "I thoughtI'd dodge your British law; for I was not sure how I stood under it, and also I sawmy chanc #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 78 Context: d also I sawmy chance to throw these hounds once for all off my track. Mind you, from firstto last I have done nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing that I would not doagain; but you'll judge that for yourselves when I tell you my story. Never mindwarning me, Inspector: I'm ready to stand pat upon the truth."I'm not going to begin at the beginning. That's all there," he indicated mybundle of papers, "and a mighty queer yarn you'll find it. It all comes down to #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 79 Context: this: That there are some men that have good cause to hate me and would givetheir last dollar to know that they had got me. So long as I am alive and they arealive, there is no safety in this world for me. They hunted me from Chicago toCalifornia, then they chased me out of America; but when I married and settleddown in this quiet spot I thought my last years were going to be peaceable."I never explained to my wife how things were. Why should I pull her into it?She would never have a quiet moment again; but would always be imaginingtrouble. I fancy she knew something, for I may have dropped a word here or aword there; but until yesterday, after you gentlemen had seen her, she neverknew the rights of the matter. She told you all she knew, and so did Barker here;for on the night when this thing happened there was mighty little time forexplanations. She knows everything now, and I would have been a wiser man if Ihad told her sooner. But it was a hard question, dear," he took her hand for #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 81 Context: to your house, or where to hide to get you?""I know nothing of this."Holmes's face was very white and grave. "The story is not over yet, I fear,"said he. "You may find worse dangers than the English law, or even than yourenemies from America. I see trouble before you, Mr. Douglas. You'll take myadvice and still be on your guard."And now, my long-suffering readers, I will ask you to come away with me for #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 81 Context: earto Barker and to my wife; but they understood enough to be able to help me. Iknew all about this hiding place, so did Ames; but it never entered his head toconnect it with the matter. I retired into it, and it was up to Barker to do the rest."I guess you can fill in for yourselves what he did. He opened the windowand made the mark on the sill to give an idea of how the murderer escaped. Itwas a tall order, that; but as the bridge was up there was no other way. Then,when everything was fixed, he rang the bell for all he was worth. What happenedafterward you know. And so, gentlemen, you can do what you please; but I'vetold you the truth and the whole truth, so help me God! What I ask you now ishow do I stand by the English law?"There was a silence which was broken by Sherlock Holmes."The English law is in the main a just law. You will get no worse than yourdeserts from that, Mr. Douglas. But I would ask you how did this man know thatyou lived here, or how to get into your house, or wh #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 81 Context: held out his muscular hand, "you can see for yourselves that I had struck thelimit. I have not moved it since the day I was married, and it would have taken afile to get it off. I don't know, anyhow, that I should have cared to part with it;but if I had wanted to I couldn't. So we just had to leave that detail to take care ofitself. On the other hand, I brought a bit of plaster down and put it where I amwearing one myself at this instant. You slipped up there, Mr. Holmes, clever asyou are; for if you had chanced to take off that plaster you would have found nocut underneath it."Well, that was the situation. If I could lie low for a while and then get awaywhere I could be joined by my 'widow' we should have a chance at last of livingin peace for the rest of our lives. These devils would give me no rest so long as Iwas above ground; but if they saw in the papers that Baldwin had got his man,there would be an end of all my troubles. I hadn't much time to make it all clearto Barker and to #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 81 Context: held out his muscular hand, "you can see for yourselves that I had struck thelimit. I have not moved it since the day I was married, and it would have taken afile to get it off. I don't know, anyhow, that I should have cared to part with it;but if I had wanted to I couldn't. So we just had to leave that detail to take care ofitself. On the other hand, I brought a bit of plaster down and put it where I amwearing one myself at this instant. You slipped up there, Mr. Holmes, clever asyou are; for if you had chanced to take off that plaster you would have found nocut underneath it."Well, that was the situation. If I could lie low for a while and then get awaywhere I could be joined by my 'widow' we should have a chance at last of livingin peace for the rest of our lives. These devils would give me no rest so long as Iwas above ground; but if they saw in the papers that Baldwin had got his man,there would be an end of all my troubles. I hadn't much time to make it all clearto Barker and to #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 84 Context: and the most lush water pastures werevalueless compared to this gloomy land of black crag and tangled forest. Abovethe dark and often scarcely penetrable woods upon their flanks, the high, barecrowns of the mountains, white snow, and jagged rock towered upon each flank,leaving a long, winding, tortuous valley in the centre. Up this the little train wasslowly crawling.The oil lamps had just been lit in the leading passenger car, a long, barecarriage in which some twenty or thirty people were seated. The greater numberof these were workmen returning from their day's toil in the lower part of thevalley. At least a dozen, by their grimed faces and the safety lanterns which theycarried, proclaimed themselves miners. These sat smoking in a group andconversed in low voices, glancing occasionally at two men on the opposite sideof the car, whose uniforms and badges showed them to be policemen. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 88 Context: "Deep.""A penitentiary job?""And the rest.""Not a killing!""It's early days to talk of such things," said McMurdo with the air of a manwho had been surprised into saying more than he intended. "I've my own goodreasons for leaving Chicago, and let that be enough for you. Who are you thatyou should take it on yourself to ask such things?" His gray eyes gleamed withsudden and dangerous anger from behind his glasses."All right, mate, no offense meant. The boys will think none the worse ofyou, whatever you may have done. Where are you bound for now?""Vermissa.""That's the third halt down the line. Where are you staying?"McMurdo took out an envelope and held it close to the murky oil lamp. "Hereis the address—Jacob Shafter, Sheridan Street. It's a boarding house that wasrecommended by a man I knew in Chicago.""Well, I don't know it; but Vermissa is out of my beat. I live at Hobson'sPatch, and that's here where we are drawing up. But, say, there's one bit ofadvice I'll give you before we part #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 90 Context: dauntless demeanour of the newcomer, while the two policemen shrugged theirshoulders and renewed a conversation between themselves.A few minutes later the train ran into the ill-lit station, and there was ageneral clearing; for Vermissa was by far the largest town on the line. McMurdopicked up his leather gripsack and was about to start off into the darkness, whenone of the miners accosted him."By Gar, mate! you know how to speak to the cops," he said in a voice ofawe. "It was grand to hear you. Let me carry your grip and show you the road.I'm passing Shafter's on the way to my own shack."There was a chorus of friendly "Good-nights" from the other miners as theypassed from the platform. Before ever he had set foot in it, McMurdo theturbulent had become a character in Vermissa.The country had been a place of terror; but the town was in its way evenmore depressing. Down that long valley there was at least a certain gloomygrandeur in the huge fires and the clouds of drifting smoke, while #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 90 Context: dauntless demeanour of the newcomer, while the two policemen shrugged theirshoulders and renewed a conversation between themselves.A few minutes later the train ran into the ill-lit station, and there was ageneral clearing; for Vermissa was by far the largest town on the line. McMurdopicked up his leather gripsack and was about to start off into the darkness, whenone of the miners accosted him."By Gar, mate! you know how to speak to the cops," he said in a voice ofawe. "It was grand to hear you. Let me carry your grip and show you the road.I'm passing Shafter's on the way to my own shack."There was a chorus of friendly "Good-nights" from the other miners as theypassed from the platform. Before ever he had set foot in it, McMurdo theturbulent had become a character in Vermissa.The country had been a place of terror; but the town was in its way evenmore depressing. Down that long valley there was at least a certain gloomygrandeur in the huge fires and the clouds of drifting smoke, while #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 90 Context: ifting smoke, while the strengthand industry of man found fitting monuments in the hills which he had spilled bythe side of his monstrous excavations. But the town showed a dead level of meanugliness and squalor. The broad street was churned up by the traffic into ahorrible rutted paste of muddy snow. The sidewalks were narrow and uneven.The numerous gas-lamps served only to show more clearly a long line ofwooden houses, each with its veranda facing the street, unkempt and dirty.As they approached the centre of the town the scene was brightened by a rowof well-lit stores, and even more by a cluster of saloons and gaming houses, inwhich the miners spent their hard-earned but generous wages."That's the Union House," said the guide, pointing to one saloon which rosealmost to the dignity of being a hotel. "Jack McGinty is the boss there.""What sort of a man is he?" McMurdo asked."What! have you never heard of the boss?""How could I have heard of him when you know that I am a stranger in th #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 90 Context: dauntless demeanour of the newcomer, while the two policemen shrugged theirshoulders and renewed a conversation between themselves.A few minutes later the train ran into the ill-lit station, and there was ageneral clearing; for Vermissa was by far the largest town on the line. McMurdopicked up his leather gripsack and was about to start off into the darkness, whenone of the miners accosted him."By Gar, mate! you know how to speak to the cops," he said in a voice ofawe. "It was grand to hear you. Let me carry your grip and show you the road.I'm passing Shafter's on the way to my own shack."There was a chorus of friendly "Good-nights" from the other miners as theypassed from the platform. Before ever he had set foot in it, McMurdo theturbulent had become a character in Vermissa.The country had been a place of terror; but the town was in its way evenmore depressing. Down that long valley there was at least a certain gloomygrandeur in the huge fires and the clouds of drifting smoke, while #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 92 Context: d do as much," the other answered.She laughed at the compliment. "Come right in, sir," she said. "I'm Miss EttieShafter, Mr. Shafter's daughter. My mother's dead, and I run the house. You cansit down by the stove in the front room until father comes along—Ah, here he is!So you can fix things with him right away."A heavy, elderly man came plodding up the path. In a few words McMurdoexplained his business. A man of the name of Murphy had given him the addressin Chicago. He in turn had had it from someone else. Old Shafter was quiteready. The stranger made no bones about terms, agreed at once to everycondition, and was apparently fairly flush of money. For seven dollars a weekpaid in advance he was to have board and lodging.So it was that McMurdo, the self-confessed fugitive from justice, took up hisabode under the roof of the Shafters, the first step which was to lead to so longand dark a train of events, ending in a far distant land. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 93 Context: use had won his heart from the instant that he had set eyes upon her beautyand her grace. He was no backward suitor. On the second day he told her that heloved her, and from then onward he repeated the same story with an absolutedisregard of what she might say to discourage him."Someone else?" he would cry. "Well, the worse luck for someone else! Lethim look out for himself! Am I to lose my life's chance and all my heart's desirefor someone else? You can keep on saying no, Ettie: the day will come when youwill say yes, and I'm young enough to wait."He was a dangerous suitor, with his glib Irish tongue, and his pretty, coaxingways. There was about him also that glamour of experience and of mysterywhich attracts a woman's interest, and finally her love. He could talk of the sweetvalleys of County Monaghan from which he came, of the lovely, distant island,the low hills and green meadows of which seemed the more beautiful whenimagination viewed them from this place of grime and snow. