INITIALIZATION Knowledgebase: ki-dev Base Query: what context do you have right now? Model: gpt-4-1106-preview Use Curl?: None ================================================== QUESTIONING Clarity Score: 10 Give follow-up?: False Follow-up query: ================================================== ROUTING Query type: summary ================================================== PRIMER Primer: You are a highly intelligent personal assistant. Your role is to act as an expert at summarization and analysis. 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. Use as much tokens as possible to provide a detailed response. 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: 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: 6 Context: mself rather than to me; but my vexation disappeared inthe interest which the words awakened."Who then is Porlock?" I asked."Porlock, Watson, is a nom-de-plume, a mere identification mark; but behind #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 7 Context: it lies a shifty and evasive personality. In a former letter he frankly informed methat the name was not his own, and defied me ever to trace him among theteeming millions of this great city. Porlock is important, not for himself, but forthe great man with whom he is in touch. Picture to yourself the pilot fish withthe shark, the jackal with the lion—anything that is insignificant incompanionship with what is formidable: not only formidable, Watson, butsinister—in the highest degree sinister. That is where he comes within mypurview. You have heard me speak of Professor Moriarty?""The famous scientific criminal, as famous among crooks as—""My blushes, Watson!" Holmes murmured in a deprecating voice."I was about to say, as he is unknown to the public.""A touch! A distinct touch!" cried Holmes. "You are developing a certainunexpected vein of pawky humour, Watson, against which I must learn to guardmyself. But in calling Moriarty a criminal you are uttering libel in the eyes of thelaw—and #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 7 Context: re speaking of thisman Porlock.""Ah, yes—the so-called Porlock is a link in the chain some little way from itsgreat attachment. Porlock is not quite a sound link—between ourselves. He is theonly flaw in that chain so far as I have been able to test it.""But no chain is stronger than its weakest link." #################### 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: 8 Context: "Exactly, my dear Watson! Hence the extreme importance of Porlock. Led onby some rudimentary aspirations towards right, and encouraged by the judiciousstimulation of an occasional ten-pound note sent to him by devious methods, hehas once or twice given me advance information which has been of value—thathighest value which anticipates and prevents rather than avenges crime. I cannotdoubt that, if we had the cipher, we should find that this communication is of thenature that I indicate."Again Holmes flattened out the paper upon his unused plate. I rose and,leaning over him, stared down at the curious inscription, which ran as follows: 534 C2 13 127 36 31 4 17 21 41 DOUGLAS 109 293 5 37 BIRLSTONE 26 BIRLSTONE 9 47 171"What do you make of it, Holmes?""It is obviously an attempt to convey secret information.""But what is the use of a cipher message without the cipher?""In this instance, none at all.""Why do you say 'in this instance'?""Becau #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 11 Context: were nipped, tosend me the clue in this envelope. He says so in his note. This would seem toindicate that the book is one which he thought I would have no difficulty infinding for myself. He had it—and he imagined that I would have it, too. Inshort, Watson, it is a very common book.""What you say certainly sounds plausible.""So we have contracted our field of search to a large book, printed in doublecolumns and in common use.""The Bible!" I cried triumphantly."Good, Watson, good! But not, if I may say so, quite good enough! Even if Iaccepted the compliment for myself I could hardly name any volume whichwould be less likely to lie at the elbow of one of Moriarty's associates. Besides,the editions of Holy Writ are so numerous that he could hardly suppose that twocopies would have the same pagination. This is clearly a book which is #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 15 Context: Sherlock Holmes DiscoursesIt was one of those dramatic moments for which my friend existed. It wouldbe an overstatement to say that he was shocked or even excited by the amazingannouncement. Without having a tinge of cruelty in his singular composition, hewas undoubtedly callous from long over-stimulation. Yet, if his emotions weredulled, his intellectual perceptions were exceedingly active. There was no tracethen of the horror which I had myself felt at this curt declaration; but his faceshowed rather the quiet and interested composure of the chemist who sees thecrystals falling into position from his oversaturated solution."Remarkable!" said he. "Remarkable!""You don't seem surprised.""Interested, Mr. Mac, but hardly surprised. Why should I be surprised? Ireceive an anonymous communication from a quarter which I know to beimportant, warning me that danger threatens a certain person. Within an hour Ilearn that this danger has actually materialized and that the person is dead. I aminte #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 16 Context: Camberwell—that doesn't help us much. Name, you say, is assumed. Not muchto go on, certainly. Didn't you say that you have sent him money?""Twice.""And how?""In notes to Camberwell post-office.""Did you ever trouble to see who called for them?""No."The inspector looked surprised and a little shocked. "Why not?""Because I always keep faith. I had promised when he first wrote that I wouldnot try to trace him.""You think there is someone behind him?""I know there is.""This professor that I've heard you mention?""Exactly!"Inspector MacDonald smiled, and his eyelid quivered as he glanced towardsme. "I won't conceal from you, Mr. Holmes, that we think in the C. I. D. that youhave a wee bit of a bee in your bonnet over this professor. I made some inquiriesmyself about the matter. He seems to be a very respectable, learned, and talentedsort of man.""I'm glad you've got so far as to recognize the talent.""Man, you can't but recognize it! After I heard your view I made it mybusiness to see him. #################### 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: 19 Context: read of Jonathan Wild?""Well, the name has a familiar sound. Someone in a novel, was he not? I don'ttake much stock of detectives in novels—chaps that do things and never let yousee how they do them. That's just inspiration: not business.""Jonathan Wild wasn't a detective, and he wasn't in a novel. He was a mastercriminal, and he lived last century—1750 or thereabouts.""Then he's no use to me. I'm a practical man.""Mr. Mac, the most practical thing that you ever did in your life would be toshut yourself up for three months and read twelve hours a day at the annals ofcrime. Everything comes in circles—even Professor Moriarty. Jonathan Wildwas the hidden force of the London criminals, to whom he sold his brains andhis organization on a fifteen per cent commission. The old wheel turns, and the #################### 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: 22 Context: a snorter. Don't waste a moment ingetting started. If you can bring Mr. Holmes, please do so; for he will find somethingafter his own heart. We would think the whole thing had been fixed up for theatricaleffect if there wasn't a dead man in the middle of it. My word! it is a snorter.""Your friend seems to be no fool," remarked Holmes."No, sir, White Mason is a very live man, if I am any judge.""Well, have you anything more?""Only that he will give us every detail when we meet.""Then how did you get at Mr. Douglas and the fact that he had been horriblymurdered?""That was in the enclosed official report. It didn't say 'horrible': that's not arecognized official term. It gave the name John Douglas. It mentioned that hisinjuries had been in the head, from the discharge of a shotgun. It also mentionedthe hour of the alarm, which was close on to midnight last night. It added that thecase was undoubtedly one of murder, but that no arrest had been made, and thatthe case was one which presented #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 23 Context: e roseupon the ruins of the feudal castle. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 23 Context: m the woods around. These woods are locally supposed to be the extremefringe of the great Weald forest, which thins away until it reaches the northernchalk downs. A number of small shops have come into being to meet the wantsof the increased population; so there seems some prospect that Birlstone maysoon grow from an ancient village into a modern town. It is the centre for aconsiderable area of country, since Tunbridge Wells, the nearest place ofimportance, is ten or twelve miles to the eastward, over the borders of Kent.About half a mile from the town, standing in an old park famous for its hugebeech trees, is the ancient Manor House of Birlstone. Part of this venerablebuilding dates back to the time of the first crusade, when Hugo de Capus built afortalice in the centre of the estate, which had been granted to him by the RedKing. This was destroyed by fire in 1543, and some of its smoke-blackenedcorner stones were used when, in Jacobean times, a brick country house roseupon the ruins #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 26 Context: was one of the family when thecatastrophe occurred.As to the other denizens of the old building, it will suffice out of a largehousehold to mention the prim, respectable, and capable Ames, and Mrs. Allen,a buxom and cheerful person, who relieved the lady of some of her householdcares. The other six servants in the house bear no relation to the events of thenight of January 6th.It was at eleven forty-five that the first alarm reached the small local policestation, in charge of Sergeant Wilson of the Sussex Constabulary. Cecil Barker,much excited, had rushed up to the door and pealed furiously upon the bell. Aterrible tragedy had occurred at the Manor House, and John Douglas had beenmurdered. That was the breathless burden of his message. He had hurried backto the house, followed within a few minutes by the police sergeant, who arrivedat the scene of the crime a little after twelve o'clock, after taking prompt steps towarn the county authorities that something serious was afoot.On reachi #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 27 Context: from the village. The three men entered the fatal room together, while the horror-stricken butler followed at their heels, closing the door behind him to shut outthe terrible scene from the maid servants.The dead man lay on his back, sprawling with outstretched limbs in thecentre of the room. He was clad only in a pink dressing gown, which covered hisnight clothes. There were carpet slippers on his bare feet. The doctor kneltbeside him and held down the hand lamp which had stood on the table. Oneglance at the victim was enough to show the healer that his presence could bedispensed with. The man had been horribly injured. Lying across his chest was acurious weapon, a shotgun with the barrel sawed off a foot in front of thetriggers. It was clear that this had been fired at close range and that he hadreceived the whole charge in the face, blowing his head almost to pieces. Thetriggers had been wired together, so as to make the simultaneous discharge moredestructive.The country policeman w #################### 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: glasses. "I never sawanything like it. The man has been branded at some time as they brand cattle.What is the meaning of this?""I don't profess to know the meaning of it," said Cecil Barker; "but I haveseen the mark on Douglas many times this last ten years." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 33 Context: ogether so that, if you pulled on the hinderone, both barrels were discharged. Whoever fixed that up had made up his mindthat he was going to take no chances of missing his man. The sawed gun was notmore than two foot long—one could carry it easily under one's coat. There wasno complete maker's name; but the printed letters P-E-N were on the flutingbetween the barrels, and the rest of the name had been cut off by the saw.""A big P with a flourish above it, E and N smaller?" asked Holmes."Exactly.""Pennsylvania Small Arms Company—well-known American firm," saidHolmes.White Mason gazed at my friend as the little village practitioner looks at theHarley Street specialist who by a word can solve the difficulties that perplexhim."That is very helpful, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right. Wonderful!Wonderful! Do you carry the names of all the gun makers in the world in yourmemory?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 33 Context: four this morning. My word! I made the old mare go! But I need not have beenin such a hurry, as it turned out; for there was nothing immediate that I could do.Sergeant Wilson had all the facts. I checked them and considered them andmaybe added a few of my own.""What were they?" asked Holmes eagerly."Well, I first had the hammer examined. There was Dr. Wood there to helpme. We found no signs of violence upon it. I was hoping that if Mr. Douglasdefended himself with the hammer, he might have left his mark upon themurderer before he dropped it on the mat. But there was no stain.""That, of course, proves nothing at all," remarked Inspector MacDonald."There has been many a hammer murder and no trace on the hammer.""Quite so. It doesn't prove it wasn't used. But there might have been stains,and that would have helped us. As a matter of fact there were none. Then Iexamined the gun. They were buckshot cartridges, and, as Sergeant Wilsonpointed out, the triggers were wired together so that, if #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 34 Context: he Manor House five years ago. He has never seen agun of this sort in the house.""The gun was made to conceal. That's why the barrels were sawed. It wouldfit into any box. How could he swear there was no such gun in the house?""Well, anyhow, he had never seen one."MacDonald shook his obstinate Scotch head. "I'm not convinced yet thatthere was ever anyone in the house," said he. "I'm asking you to conseedar" (hisaccent became more Aberdonian as he lost himself in his argument) "I'm askingyou to conseedar what it involves if you suppose that this gun was ever broughtinto the house, and that all these strange things were done by a person fromoutside. Oh, man, it's just inconceivable! It's clean against common sense! I putit to you, Mr. Holmes, judging it by what we have heard.""Well, state your case, Mr. Mac," said Holmes in his most judicial style. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 35 Context: inlyneeds a good deal of justification. May I ask, Mr. White Mason, whether youexamined the farther side of the moat at once to see if there were any signs of theman having climbed out from the water?""There were no signs, Mr. Holmes. But it is a stone ledge, and one couldhardly expect them.""No tracks or marks?""None.""Ha! Would there be any objection, Mr. White Mason, to our going down tothe house at once? There may possibly be some small point which might besuggestive.""I was going to propose it, Mr. Holmes; but I thought it well to put you intouch with all the facts before we go. I suppose if anything should strike you—"White Mason looked doubtfully at the amateur."I have worked with Mr. Holmes before," said Inspector MacDonald. "Heplays the game.""My own idea of the game, at any rate," said Holmes, with a smile. "I go intoa case to help the ends of justice and the work of the police. If I have everseparated myself from the official force, it is because they have first separatedthe #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 36 Context: time, Mr. White Mason, I claim the right to work in my own way and give myresults at my own time—complete rather than in stages.""I am sure we are honoured by your presence and to show you all we know,"said White Mason cordially. "Come along, Dr. Watson, and when the time comeswe'll all hope for a place in your book."We walked down the quaint village street with a row of pollarded elms oneach side of it. Just beyond were two ancient stone pillars, weather-stained andlichen-blotched bearing upon their summits a shapeless something which hadonce been the rampant lion of Capus of Birlstone. A short walk along thewinding drive with such sward and oaks around it as one only sees in ruralEngland, then a sudden turn, and the long, low Jacobean house of dingy, liver-coloured brick lay before us, with an old-fashioned garden of cut yews on eachside of it. As we approached it, there was the wooden drawbridge and thebeautiful broad moat as still and luminous as quicksilver in the cold, wintersuns #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 39 Context: on those lines. Mr. Douglas enters theroom. He puts down the candle. A man appears from behind the curtain. He isarmed with this gun. He demands the wedding ring—Heaven only knows why,but so it must have been. Mr. Douglas gave it up. Then either in cold blood or inthe course of a struggle—Douglas may have gripped the hammer that was foundupon the mat—he shot Douglas in this horrible way. He dropped his gun andalso it would seem this queer card—V. V. 341, whatever that may mean—and hemade his escape through the window and across the moat at the very momentwhen Cecil Barker was discovering the crime. How's that, Mr. Holmes?""Very interesting, but just a little unconvincing.""Man, it would be absolute nonsense if it wasn't that anything else is evenworse!" cried MacDonald. "Somebody killed the man, and whoever it was Icould clearly prove to you that he should have done it some other way. Whatdoes he mean by allowing his retreat to be cut off like that? What does he meanby using a shotgun #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 43 Context: Chapter 5The People Of the Drama"Have you seen all you want of the study?" asked White Mason as wereentered the house."For the time," said the inspector, and Holmes nodded."Then perhaps you would now like to hear the evidence of some of thepeople in the house. We could use the dining-room, Ames. Please come yourselffirst and tell us what you know."The butler's account was a simple and a clear one, and he gave a convincingimpression of sincerity. He had been engaged five years before, when Douglasfirst came to Birlstone. He understood that Mr. Douglas was a rich gentlemanwho had made his money in America. He had been a kind and considerateemployer—not quite what Ames was used to, perhaps; but one can't haveeverything. He never saw any signs of apprehension in Mr. Douglas: on thecontrary, he was the most fearless man he had ever known. He ordered thedrawbridge to be pulled up every night because it was the ancient custom of theold house, and he liked to keep the old ways up.Mr. Douglas s #################### 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: 52 Context: usual. 