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 94 Context: Then he was versed in the life of the cities of the North, of Detroit, and thelumber camps of Michigan, and finally of Chicago, where he had worked in aplaning mill. And afterwards came the hint of romance, the feeling that strangethings had happened to him in that great city, so strange and so intimate that theymight not be spoken of. He spoke wistfully of a sudden leaving, a breaking ofold ties, a flight into a strange world, ending in this dreary valley, and Ettielistened, her dark eyes gleaming with pity and with sympathy—those twoqualities which may turn so rapidly and so naturally to love.McMurdo had obtained a temporary job as bookkeeper; for he was a well-educated man. This kept him out most of the day, and he had not found occasionyet to report himself to the head of the lodge of the Eminent Order of Freemen.He was reminded of his omission, however, by a visit one evening from MikeScanlan, the fellow member whom he had met in the train. Scanlan, the small,sharp-faced, nervous, #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 94 Context: harp-faced, nervous, black-eyed man, seemed glad to see him once more. Aftera glass or two of whisky he broached the object of his visit."Say, McMurdo," said he, "I remembered your address, so I made bold tocall. I'm surprised that you've not reported to the Bodymaster. Why haven't youseen Boss McGinty yet?""Well, I had to find a job. I have been busy.""You must find time for him if you have none for anything else. Good Lord,man! you're a fool not to have been down to the Union House and registeredyour name the first morning after you came here! If you run against him—well,you mustn't, that's all!"McMurdo showed mild surprise. "I've been a member of the lodge for overtwo years, Scanlan, but I never heard that duties were so pressing as all that.""Maybe not in Chicago.""Well, it's the same society here.""Is it?"Scanlan looked at him long and fixedly. There was something sinister in hiseyes. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 95 Context: ion."It seems to me, mister," said he, "that you are gettin' set on my Ettie. Ain'tthat so, or am I wrong?""Yes, that is so," the young man answered."Vell, I vant to tell you right now that it ain't no manner of use. There'ssomeone slipped in afore you.""She told me so.""Vell, you can lay that she told you truth. But did she tell you who it vas?""No, I asked her; but she wouldn't tell.""I dare say not, the leetle baggage! Perhaps she did not vish to frighten you #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 97 Context: Put yourself in my place. Here am I, a stranger in the town. I belong to a societythat I know only as an innocent one. You'll find it through the length and breadthof the States, but always as an innocent one. Now, when I am counting uponjoining it here, you tell me that it is the same as a murder society called theScowrers. I guess you owe me either an apology or else an explanation, Mr.Shafter.""I can but tell you vat the whole vorld knows, mister. The bosses of the oneare the bosses of the other. If you offend the one, it is the other vat vill strikeyou. We have proved it too often.""That's just gossip—I want proof!" said McMurdo."If you live here long you vill get your proof. But I forget that you areyourself one of them. You vill soon be as bad as the rest. But you vill find otherlodgings, mister. I cannot have you here. Is it not bad enough that one of thesepeople come courting my Ettie, and that I dare not turn him down, but that Ishould have another for my boarder? Yes, indeed, #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 98 Context: promise before you knew what it was that you were saying."He had seized Ettie's white hand between his own strong brown ones."Say that you will be mine, and we will face it out together!""Not here?""Yes, here.""No, no, Jack!" His arms were round her now. "It could not be here. Couldyou take me away?"A struggle passed for a moment over McMurdo's face; but it ended by settinglike granite. "No, here," he said. "I'll hold you against the world, Ettie, right herewhere we are!""Why should we not leave together?""No, Ettie, I can't leave here.""But why?""I'd never hold my head up again if I felt that I had been driven out. Besides,what is there to be afraid of? Are we not free folks in a free country? If you loveme, and I you, who will dare to come between?""You don't know, Jack. You've been here too short a time. You don't knowthis Baldwin. You don't know McGinty and his Scowrers.""No, I don't know them, and I don't fear them, and I don't believe in them!"said McMurdo. "I've lived among roug #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 99 Context: read all this. I had understood that every paper in the United States was writingabout it.""Well, I have read something, it is true; but I had thought it was a story.Maybe these men have some reason in what they do. Maybe they are wrongedand have no other way to help themselves.""Oh, Jack, don't let me hear you speak so! That is how he speaks—the otherone!""Baldwin—he speaks like that, does he?""And that is why I loathe him so. Oh, Jack, now I can tell you the truth. Iloathe him with all my heart; but I fear him also. I fear him for myself; but aboveall I fear him for father. I know that some great sorrow would come upon us if Idared to say what I really felt. That is why I have put him off with half-promises.It was in real truth our only hope. But if you would fly with me, Jack, we couldtake father with us and live forever far from the power of these wicked men."Again there was the struggle upon McMurdo's face, and again it set likegranite. "No harm shall come to you, Ettie—nor to you #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 99 Context: ou, Ettie—nor to your father either. As towicked men, I expect you may find that I am as bad as the worst of them beforewe're through.""No, no, Jack! I would trust you anywhere."McMurdo laughed bitterly. "Good Lord! how little you know of me! Yourinnocent soul, my darling, could not even guess what is passing in mine. But,hullo, who's the visitor?"The door had opened suddenly, and a young fellow came swaggering in withthe air of one who is the master. He was a handsome, dashing young man ofabout the same age and build as McMurdo himself. Under his broad-brimmedblack felt hat, which he had not troubled to remove, a handsome face with fierce,domineering eyes and a curved hawk-bill of a nose looked savagely at the pairwho sat by the stove.Ettie had jumped to her feet full of confusion and alarm. "I'm glad to see you,Mr. Baldwin," said she. "You're earlier than I had thought. Come and sit down." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 101 Context: quartersin the morning." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 101 Context: "No time like the present," cried McMurdo."I'll choose my own time, mister. You can leave the time to me. See here!" Hesuddenly rolled up his sleeve and showed upon his forearm a peculiar sign whichappeared to have been branded there. It was a circle with a triangle within it."D'you know what that means?""I neither know nor care!""Well, you will know, I'll promise you that. You won't be much older, either.Perhaps Miss Ettie can tell you something about it. As to you, Ettie, you'll comeback to me on your knees—d'ye hear, girl?