'Sometimes I think that we never shall,'he has answered.""Surely you asked him what he meant by the Valley of Fear?""I did; but his face would become very grave and he would shake his head. 'Itis bad enough that one of us should have been in its shadow,' he said. 'PleaseGod it shall never fall upon you!' It was some real valley in which he had livedand in which something terrible had occurred to him, of that I am certain; but Ican tell you no more.""And he never mentioned any names?""Yes, he was delirious with fever once when he had his hunting accident threeyears ago. Then I remember that there was a name that came continually to hislips. He spoke it with anger and a sort of horror. McGinty was the name—Bodymaster McGinty. I asked him when he recovered who BodymasterMcGinty was, and whose body he was master of. 'Never of mine, thank God!' heanswered with a laugh, and that was all I could get from him. But there is aconnection between Bodymaster McGinty and the Valley of Fear."" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 52 Context: he Valley of Fear.""There is one other point," said Inspector MacDonald. "You met Mr. Douglasin a boarding house in London, did you not, and became engaged to him there? #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 53 Context: Was there any romance, anything secret or mysterious, about the wedding?""There was romance. There is always romance. There was nothingmysterious.""He had no rival?""No, I was quite free.""You have heard, no doubt, that his wedding ring has been taken. Does thatsuggest anything to you? Suppose that some enemy of his old life had trackedhim down and committed this crime, what possible reason could he have fortaking his wedding ring?"For an instant I could have sworn that the faintest shadow of a smile flickeredover the woman's lips."I really cannot tell," she answered. "It is certainly a most extraordinarything.""Well, we will not detain you any longer, and we are sorry to have put you tothis trouble at such a time," said the inspector. "There are some other points, nodoubt; but we can refer to you as they arise."She rose, and I was again conscious of that quick, questioning glance withwhich she had just surveyed us. "What impression has my evidence made uponyou?" The question might as #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 55 Context: Holmes—what's the game?""Ay, what's the game?" my friend repeated thoughtfully.White Mason chuckled and rubbed his fat hands together in his professionalsatisfaction. "I said it was a snorter!" he cried. "And a real snorter it is!"Chapter 6A Dawning LightThe three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so Ireturned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn. But before doing so Itook a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house. Rows ofvery ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round. Inside was abeautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect sosoothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only assome fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstainedfigure on the floor. And yet, as I strolled round it and tried to steep my soul in itsgentle balm, a strange incident occurred, which b #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 58 Context: obviously impossible."You may argue—but I have too much respect for your judgment, Watson, tothink that you will do so—that the ring may have been taken before the man waskilled. The fact that the candle had been lit only a short time shows that therehad been no lengthy interview. Was Douglas, from what we hear of his fearlesscharacter, a man who would be likely to give up his wedding ring at such shortnotice, or could we conceive of his giving it up at all? No, no, Watson, theassassin was alone with the dead man for some time with the lamp lit. Of that I #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 58 Context: ud than as one who makes a consideredstatement."A lie, Watson—a great, big, thumping, obtrusive, uncompromising lie—that's what meets us on the threshold! There is our starting point. The wholestory told by Barker is a lie. But Barker's story is corroborated by Mrs. Douglas.Therefore she is lying also. They are both lying, and in a conspiracy. So now wehave the clear problem. Why are they lying, and what is the truth which they aretrying so hard to conceal? Let us try, Watson, you and I, if we can get behind thelie and reconstruct the truth."How do I know that they are lying? Because it is a clumsy fabrication whichsimply could not be true. Consider! According to the story given to us, theassassin had less than a minute after the murder had been committed to take thatring, which was under another ring, from the dead man's finger, to replace theother ring—a thing which he would surely never have done—and to put thatsingular card beside his victim. I say that this was obviously impossibl #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 60 Context: appalling directness about your questions, Watson," saidHolmes, shaking his pipe at me. "They come at me like bullets. If you put it thatMrs. Douglas and Barker know the truth about the murder, and are conspiring toconceal it, then I can give you a whole-souled answer. I am sure they do. Butyour more deadly proposition is not so clear. Let us for a moment consider thedifficulties which stand in the way."We will suppose that this couple are united by the bonds of a guilty love,and that they have determined to get rid of the man who stands between them. Itis a large supposition; for discreet inquiry among servants and others has failedto corroborate it in any way. On the contrary, there is a good deal of evidencethat the Douglases were very attached to each other.""That, I am sure, cannot be true." said I, thinking of the beautiful smiling facein the garden."Well at least they gave that impression. However, we will suppose that theyare an extraordinarily astute couple, who deceive every #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 60 Context: e, who deceive everyone upon this point, andconspire to murder the husband. He happens to be a man over whose head somedanger hangs—""We have only their word for that." #################### 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: se that there was a guilty secret, a really shameful secret in thelife of this man Douglas. This leads to his murder by someone who is, we willsuppose, an avenger, someone from outside. This avenger, for some reasonwhich I confess I am still at a loss to explain, took the dead man's wedding ring.The vendetta might conceivably date back to the man's first marriage, and the #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 61 Context: re for the slamming door. Whydid your guilty couple do all this, Watson?""I confess that I can't explain it.""Then again, if a woman and her lover conspire to murder a husband, are theygoing to advertise their guilt by ostentatiously removing his wedding ring afterhis death? Does that strike you as very probable, Watson?""No, it does not.""And once again, if the thought of leaving a bicycle concealed outside hadoccurred to you, would it really have seemed worth doing when the dullestdetective would naturally say this is an obvious blind, as the bicycle is the firstthing which the fugitive needed in order to make his escape.""I can conceive of no explanation.""And yet there should be no combination of events for which the wit of mancannot conceive an explanation. Simply as a mental exercise, without anyassertion that it is true, let me indicate a possible line of thought. It is, I admit,mere imagination; but how often is imagination the mother of truth?"We will suppose that there was a #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 62 Context: , Friend Watson. Well, we shall see. By the way, you have that bigumbrella of yours, have you not?""It is here." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 62 Context: ring be taken for some such reason."Before this avenger got away, Barker and the wife had reached the room.The assassin convinced them that any attempt to arrest him would lead to thepublication of some hideous scandal. They were converted to this idea, andpreferred to let him go. For this purpose they probably lowered the bridge, whichcan be done quite noiselessly, and then raised it again. He made his escape, andfor some reason thought that he could do so more safely on foot than on thebicycle. He therefore left his machine where it would not be discovered until hehad got safely away. So far we are within the bounds of possibility, are we not?""Well, it is possible, no doubt," said I, with some reserve."We have to remember, Watson, that whatever occurred is certainlysomething very extraordinary. Well, now, to continue our supposititious case, thecouple—not necessarily a guilty couple—realize after the murderer is gone thatthey have placed themselves in a position in which it may be d #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 64 Context: e have it so far as they couldgive it. They don't seem to have taken any very particular stock of him; but stillthe porter, the clerk, and the chambermaid are all agreed that this about coversthe points. He was a man about five foot nine in height, fifty or so years of age,his hair slightly grizzled, a grayish moustache, a curved nose, and a face whichall of them described as fierce and forbidding.""Well, bar the expression, that might almost be a description of Douglashimself," said Holmes. "He is just over fifty, with grizzled hair and moustache,and about the same height. Did you get anything else?""He was dressed in a heavy gray suit with a reefer jacket, and he wore a shortyellow overcoat and a soft cap.""What about the shotgun?""It is less than two feet long. It could very well have fitted into his valise. Hecould have carried it inside his overcoat without difficulty.""And how do you consider that all this bears upon the general case?""Well, Mr. Holmes," said MacDonald, "when we #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 64 Context: "That may or may not be. But let us hear the end, Mr. Mac. Was there nothingto identify this man?""So little that it was evident that he had carefully guarded himself againstidentification. There were no papers or letters, and no marking upon the clothes.A cycle map of the county lay on his bedroom table. He had left the hotel afterbreakfast yesterday morning on his bicycle, and no more was heard of him untilour inquiries.""That's what puzzles me, Mr. Holmes," said White Mason. "If the fellow didnot want the hue and cry raised over him, one would imagine that he would havereturned and remained at the hotel as an inoffensive tourist. As it is, he mustknow that he will be reported to the police by the hotel manager and that hisdisappearance will be connected with the murder.""So one would imagine. Still, he has been justified of his wisdom up to date,at any rate, since he has not been taken. But his description—what of that?"MacDonald referred to his notebook. "Here we have it so far as #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 64 Context: MacDonald, "when we have got our man—and you #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 70 Context: "Ah, there we come to the edge of the unexplored. Let me go a little further, avery little further, and I will promise that you shall share everything that Iknow.""Well, we're bound to take you on your own terms," said the inspector; "butwhen it comes to telling us to abandon the case—why in the name of goodnessshould we abandon the case?""For the simple reason, my dear Mr. Mac, that you have not got the first ideawhat it is that you are investigating.""We are investigating the murder of Mr. John Douglas of Birlstone Manor.""Yes, yes, so you are. But don't trouble to trace the mysterious gentlemanupon the bicycle. I assure you that it won't help you.""Then what do you suggest that we do?""I will tell you exactly what to do, if you will do it.""Well, I'm bound to say I've always found you had reason behind all yourqueer ways. I'll do what you advise.""And you, Mr. White Mason?"The country detective looked helplessly from one to the other. Holmes andhis methods were new to him. "Well, if #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 73 Context: taccusation, the brutal tap upon the shoulder—what can one make of such adenouement? But the quick inference, the subtle trap, the clever forecast ofcoming events, the triumphant vindication of bold theories—are these not thepride and the justification of our life's work? At the present moment you thrillwith the glamour of the situation and the anticipation of the hunt. Where wouldbe that thrill if I had been as definite as a timetable? I only ask a little patience,Mr. Mac, and all will be clear to you.""Well, I hope the pride and justification and the rest of it will come before weall get our death of cold," said the London detective with comic resignation.We all had good reason to join in the aspiration; for our vigil was a long andbitter one. Slowly the shadows darkened over the long, sombre face of the oldhouse. A cold, damp reek from the moat chilled us to the bones and set our teethchattering. There was a single lamp over the gateway and a steady globe of lightin the fatal study. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 74 Context: "I have no more notion than you how long it is to last," Holmes answeredwith some asperity. "If criminals would always schedule their movements likerailway trains, it would certainly be more convenient for all of us. As to what itis we—Well, that's what we are watching for!"As he spoke the bright, yellow light in the study was obscured by somebodypassing to and fro before it. The laurels among which we lay were immediatelyopposite the window and not more than a hundred feet from it. Presently it wasthrown open with a whining of hinges, and we could dimly see the dark outlineof a man's head and shoulders looking out into the gloom. For some minutes hepeered forth in furtive, stealthy fashion, as one who wishes to be assured that heis unobserved. Then he leaned forward, and in the intense silence we were awareof the soft lapping of agitated water. He seemed to be stirring up the moat withsomething which he held in his hand. Then suddenly he hauled something in as afisherman lands a fish— #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 79 Context: nd waiting for me. But when I mademy round in my dressing gown, as was my habit, I had no sooner entered thestudy than I scented danger. I guess when a man has had dangers in his life—andI've had more than most in my time—there is a kind of sixth sense that waves thered flag. I saw the signal clear enough, and yet I couldn't tell you why. Nextinstant I spotted a boot under the window curtain, and then I saw why plainenough."I'd just the one candle that was in my hand; but there was a good light fromthe hall lamp through the open door. I put down the candle and jumped for a #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 79 Context: e took her hand for aninstant in his own, "and I acted for the best."Well, gentlemen, the day before these happenings I was over in TunbridgeWells, and I got a glimpse of a man in the street. It was only a glimpse; but Ihave a quick eye for these things, and I never doubted who it was. It was theworst enemy I had among them all—one who has been after me like a hungrywolf after a caribou all these years. I knew there was trouble coming, and I camehome and made ready for it. I guessed I'd fight through it all right on my own,my luck was a proverb in the States about '76. I never doubted that it would bewith me still."I was on my guard all that next day, and never went out into the park. It's aswell, or he'd have had the drop on me with that buckshot gun of his before ever Icould draw on him. After the bridge was up—my mind was always more restfulwhen that bridge was up in the evenings—I put the thing clear out of my head. Inever dreamed of his getting into the house and waiting for me. B #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 80 Context: hammer that I'd left on the mantel. At the same moment he sprang at me. I sawthe glint of a knife, and I lashed at him with the hammer. I got him somewhere;for the knife tinkled down on the floor. He dodged round the table as quick as aneel, and a moment later he'd got his gun from under his coat. I heard him cock it;but I had got hold of it before he could fire. I had it by the barrel, and wewrestled for it all ends up for a minute or more. It was death to the man that losthis grip."He never lost his grip; but he got it butt downward for a moment too long.Maybe it was I that pulled the trigger. Maybe we just jolted it off between us.Anyhow, he got both barrels in the face, and there I was, staring down at all thatwas left of Ted Baldwin. I'd recognized him in the township, and again when hesprang for me; but his own mother wouldn't recognize him as I saw him then.I'm used to rough work; but I fairly turned sick at the sight of him."I was hanging on the side of the table when Barker ca #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 82 Context: a time, far from the Sussex Manor House of Birlstone, and far also from the yearof grace in which we made our eventful journey which ended with the strangestory of the man who had been known as John Douglas. I wish you to journeyback some twenty years in time, and westward some thousands of miles inspace, that I may lay before you a singular and terrible narrative—so singularand so terrible that you may find it hard to believe that even as I tell it, even sodid it occur.Do not think that I intrude one story before another is finished. As you readon you will find that this is not so. And when I have detailed those distant eventsand you have solved this mystery of the past, we shall meet once more in thoserooms on Baker Street, where this, like so many other wonderful happenings,will find its end. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 83 Context: PART 2 #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 85 Context: Several women of the labouring class and one or two travellers who mighthave been small local storekeepers made up the rest of the company, with theexception of one young man in a corner by himself. It is with this man that weare concerned. Take a good look at him, for he is worth it.He is a fresh-complexioned, middle-sized young man, not far, one wouldguess, from his thirtieth year. He has large, shrewd, humorous gray eyes whichtwinkle inquiringly from time to time as he looks round through his spectacles atthe people about him. It is easy to see that he is of a sociable and possibly simpledisposition, anxious to be friendly to all men. Anyone could pick him at once asgregarious in his habits and communicative in his nature, with a quick wit and aready smile. And yet the man who studied him more closely might discern acertain firmness of jaw and grim tightness about the lips which would warn himthat there were depths beyond, and that this pleasant, brown-haired youngIrishman might con #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 88 Context: e you before we part: If you're in trouble in Vermissa, go straight tothe Union House and see Boss McGinty. He is the Bodymaster of VermissaLodge, and nothing can happen in these parts unless Black Jack McGinty wantsit. So long, mate! Maybe we'll meet in lodge one of these evenings. But mind mywords: If you are in trouble, go to Boss McGinty."Scanlan descended, and McMurdo was left once again to his thoughts. Nighthad now fallen, and the flames of the frequent furnaces were roaring and leapingin the darkness. Against their lurid background dark figures were bending andstraining, twisting and turning, with the motion of winch or of windlass, to therhythm of an eternal clank and roar."I guess hell must look something like that," said a voice. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 90 Context: am a stranger in theseparts?" #################### 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: 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: e cried. "Will you ruin your life and my own for thesake of this promise? Follow your heart, acushla! 'Tis a safer guide than any #################### 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: 100 Context: sonable—be kind! For my sake, Ted, if ever you loved me,be big-hearted and forgiving!""I think, Ettie, that if you were to leave us alone we could get this thingsettled," said McMurdo quietly. "Or maybe, Mr. Baldwin, you will take a turndown the street with me. It's a fine evening, and there's some open groundbeyond the next block.""I'll get even with you without needing to dirty my hands," said his enemy."You'll wish you had never set foot in this house before I am through with you!" #################### 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: into paying public blackmail, and holding his tongue lest some worsething befall him.Thus it was that, year by year, Boss McGinty's diamond pins became moreobtrusive, his gold chains more weighty across a more gorgeous vest, and hissaloon stretched farther and farther, until it threatened to absorb one whole sideof the Market Square.McMurdo pushed open the swinging door of the saloon and made his wayamid the crowd of men within, through an atmosphere blurred with tobaccosmoke and heavy with the smell of spirits. The place was brilliantly lighted, andthe huge, heavily gilt mirrors upon every wall reflected and multiplied the garishillumination. There were several bartenders in their shirt sleeves, hard at workmixing drinks for the loungers who fringed the broad, brass-trimmed counter.At the far end, with his body resting upon the bar and a cigar stuck at anacute angle from the corner of his mouth, stood a tall, strong, heavily built manwho could be none other than the famous McGinty hi #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 102 Context: The bar of McGinty's saloon was crowded as usual, for it was the favouriteloafing place of all the rougher elements of the town. The man was popular; forhe had a rough, jovial disposition which formed a mask, covering a great dealwhich lay behind it. But apart from this popularity, the fear in which he was heldthroughout the township, and indeed down the whole thirty miles of the valleyand past the mountains on each side of it, was enough in itself to fill his bar; fornone could afford to neglect his good will.Besides those secret powers which it was universally believed that heexercised in so pitiless a fashion, he was a high public official, a municipalcouncillor, and a commissioner of roads, elected to the office through the votesof the ruffians who in turn expected to receive favours at his hands. Assessmentsand taxes were enormous; the public works were notoriously neglected, theaccounts were slurred over by bribed auditors, and the decent citizen wasterrorized into paying public #################### 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: 106 Context: "You wouldn't squeal on a fellow?" said he."I'll wipe my hand across your face if you say such words to me!" criedMcGinty hotly."You are right, Councillor," said McMurdo meekly. "I should apologize. Ispoke without thought. Well, I know that I am safe in your hands. Look at thatclipping."McGinty glanced his eyes over the account of the shooting of one JonasPinto, in the Lake Saloon, Market Street, Chicago, in the New Year week of1874."Your work?" he asked, as he handed back the paper.McMurdo nodded."Why did you shoot him?""I was helping Uncle Sam to make dollars. Maybe mine were not as goodgold as his, but they looked as well and were cheaper to make. This man Pintohelped me to shove the queer—""To do what?""Well, it means to pass the dollars out into circulation. Then he said he wouldsplit. Maybe he did split. I didn't wait to see. I just killed him and lighted out forthe coal country.""Why the coal country?""'Cause I'd read in the papers that they weren't too particular in those parts #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 108 Context: "Tut! Tut!" said McGinty, getting off his barrel. "This will never do. We havea new brother here, Baldwin, and it's not for us to greet him in such fashion.Hold out your hand, man, and make it up!""Never!" cried Baldwin in a fury."I've offered to fight him if he thinks I have wronged him," said McMurdo."I'll fight him with fists, or, if that won't satisfy him, I'll fight him any other wayhe chooses. Now, I'll leave it to you, Councillor, to judge between us as aBodymaster should.""What is it, then?""A young lady. She's free to choose for herself.""Is she?" cried Baldwin."As between two brothers of the lodge I should say that she was," said theBoss."Oh, that's your ruling, is it?""Yes, it is, Ted Baldwin," said McGinty, with a wicked stare. "Is it you thatwould dispute it?""You would throw over one that has stood by you this five years in favour ofa man that you never saw before in your life? You're not Bodymaster for life,Jack McGinty, and by God! when next it comes to a vote—"The Coun #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 110 Context: "I have nothing against you," mumbled Baldwin, feeling his throat."Well, then," cried the other, relapsing in a moment into a bluff joviality, "weare all good friends again and there's an end of the matter."He took a bottle of champagne down from the shelf and twisted out the cork."See now," he continued, as he filled three high glasses. "Let us drink thequarrelling toast of the lodge. After that, as you know, there can be no bad bloodbetween us. Now, then the left hand on the apple of my throat. I say to you, TedBaldwin, what is the offense, sir?""The clouds are heavy," answered Baldwin"But they will forever brighten.""And this I swear!"The men drank their glasses, and the same ceremony was performed betweenBaldwin and McMurdo."There!" cried McGinty, rubbing his hands. "That's the end of the blackblood. You come under lodge discipline if it goes further, and that's a heavy handin these parts, as Brother Baldwin knows—and as you will damn soon find out,Brother McMurdo, if you ask for t #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 111 Context: have to be affiliated to Lodge 341, Brother McMurdo. We have our own waysand methods, different from Chicago. Saturday night is our meeting, and if youcome then, we'll make you free forever of the Vermissa Valley."Chapter 3Lodge 341, VermissaOn the day following the evening which had contained so many excitingevents, McMurdo moved his lodgings from old Jacob Shafter's and took up hisquarters at the Widow MacNamara's on the extreme outskirts of the town.Scanlan, his original acquaintance aboard the train, had occasion shortlyafterwards to move into Vermissa, and the two lodged together. There was noother boarder, and the hostess was an easy-going old Irishwoman who left themto themselves; so that they had a freedom for speech and action welcome to menwho had secrets in common.Shafter had relented to the extent of letting McMurdo come to his meals therewhen he liked; so that his intercourse with Ettie was by no means broken. On thecontrary, it drew closer and more intimate as the weeks w #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 111 Context: imate as the weeks went by.In his bedroom at his new abode McMurdo felt it safe to take out the coiningmoulds, and under many a pledge of secrecy a number of brothers from thelodge were allowed to come in and see them, each carrying away in his pocketsome examples of the false money, so cunningly struck that there was never theslightest