—on your knees—and then I'll tellyou what your punishment may be. You've sowed—and by the Lord, I'll see thatyou reap!" He glanced at them both in fury. Then he turned upon his heel, and aninstant later the outer door had banged behind him.For a few moments McMurdo and the girl stood in silence. Then she threwher arms around him."Oh, Jack, how brave you were! But it is no use, you must fly! To-night—Jack—to-night! It's your only hope. He will have your life. I read #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 102 Context: he famous McGinty himself. He was a black-maned giant, bearded to the cheek-bones, and with a shock of raven hair whichfell to his collar. His complexion was as swarthy as that of an Italian, and hiseyes were of a strange dead black, which, combined with a slight squint, gavethem a particularly sinister appearance.All else in the man—his noble proportions, his fine features, and his frankbearing—fitted in with that jovial, man-to-man manner which he affected. Here, #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 104 Context: ked-looking revolver."See here, my joker," said he, "if I thought you were playing any game on us,it would be short work for you.""This is a strange welcome," McMurdo answered with some dignity, "for theBodymaster of a lodge of Freemen to give to a stranger brother.""Ay, but it's just that same that you have to prove," said McGinty, "and Godhelp you if you fail! Where were you made?""Lodge 29, Chicago.""When?""June 24, 1872.""What Bodymaster?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 104 Context: "I was.""And who told you?""Brother Scanlan of Lodge 341, Vermissa. I drink your health Councillor, andto our better acquaintance." He raised a glass with which he had been served tohis lips and elevated his little finger as he drank it.McGinty, who had been watching him narrowly, raised his thick blackeyebrows. "Oh, it's like that, is it?" said he. "I'll have to look a bit closer intothis, Mister—""McMurdo.""A bit closer, Mr. McMurdo; for we don't take folk on trust in these parts, norbelieve all we're told neither. Come in here for a moment, behind the bar."There was a small room there, lined with barrels. McGinty carefully closedthe door, and then seated himself on one of them, biting thoughtfully on his cigarand surveying his companion with those disquieting eyes. For a couple ofminutes he sat in complete silence. McMurdo bore the inspection cheerfully, onehand in his coat pocket, the other twisting his brown moustache. SuddenlyMcGinty stooped and produced a wicked-looking revolver #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 108 Context: to a vote—"The Councillor sprang at him like a tiger. His hand closed round the other'sneck, and he hurled him back across one of the barrels. In his mad fury he wouldhave squeezed the life out of him if McMurdo had not interfered."Easy, Councillor! For heaven's sake, go easy!" he cried, as he dragged himback.McGinty released his hold, and Baldwin, cowed and shaken gasping forbreath, and shivering in every limb, as one who has looked over the very edge ofdeath, sat up on the barrel over which he had been hurled. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 115 Context: r his hood. He heard the rustle andmurmur of the people round him, and then the voice of McGinty sounded dulland distant through the covering of his ears."John McMurdo," said the voice, "are you already a member of the AncientOrder of Freemen?"He bowed in assent. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 117 Context: pain shot through his forearm. He nearly fainted at the sudden shock of it; but hebit his lip and clenched his hands to hide his agony."I can take more than that," said he.This time there was loud applause. A finer first appearance had never beenmade in the lodge. Hands clapped him on the back, and the hood was pluckedfrom his head. He stood blinking and smiling amid the congratulations of thebrothers."One last word, Brother McMurdo," said McGinty. "You have already swornthe oath of secrecy and fidelity, and you are aware that the punishment for anybreach of it is instant and inevitable death?""I am," said McMurdo."And you accept the rule of the Bodymaster for the time being under allcircumstances?""I do.""Then in the name of Lodge 341, Vermissa, I welcome you to its privilegesand debates. You will put the liquor on the table, Brother Scanlan, and we willdrink to our worthy brother."McMurdo's coat had been brought to him; but before putting it on heexamined his right arm, which still s #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 120 Context: "Sure, that was what I meant; I'm in your hands," said McMurdo."Your time will come, Brother," said the chairman. "We have marked youdown as a willing man, and we believe that you will do good work in these parts.There is a small matter to-night in which you may take a hand if it so pleaseyou.""I will wait for something that is worth while.""You can come to-night, anyhow, and it will help you to know what we standfor in this community. I will make the announcement later. Meanwhile," heglanced at his agenda paper, "I have one or two more points to bring before themeeting. First of all, I will ask the treasurer as to our bank balance. There is thepension to Jim Carnaway's widow. He was struck down doing the work of thelodge, and it is for us to see that she is not the loser.""Jim was shot last month when they tried to kill Chester Wilcox of MarleyCreek," McMurdo's neighbour informed him."The funds are good at the moment," said the treasurer, with the bankbook infront of him. "The firms h #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 121 Context: means that others will be sent intheir stead. And we are making it dangerous for ourselves. The small men couldnot harm us. They had not the money nor the power. So long as we did notsqueeze them too dry, they would stay on under our power. But if these bigcompanies find that we stand between them and their profits, they will spare nopains and no expense to hunt us down and bring us to court."There was a hush at these ominous words, and every face darkened asgloomy looks were exchanged. So omnipotent and unchallenged had they beenthat the very thought that there was possible retribution in the background hadbeen banished from their minds. And yet the idea struck a chill to the mostreckless of them."It is my advice," the speaker continued, "that we go easier upon the smallmen. On the day that they have all been driven out the power of this society willhave been broken."Unwelcome truths are not popular. There were angry cries as the speakerresumed his seat. McGinty rose with gloom upon #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 122 Context: "Brother Morris," said he, "you were always a croaker. So long as themembers of this lodge stand together there is no power in the United States thatcan touch them. Sure, have we not tried it often enough in the law courts? Iexpect