difficulty or danger in passing it. Why, with such a wonderful art at hiscommand, McMurdo should condescend to work at all was a perpetual mysteryto his companions; though he made it clear to anyone who asked him that if helived without any visible means it would very quickly bring the police upon histrack.One policeman was indeed after him already; but the incident, as luck wouldhave it, did the adventurer a great deal more good than harm. After the firstintroduction there were few evenings when he did not find his way to McGinty'ssaloon, there to make closer acquaintance with "the boys," which was the jovial #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 112 Context: n enrolled himselfamong his customers."A straight whisky, for the night is bitter," said the police officer. "I don'tthink we have met before, Councillor?""You'll be the new captain?" said McGinty."That's so. We're looking to you, Councillor, and to the other leading citizens,to help us in upholding law and order in this township. Captain Marvin is myname.""We'd do better without you, Captain Marvin," said McGinty coldly; "for wehave our own police of the township, and no need for any imported goods. Whatare you but the paid tool of the capitalists, hired by them to club or shoot yourpoorer fellow citizen?""Well, well, we won't argue about that," said the police officer good-humouredly. "I expect we all do our duty same as we see it; but we can't all see itthe same." He had drunk off his glass and had turned to go, when his eyes fellupon the face of Jack McMurdo, who was scowling at his elbow. "Hullo! Hullo!"he cried, looking him up and down. "Here's an old acquaintance!"McMurdo shrank #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 114 Context: He left the bar-room; but not before he had created a local hero. McMurdo'sdeeds in far Chicago had been whispered before. He had put off all questionswith a smile, as one who did not wish to have greatness thrust upon him. Butnow the thing was officially confirmed. The bar loafers crowded round him andshook him heartily by the hand. He was free of the community from that timeon. He could drink hard and show little trace of it; but that evening, had his mateScanlan not been at hand to lead him home, the feted hero would surely havespent his night under the bar.On a Saturday night McMurdo was introduced to the lodge. He had thoughtto pass in without ceremony as being an initiate of Chicago; but there wereparticular rites in Vermissa of which they were proud, and these had to beundergone by every postulant. The assembly met in a large room reserved forsuch purposes at the Union House. Some sixty members assembled at Vermissa;but that by no means represented the full strength of the organ #################### 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: 116 Context: "Is your lodge No. 29, Chicago?"He bowed again."Dark nights are unpleasant," said the voice."Yes, for strangers to travel," he answered."The clouds are heavy.""Yes, a storm is approaching.""Are the brethren satisfied?" asked the Bodymaster.There was a general murmur of assent."We know, Brother, by your sign and by your countersign that you are indeedone of us," said McGinty. "We would have you know, however, that in thiscounty and in other counties of these parts we have certain rites, and also certainduties of our own which call for good men. Are you ready to be tested?""I am.""Are you of stout heart?""I am.""Take a stride forward to prove it."As the words were said he felt two hard points in front of his eyes, pressingupon them so that it appeared as if he could not move forward without a dangerof losing them. None the less, he nerved himself to step resolutely out, and as hedid so the pressure melted away. There was a low murmur of applause."He is of stout heart," said the voice. "C #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 118 Context: t, youwon't be wrong. And you, Wilson.""I've no pistol," said the volunteer, a mere boy in his teens."It's your first, is it not? Well, you have to be blooded some time. It will be agreat start for you. As to the pistol, you'll find it waiting for you, or I'mmistaken. If you report yourselves on Monday, it will be time enough. You'll geta great welcome when you return.""Any reward this time?" asked Cormac, a thick-set, dark-faced, brutal-looking young man, whose ferocity had earned him the nickname of "Tiger.""Never mind the reward. You just do it for the honour of the thing. Maybewhen it is done there will be a few odd dollars at the bottom of the box.""What has the man done?" asked young Wilson."Sure, it's not for the likes of you to ask what the man has done. He has beenjudged over there. That's no business of ours. All we have to do is to carry it out #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 122 Context: ocket."LAW AND ORDER!That's how he heads it."REIGN OF TERROR IN THE COAL AND IRON DISTRICT"Twelve years have now elapsed since the first assassinations which proved theexistence of a criminal organization in our midst. From that day these outrages havenever ceased, until now they have reached a pitch which makes us the opprobrium of #################### 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: 123 Context: here will come a point where in self-defense every man will unite to crushus out. James Stanger is an old man. He is respected in the township and thedistrict. His paper stands for all that is solid in the valley. If that man is struckdown, there will be a stir through this state that will only end with ourdestruction.""And how would they bring about our destruction, Mr. Standback?" criedMcGinty. "Is it by the police? Sure, half of them are in our pay and half of themafraid of us. Or is it by the law courts and the judge? Haven't we tried that beforenow, and what ever came of it?""There is a Judge Lynch that might try the case," said Brother Morris.A general shout of anger greeted the suggestion."I have but to raise my finger," cried McGinty, "and I could put two hundredmen into this town that would clear it out from end to end." Then suddenlyraising his voice and bending his huge black brows into a terrible frown, "Seehere, Brother Morris, I have my eye on you, and have had for some t #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 123 Context: have had for some time! You'veno heart yourself, and you try to take the heart out of others. It will be an ill dayfor you, Brother Morris, when your own name comes on our agenda paper, andI'm thinking that it's just there that I ought to place it."Morris had turned deadly pale, and his knees seemed to give way under himas he fell back into his chair. He raised his glass in his trembling hand and drank #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 124 Context: dwin?""Sure!" said the young man eagerly."How many will you take?""Half a dozen, and two to guard the door. You'll come, Gower, and you,Mansel, and you, Scanlan, and the two Willabys.""I promised the new brother he should go," said the chairman.Ted Baldwin looked at McMurdo with eyes which showed that he had notforgotten nor forgiven. "Well, he can come if he wants," he said in a surly voice."That's enough. The sooner we get to work the better."The company broke up with shouts and yells and snatches of drunken song.The bar was still crowded with revellers, and many of the brethren remainedthere. The little band who had been told off for duty passed out into the street,proceeding in twos and threes along the sidewalk so as not to provoke attention.It was a bitterly cold night, with a half-moon shining brilliantly in a frosty, star-spangled sky. The men stopped and gathered in a yard which faced a highbuilding. The words "Vermissa Herald" were printed in gold lettering betweenthe brightl #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 125 Context: oaction. Leaving the limp and motionless body of the editor at the head of thestair, the criminals rushed down and made their way swiftly along the street.Having reached the Union House, some of them mixed with the crowd inMcGinty's saloon, whispering across the bar to the Boss that the job had been #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 126 Context: en wererecognized, and there is hope that a conviction may be obtained. The source of theoutrage was, it need hardly be said, that infamous society which has held thiscommunity in bondage for so long a period, and against which the Herald has taken souncompromising a stand. Mr. Stanger's many friends will rejoice to hear that, thoughhe has been cruelly and brutally beaten, and though he has sustained severe injuriesabout the head, there is no immediate danger to his life.Below it stated that a guard of police, armed with Winchester rifles, had beenrequisitioned for the defense of the office.McMurdo had laid down the paper, and was lighting his pipe with a handwhich was shaky from the excesses of the previous evening, when there was aknock outside, and his landlady brought to him a note which had just been #################### 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: 130 Context: I did not it would be out of my house that they would come next with theirbloody hands and it would be my little Fred that would be screaming for hisfather."But I was a criminal then, part sharer in a murder, lost forever in this world,and lost also in the next. I am a good Catholic; but