the big companies will find it easier to pay than to fight, same as the littlecompanies do. And now, Brethren," McGinty took off his black velvet cap andhis stole as he spoke, "this lodge has finished its business for the evening, savefor one small matter which may be mentioned when we are parting. The time hasnow come for fraternal refreshment and for harmony."Strange indeed is human nature. Here were these men, to whom murder wasfamiliar, who again and again had struck down the father of the family, someman against whom they had no personal feeling, without one thought ofcompunction or of compassion for his weeping wife or helpless children, and yetthe tender or pathetic in music could move them to tears. McMurdo had a finetenor voice, and if he had failed #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 122 Context: "Brother Morris," said he, "you were always a croaker. So long as themembers of this lodge stand together there is no power in the United States thatcan touch them. Sure, have we not tried it often enough in the law courts? Iexpect the big companies will find it easier to pay than to fight, same as the littlecompanies do. And now, Brethren," McGinty took off his black velvet cap andhis stole as he spoke, "this lodge has finished its business for the evening, savefor one small matter which may be mentioned when we are parting. The time hasnow come for fraternal refreshment and for harmony."Strange indeed is human nature. Here were these men, to whom murder wasfamiliar, who again and again had struck down the father of the family, someman against whom they had no personal feeling, without one thought ofcompunction or of compassion for his weeping wife or helpless children, and yetthe tender or pathetic in music could move them to tears. McMurdo had a finetenor voice, and if he had failed #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 123 Context: the civilized world. Is it for such results as this that our great country welcomes to itsbosom the alien who flies from the despotisms of Europe? Is it that they shallthemselves become tyrants over the very men who have given them shelter, and that astate of terrorism and lawlessness should be established under the very shadow of thesacred folds of the starry Flag of Freedom which would raise horror in our minds ifwe read of it as existing under the most effete monarchy of the East? The men areknown. The organization is patent and public. How long are we to endure it? Can weforever live—""Sure, I've read enough of the slush!" cried the chairman, tossing the paperdown upon the table. "That's what he says of us. The question I'm asking you iswhat shall we say to him?""Kill him!" cried a dozen fierce voices."I protest against that," said Brother Morris, the man of the good brow andshaved face. "I tell you, Brethren, that our hand is too heavy in this valley, andthat there will come a poi #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 127 Context: handed in by a lad. It was unsigned, and ran thus:I should wish to speak to you, but would rather not do so in your house. You will findme beside the flagstaff upon Miller Hill. If you will come there now, I have somethingwhich it is important for you to hear and for me to say.McMurdo read the note twice with the utmost surprise; for he could notimagine what it meant or who was the author of it. Had it been in a femininehand, he might have imagined that it was the beginning of one of thoseadventures which had been familiar enough in his past life. But it was thewriting of a man, and of a well educated one, too. Finally, after some hesitation,he determined to see the matter through.Miller Hill is an ill-kept public park in the very centre of the town. In summerit is a favourite resort of the people; but in winter it is desolate enough. From thetop of it one has a view not only of the whole straggling, grimy town, but of thewinding valley beneath, with its scattered mines and factories b #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 127 Context: ines and factories blackening thesnow on each side of it, and of the wooded and white-capped ranges flanking it.McMurdo strolled up the winding path hedged in with evergreens until hereached the deserted restaurant which forms the centre of summer gaiety. Besideit was a bare flagstaff, and underneath it a man, his hat drawn down and thecollar of his overcoat turned up. When he turned his face McMurdo saw that itwas Brother Morris, he who had incurred the anger of the Bodymaster the nightbefore. The lodge sign was given and exchanged as they met."I wanted to have a word with you, Mr. McMurdo," said the older man,speaking with a hesitation which showed that he was on delicate ground. "It waskind of you to come.""Why did you not put your name to the note?""One has to be cautious, mister. One never knows in times like these how athing may come back to one. One never knows either who to trust or who not totrust.""Surely one may trust brothers of the lodge.""No, no, not always," cried Morris #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 127 Context: lways," cried Morris with vehemence. "Whatever we say, evenwhat we think, seems to go back to that man McGinty." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 134 Context: ard to signify the coining plant."All right," whispered McMurdo, who had devised a safe hiding place underthe floor."I'll bid you good-bye," said the Boss, shaking hands. "I'll see Reilly thelawyer and take the defense upon myself. Take my word for it that they won't beable to hold you.""I wouldn't bet on that. Guard the prisoner, you two, and shoot him if he triesany games. I'll search the house before I leave."He did so; but apparently found no trace of the concealed plant. When he haddescended he and his men escorted McMurdo to headquarters. Darkness hadfallen, and a keen blizzard was blowing so that the streets were nearly deserted;but a few loiterers followed the group, and emboldened by invisibility shoutedimprecations at the prisoner. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 137 Context: oman," she cried. "Iknow it! Why else should you hold it from me? Was it to your wife that youwere writing? How am I to know that you are not a married man—you, a #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 141 Context: They were, as McMurdo found, quite ready to converse about their deeds inthe past, which they recounted with the half-bashful pride of men who had donegood and unselfish service for the community. They were reticent, however, asto the immediate job in hand."They chose us because neither I nor the boy here drink," Lawler explained."They can count on us saying no more than we should. You must not take itamiss, but it is the orders of the County Delegate that we obey.""Sure, we are all in it together," said Scanlan, McMurdo's mate, as the foursat together at supper."That's true enough, and we'll talk till the cows come home of the killing ofCharlie Williams or of Simon Bird, or any other job in the past. But till the workis done we say nothing.""There are half a dozen about here that I have a word to say to," saidMcMurdo, with an oath. "I suppose it isn't Jack Knox of Ironhill that you areafter. I'd go some way to see him get his deserts.""No, it's not him yet.""Or Herman Strauss?""No, no #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 142 Context: crossroads which is beyond its boundary. Here three men were waiting, withwhom Lawler and Andrews held a short, eager conversation. Then they allmoved on together. It was clearly some notable job which needed numbers. Atthis point there are several trails which lead to various mines. The strangers tookthat which led to the Crow Hill, a huge business which was in strong handswhich had been able, thanks to their energetic and fearless New Englandmanager, Josiah H. Dunn, to keep some order and discipline during the longreign of terror.Day was breaking now, and a line of workmen were slowly making their way,singly and in groups, along the blackened path.McMurdo and Scanlan strolled on with the others, keeping in sight of themen whom they followed. A thick mist lay over them, and from the heart of itthere came the sudden scream of a steam whistle. It was the ten-minute signalbefore the cages descended and the day's labour began.When they reached the open space round the mine shaft there wer #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 142 Context: crossroads which is beyond its boundary. Here three men were waiting, withwhom Lawler and Andrews held a short, eager conversation. Then they allmoved on together. It was clearly some notable job which needed numbers. Atthis point there are several trails which lead to various mines. The strangers tookthat which led to the Crow Hill, a huge business which was in strong handswhich had been able, thanks to their energetic and fearless New Englandmanager, Josiah H. Dunn, to keep some order and discipline during the longreign of terror.Day was breaking now, and a line of workmen were slowly making their way,singly and in groups, along the blackened path.McMurdo and Scanlan strolled on with the others, keeping in sight of themen whom they followed. A thick mist lay over them, and from the heart of itthere came the sudden scream of a steam whistle. It was the ten-minute signalbefore the cages descended and the day's labour began.When they reached the open space round the mine shaft there wer #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 147 Context: house; but all was still within.Then he leaned the powder bag against it, ripped a hole in it with his knife, andattached the fuse. When it was well alight he and his two companions took totheir heels, and were some distance off, safe and snug in a sheltering ditch,before the shattering roar of the explosion, with the low, deep rumble of thecollapsing building, told them that their work was done. No cleaner job had everbeen carried out in the bloodstained annals of the society.But alas that work so well organized and boldly carried out should all havegone for nothing! Warned by the fate of the various victims, and knowing that hewas marked down for destruction, Chester Wilcox had moved himself and hisfamily only the day before to some safer and less known quarters, where a guardof police should watch over them. It was an empty house which had been torndown by the gunpowder, and the grim old colour sergeant of the war was stillteaching discipline to the miners of Iron Dike."Leave him to #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 148 Context: ched the lodge of secret gatherings in the Herald office and of distribution of #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 149 Context: , "and it is just burning the life out ofme. I wish it had come to any one of you but me. If I tell it, it will mean murder,for sure. If I don't, it may bring the end of us all. God help me, but I am near outof my wits over it!"McMurdo looked at the man earnestly. He was trembling in every limb. Hepoured some whisky into a glass and handed it to him. "That's the physic for thelikes of you," said he. "Now let me hear of it."Morris drank, and his white face took a tinge of colour. "I can tell it to you allin one sentence," said he. "There's a detective on our trail."McMurdo stared at him in astonishment. "Why, man, you're crazy," he said."Isn't the place full of police and detectives and what harm did they ever do us?""No, no, it's no man of the district. As you say, we know them, and it is littlethat they can do. But you've heard of Pinkerton's?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 149 Context: firearms among the law-abiding people. But McGinty and his men wereundisturbed by such reports. They were numerous, resolute, and well armed.Their opponents were scattered and powerless. It would all end, as it had done inthe past, in aimless talk and possibly in impotent arrests. So said McGinty,McMurdo, and all the bolder spirits.It was a Saturday evening in May. Saturday was always the lodge night, andMcMurdo was leaving his house to attend it when Morris, the weaker brother ofthe order, came to see him. His brow was creased with care, and his kindly facewas drawn and haggard."Can I speak with you freely, Mr. McMurdo?""Sure.""I can't forget that I spoke my heart to you once, and that you kept it toyourself, even though the Boss himself came to ask you about it.""What else could I do if you trusted me? It wasn't that I agreed with what yousaid.""I know that well. But you are the one that I can speak to and be safe. I've asecret here," he put his hand to his breast, "and it is just bu #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 150 Context: ss."See here, man," he cried, and he almost screeched the words in hisexcitement, "you won't gain anything by sitting keening like an old wife at awake. Let's have the facts. Who is the fellow? Where is he? How did you hear ofhim? Why did you come to me?""I came to you; for you are the one man that would advise me. I told you thatI had a store in the East before I came here. I left good friends behind me, andone of them is in the telegraph service. Here's a letter that I had from himyesterday. It's this part from the top of the page. You can read it yourself."This was what McMurdo read:How are the Scowrers getting on in your parts? We read plenty of them in the papers.Between you and me I expect to hear news from you before long. Five bigcorporations and the two railroads have taken the thing up in dead earnest. They meanit, and you can bet they'll get there! They are right deep down into it. Pinkerton hastaken hold under their orders, and his best man, Birdy Edwards, is operating. The #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 152 Context: is actions werethose of a man who is preparing for the worst. Every paper which wouldincriminate him was destroyed before he left the house. After that he gave a longsigh of satisfaction; for it seemed to him that he was safe. And yet the dangermust still have pressed somewhat upon him; for on his way to the lodge hestopped at old man Shafter's. The house was forbidden him; but when he tappedat the window Ettie came out to him. The dancing Irish deviltry had gone fromher 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 makea move before it is worse.""Make a move?""I promised you once that I would go some day. I think the time is coming. Ihad news to-night, bad news, and I see trouble coming.""The police?