the priest would have noword with me when he heard I was a Scowrer, and I am excommunicated frommy faith. That's how it stands with me. And I see you going down the same road,and I ask you what the end is to be. Are you ready to be a cold-blooded murdereralso, or can we do anything to stop it?""What would you do?" asked McMurdo abruptly. "You would not inform?""God forbid!" cried Morris. "Sure, the very thought would cost me my life.""That's well," said McMurdo. "I'm thinking that you are a weak man and thatyou make too much of the matter.""Too much! Wait till you have lived here longer. Look down the valley! Seethe cloud of a hundred chimneys that overshadows it! I tell you that the cloud ofmurder han #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 133 Context: spoken with Morris at all?"McGinty laughed. "It's my business to know what goes on in this township,"said he. "I guess you'd best reckon on my hearing all that passes. Well, time's up,and I'll just say—"But his leavetaking was cut short in a very unexpected fashion. With asudden crash the door flew open, and three frowning, intent faces glared in atthem from under the peaks of police caps. McMurdo sprang to his feet and halfdrew his revolver; but his arm stopped midway as he became conscious that twoWinchester rifles were levelled at his head. A man in uniform advanced into theroom, a six-shooter in his hand. It was Captain Marvin, once of Chicago, andnow of the Mine Constabulary. He shook his head with a half-smile atMcMurdo."I thought you'd be getting into trouble, Mr. Crooked McMurdo of Chicago,"said he. "Can't keep out of it, can you? Take your hat and come along with us.""I guess you'll pay for this, Captain Marvin," said McGinty. "Who are you, I'dlike to know, to break into a hou #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 134 Context: "You do what you think is your duty the best way you can, Councillor. We'lllook after ours.""What am I accused of?" asked McMurdo."Of being concerned in the beating of old Editor Stanger at the Herald office.It wasn't your fault that it isn't a murder charge.""Well, if that's all you have against him," cried McGinty with a laugh, "youcan save yourself a deal of trouble by dropping it right now. This man was withme in my saloon playing poker up to midnight, and I can bring a dozen to proveit.""That's your affair, and I guess you can settle it in court to-morrow.Meanwhile, come on, McMurdo, and come quietly if you don't want a gunacross your head. You stand wide, Mr. McGinty; for I warn you I will stand noresistance when I am on duty!"So determined was the appearance of the captain that both McMurdo and hisboss were forced to accept the situation. The latter managed to have a fewwhispered words with the prisoner before they parted."What about—" he jerked his thumb upward to signify the c #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 137 Context: hichhad never before intruded into her gentle life."It's you!" said he, mopping his brow. "And to think that you should come tome, heart of my heart, and I should find nothing better to do than to want tostrangle you! Come then, darling," and he held out his arms, "let me make it upto you."But she had not recovered from that sudden glimpse of guilty fear which shehad read in the man's face. All her woman's instinct told her that it was not themere fright of a man who is startled. Guilt—that was it—guilt and fear!"What's come over you, Jack?" she cried. "Why were you so scared of me?Oh, Jack, if your conscience was at ease, you would not have looked at me likethat!""Sure, I was thinking of other things, and when you came tripping so lightlyon those fairy feet of yours—""No, no, it was more than that, Jack." Then a sudden suspicion seized her."Let me see that letter you were writing.""Ah, Ettie, I couldn't do that."Her suspicions became certainties. "It's to another woman," she cried. "I #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 138 Context: know that you are a criminal amongcriminals, when I never know the day that I may hear you are in court formurder? 'McMurdo the Scowrer,' that's what one of our boarders called youyesterday. It went through my heart like a knife.""Sure, hard words break no bones.""But they were true.""Well, dear, it's not so bad as you think. We are but poor men that are tryingin our own way to get our rights."Ettie threw her arms round her lover's neck. "Give it up, Jack! For my sake,for God's sake, give it up! It was to ask you that I came here to-day. Oh, Jack,see—I beg it of you on my bended knees! Kneeling here before you I imploreyou to give it up!" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 139 Context: valley so named," said he. "The shadow does indeed seem to lie heavyon some of you.""It darkens every moment of our lives. Do you suppose that Ted Baldwin hasever forgiven us? If it were not that he fears you, what do you suppose ourchances would be? If you saw the look in those dark, hungry eyes of his whenthey fall on me!""By Gar! I'd teach him better manners if I caught him at it! But see here, littlegirl. I can't leave here. I can't—take that from me once and for all. But if youwill leave me to find my own way, I will try to prepare a way of gettinghonourably out of it.""There is no honour in such a matter.""Well, well, it's just how you look at it. But if you'll give me six months, I'llwork it so that I can leave without being ashamed to look others in the face."The girl laughed with joy. "Six months!" she cried. "Is it a promise?" #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 139 Context: He raised her and soothed her with her head against his breast."Sure, my darlin', you don't know what it is you are asking. How could I giveit up when it would be to break my oath and to desert my comrades? If youcould see how things stand with me you could never ask it of me. Besides, if Iwanted to, how could I do it? You don't suppose that the lodge would let a mango free with all its secrets?""I've thought of that, Jack. I've planned it all. Father has saved some money.He is weary of this place where the fear of these people darkens our lives. He isready to go. We would fly together to Philadelphia or New York, where wewould be safe from them."McMurdo laughed. "The lodge has a long arm. Do you think it could notstretch from here to Philadelphia or New York?""Well, then, to the West, or to England, or to Germany, where father camefrom—anywhere to get away from this Valley of Fear!"McMurdo thought of old Brother Morris. "Sure, it is the second time I haveheard the valley so named," sa #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 140 Context: "Well, it may be seven or eight. But within a year at the furthest we will leavethe valley behind us."It was the most that Ettie could obtain, and yet it was something. There wasthis distant light to illuminate the gloom of the immediate future. She returned toher father's house more light-hearted than she had ever been since JackMcMurdo had come into her life.It might be thought that as a member, all the doings of the society would betold to him; but he was soon to discover that the organization was wider andmore complex than the simple lodge. Even Boss McGinty was ignorant as tomany things; for there was an official named the County Delegate, living atHobson's Patch farther down the line, who had power over several differentlodges which he wielded in a sudden and arbitrary way. Only once did McMurdosee him, a sly, little gray-haired rat of a man, with a slinking gait and a sidelongglance which was charged with malice. Evans Pott was his name, and even thegreat Boss of Vermissa felt t #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 140 Context: with his soft felt hat and ragged, grizzled beard gave him a generalresemblance to an itinerant preacher. His companion Andrews was little morethan a boy, frank-faced and cheerful, with the breezy manner of one who is outfor a holiday and means to enjoy every minute of it. Both men were totalabstainers, and behaved in all ways as exemplary members of the society, withthe one simple exception that they were assassins who had often provedthemselves to be most capable instruments for this association of murder. Lawlerhad already carried out fourteen commissions of the kind, and Andrews three. #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 145 Context: There had been one contretemps; for a man and his wife had driven up whilethey were still emptying their revolvers into the silent body. It had beensuggested that they should shoot them both; but they were harmless folk whowere not connected with the mines, so they were sternly bidden to drive on andkeep silent, lest a worse thing befall them. And so the blood-mottled figure hadbeen left as a warning to all such hard-hearted employers, and the three nobleavengers had hurried off into the mountains where unbroken nature comes downto the very edge of the furnaces and the slag heaps. Here they were, safe andsound, their work well done, and the plaudits of their companions in their ears.It had been a great day for the Scowrers. The shadow had fallen even darkerover the valley. But as the wise general chooses the moment of victory in whichto redouble his efforts, so that his foes may have no time to steady themselvesafter disaster, so Boss McGinty, looking out upon the scene of his operatio #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 