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 152 Context: 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, andthe 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'shim 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 surelysaved the lodge."And yet it was clear from his actions that he thought more seriously of thisnew intrusion than his words would show. It may have been his guiltyconscience, it may have been the reputation of the Pinkerton organization, it mayhave been the knowledge that great, rich corporations had set themselves thetask of clearing out the Scowrers; but, whatever his reason, his actions werethose #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 155 Context: dwin," he said. "You and Ihave had our differences, but you have said the true word to-night.""Where is he, then? Where shall we know him?""Eminent Bodymaster," said McMurdo, earnestly, "I would put it to you thatthis is too vital a thing for us to discuss in open lodge. God forbid that I shouldthrow a doubt on anyone here; but if so much as a word of gossip got to the earsof this man, there would be an end of any chance of our getting him. I would askthe lodge to choose a trusty committee, Mr. Chairman—yourself, if I mightsuggest it, and Brother Baldwin here, and five more. Then I can talk freely ofwhat I know and of what I advise should be done."The proposition was at once adopted, and the committee chosen. Besides thechairman and Baldwin there were the vulture-faced secretary, Harraway, TigerCormac, the brutal young assassin, Carter, the treasurer, and the brothersWillaby, fearless and desperate men who would stick at nothing. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 158 Context: Chapter 7The Trapping of Birdy EdwardsAs McMurdo had said, the house in which he lived was a lonely one and verywell suited for such a crime as they had planned. It was on the extreme fringe ofthe town and stood well back from the road. In any other case the conspiratorswould have simply called out their man, as they had many a time before, andemptied their pistols into his body; but in this instance it was very necessary tofind out how much he knew, how he knew it, and what had been passed on to hisemployers.It was possible that they were already too late and that the work had beendone. If that was indeed so, they could at least have their revenge upon the manwho had done it. But they were hopeful that nothing of great importance had yetcome to the detective's knowledge, as otherwise, they argued, he would not havetroubled to write down and forward such trivial information as McMurdoclaimed to have given him. However, all this they would learn from his own lips.Once in their power, th #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 159 Context: "Do you reckon he knows much?" he asked anxiously.McMurdo shook his head gloomily. "He's been here some time—six weeks atthe least. I guess he didn't come into these parts to look at the prospect. If he hasbeen working among us all that time with the railroad money at his back, Ishould expect that he has got results, and that he has passed them on.""There's not a weak man in the lodge," cried McGinty. "True as steel, everyman of them. And yet, by the Lord! there is that skunk Morris. What about him?If any man gives us away, it would be he. I've a mind to send a couple of theboys round before evening to give him a beating up and see what they can getfrom him.""Well, there would be no harm in that," McMurdo answered. "I won't denythat I have a liking for Morris and would be sorry to see him come to harm. Hehas spoken to me once or twice over lodge matters, and though he may not seethem the same as you or I, he never seemed the sort that squeals. But still it isnot for me to stand between #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 160 Context: ow that I can hold him till you come." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 160 Context: "Faith, he's right there," said McGinty grimly. "Didn't he ask you why youdidn't bring him the papers?""As if I would carry such things, and me a suspected man, and CaptainMarvin after speaking to me this very day at the depot!""Ay, I heard of that," said McGinty. "I guess the heavy end of this business iscoming on to you. We could put him down an old shaft when we've done withhim; but however we work it we can't get past the man living at Hobson's Patchand you being there to-day."McMurdo shrugged his shoulders. "If we handle it right, they can never provethe killing," said he. "No one can see him come to the house after dark, and I'lllay to it that no one will see him go. Now see here, Councillor, I'll show you myplan and I'll ask you to fit the others into it. You will all come in good time. Verywell. He comes at ten. He is to tap three times, and me to open the door for him.Then I'll get behind him and shut it. He's our man then.""That's all easy and plain.""Yes; but the next step w #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 161 Context: not been reddened a dozen times before. Theywere as hardened to human murder as a butcher to sheep.Foremost, of course, both in appearance and in guilt, was the formidableBoss. Harraway, the secretary, was a lean, bitter man with a long, scraggy neckand nervous, jerky limbs, a man of incorruptible fidelity where the finances of #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 163 Context: ded bear and plunged forthe half-opened door. A levelled revolver met him there with the stern blue eyes #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 166 Context: The trial of the Scowrers was held far from the place where their adherentsmight have terrified the guardians of the law. In vain they struggled. In vain themoney of the lodge—money squeezed by blackmail out of the wholecountryside—was spent like water in the attempt to save them. That cold, clear,unimpassioned statement from one who knew every detail of their lives, theirorganization, and their crimes was unshaken by all the wiles of their defenders.At last after so many years they were broken and scattered. The cloud was liftedforever from the valley.McGinty met his fate upon the scaffold, cringing and whining when the lasthour came. Eight of his chief followers shared his fate. Fifty-odd had variousdegrees of imprisonment. The work of Birdy Edwards was complete.And yet, as he had guessed, the game was not over yet. There was anotherhand to be played, and yet another and another. Ted Baldwin, for one, hadescaped the scaffold; so had the Willabys; so had several others of the fiercest #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 168 Context: say that the first word that ever came to us of the business wasfrom one of his lieutenants. These Americans were well advised. Having anEnglish job to do, they took into partnership, as any foreign criminal could do,this great consultant in crime. From that moment their man was doomed. At firsthe would content himself by using his machinery in order to find their victim.Then he would indicate how the matter might be treated. Finally, when he readin the reports of the failure of this agent, he would step in himself with a mastertouch. You heard me warn this man at Birlstone Manor House that the comingdanger was greater than the past. Was I right?"Barker beat his head with his clenched fist in his impotent anger. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 170 Context: g Project Gutenberg-tmelectronic works1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tmelectronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree toand accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property(trademark/copyright) agreement. 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Donations are accepted in a number of othe #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 175 Context: rchive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how tosubscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. #################### File: dog_name.txt.txt Page: 1 Context: my dog's name is DIO! ########## """QUERY: can you give me the path to accountant.edit from kios_routes_list.txt?""" Consider the chat history for relevant information. Final Files Sources: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 3, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 5, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 6, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 8, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 10, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 12, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 13, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 14, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 15, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 17, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 18, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 22, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 23, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 24, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 27, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 28, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 30, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 31, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 32, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 36, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 37, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 38, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 39, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 40, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 45, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 48, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 54, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 56, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 57, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 58, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 60, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 61, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 63, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 65, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 66, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 67, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 69, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 73, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 74, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 77, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 78, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 79, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 81, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 84, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 88, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 90, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 92, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 93, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 94, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 95, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 97, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 98, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 99, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 101, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 102, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 104, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 108, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 115, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 117, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 120, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 121, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 122, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 123, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 127, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 134, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 137, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 141, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 142, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 147, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 148, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 149, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 150, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 152, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 155, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 158, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 159, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 160, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 161, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 163, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 166, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 168, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 170, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 172, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 173, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 174, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 175, dog_name.txt.txt - Page 1 ================================================== FINAL ANSWER Answer: Based on the provided context, there is no information available regarding the path to "accountant.edit" from "kios_routes_list.txt". If you have access to the "kios_routes_list.txt" file and can provide its contents or further details, I would be able to assist you in locating the path to "accountant.edit". ==================================================