145 Context: sergeant of the war, all scars and grizzle. We've had two tries at him; buthad no luck, and Jim Carnaway lost his life over it. Now it's for you to take itover. That's the house—all alone at the Iron Dike crossroad, same as you seehere on the map—without another within earshot. It's no good by day. He's #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 146 Context: armed and shoots quick and straight, with no questions asked. But at night—well, there he is with his wife, three children, and a hired help. You can't pick orchoose. It's all or none. If you could get a bag of blasting powder at the frontdoor with a slow match to it—""What's the man done?""Didn't I tell you he shot Jim Carnaway?""Why did he shoot him?""What in thunder has that to do with you? Carnaway was about his house atnight, and he shot him. That's enough for me and you. You've got to settle thething right.""There's these two women and the children. Do they go up too?""They have to—else how can we get him?""It seems hard on them; for they've done nothing.""What sort of fool's talk is this? Do you back out?""Easy, Councillor, easy! What have I ever said or done that you should think Iwould be after standing back from an order of the Bodymaster of my own lodge?If it's right or if it's wrong, it's for you to decide.""You'll do it, then?""Of course I will do it.""When?""Well, you had #################### 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: 150 Context: s, is operating. Thething has got to be stopped right now."Now read the postscript." #################### 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: 154 Context: nd discussed, than that a blowshould fall upon us without warning which would destroy us all. I haveinformation that the most powerful and richest organizations in this state havebound themselves together for our destruction, and that at this very momentthere is a Pinkerton detective, one Birdy Edwards, at work in the valleycollecting the evidence which may put a rope round the necks of many of us, andsend every man in this room into a felon's cell. That is the situation for thediscussion of which I have made a claim of urgency."There was a dead silence in the room. It was broken by the chairman."What is your evidence for this, Brother McMurdo?" he asked."It is in this letter which has come into my hands," said McMurdo. He readthe passage aloud. "It is a matter of honour with me that I can give no furtherparticulars about the letter, nor put it into your hands; but I assure you that thereis nothing else in it which can affect the interests of the lodge. I put the casebefore you as it h #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 154 Context: sebefore you as it has reached me." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 158 Context: e in their power, they would find a way to make him speak. It was not thefirst time that they had handled an unwilling witness.McMurdo went to Hobson's Patch as agreed. The police seemed to takeparticular interest in him that morning, and Captain Marvin—he who hadclaimed the old acquaintance with him at Chicago—actually addressed him as hewaited at the station. McMurdo turned away and refused to speak with him. Hewas back from his mission in the afternoon, and saw McGinty at the UnionHouse."He is coming," he said."Good!" said McGinty. The giant was in his shirt sleeves, with chains andseals gleaming athwart his ample waistcoat and a diamond twinkling through thefringe of his bristling beard. Drink and politics had made the Boss a very rich aswell as powerful man. The more terrible, therefore, seemed that glimpse of theprison or the gallows which had risen before him the night before. #################### 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: me to stand between him and you.""I'll fix the old devil!" said McGinty with an oath. "I've had my eye on himthis year past.""Well, you know best about that," McMurdo answered. "But whatever you domust be to-morrow; for we must lie low until the Pinkerton affair is settled up.We can't afford to set the police buzzing, to-day of all days.""True for you," said McGinty. "And we'll learn from Birdy Edwards himselfwhere he got his news if we have to cut his heart out first. Did he seem to scent atrap?"McMurdo laughed. "I guess I took him on his weak point," he said. "If hecould get on a good trail of the Scowrers, he's ready to follow it into hell. I tookhis money," McMurdo grinned as he produced a wad of dollar notes, "and asmuch more when he has seen all my papers.""What papers?""Well, there are no papers. But I filled him up about constitutions and booksof rules and forms of membership. He expects to get right down to the end ofeverything before he leaves." #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 160 Context: but the next step wants considering. He's a hard proposition. He'sheavily armed. I've fooled him proper, and yet he is likely to be on his guard.Suppose I show him right into a room with seven men in it where he expected tofind me alone. There is going to be shooting, and somebody is going to be hurt.""That's so.""And the noise is going to bring every damned copper in the township on topof it.""I guess you are right.""This is how I should work it. You will all be in the big room—same as yousaw when you had a chat with me. I'll open the door for him, show him into theparlour beside the door, and leave him there while I get the papers. That willgive me the chance of telling you how things are shaping. Then I will go back tohim with some faked papers. As he is reading them I will jump for him and getmy grip on his pistol arm. You'll hear me call and in you will rush. The quickerthe better; for he is as strong a man as I, and I may have more than I can manage.But I allow that I can hold h #################### 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: 164 Context: s. When Ireached this place I learned that I was wrong and that it wasn't a dime novel afterall. So I stayed to look after it. I never killed a man in Chicago. I never minted adollar in my life. Those I gave you were as good as any others; but I never spentmoney better. But I knew the way into your good wishes and so I pretended toyou that the law was after me. It all worked just as I thought."So I joined your infernal lodge, and I took my share in your councils. Maybe #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 164 Context: of Captain Marvin of the Mine Police gleaming behind the sights. The Bossrecoiled and fell back into his chair."You're safer there, Councillor," said the man whom they had known asMcMurdo. "And you, Baldwin, if you don't take your hand off your pistol, you'llcheat the hangman yet. Pull it out, or by the Lord that made me—There, that willdo. There are forty armed men round this house, and you can figure it out foryourself what chance you have. Take their pistols, Marvin!"There was no possible resistance under the menace of those rifles. The menwere disarmed. Sulky, sheepish, and amazed, they still sat round the table."I'd like to say a word to you before we separate," said the man who hadtrapped them. "I guess we may not meet again until you see me on the stand inthe courthouse. I'll give you something to think over between now and then. Youknow me now for what I am. At last I can put my cards on the table. I am BirdyEdwards of Pinkerton's. I was chosen to break up your gang. I had a ha #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 165 Context: they will say that I was as bad as you. They can say what they like, so long as Iget you. But what is the truth? The night I joined you beat up old man Stanger. Icould not warn him, for there was no time; but I held your hand, Baldwin, whenyou would have killed him. If ever I have suggested things, so as to keep myplace among you, they were things which I knew I could prevent. I could notsave Dunn and Menzies, for I did not know enough; but I will see that theirmurderers are hanged. I gave Chester Wilcox warning, so that when I blew hishouse in he and his folk were in hiding. There was many a crime that I could notstop; but if you look back and think how often your man came home the otherroad, or was down in town when you went for him, or stayed indoors when youthought he would come out, you'll see my work.""You blasted traitor!" hissed McGinty through his closed teeth."Ay, John McGinty, you may call me that if it eases your smart. You and yourlike have been the enemy of God and man in #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 166 Context: hers of the fiercestspirits of the gang. For ten years they were out of the world, and then came a daywhen they were free once more—a day which Edwards, who knew his men, wasvery sure would be an end of his life of peace. They had sworn an oath on allthat they thought holy to have his blood as a vengeance for their comrades. Andwell they strove to keep their vow!From Chicago he was chased, after two attempts so near success that it wassure that the third would get him. From Chicago he went under a changed nameto California, and it was there that the light went for a time out of his life whenEttie Edwards died. Once again he was nearly killed, and once again under thename of Douglas he worked in a lonely canyon, where with an English partnernamed Barker he amassed a fortune. At last there came a warning to him that thebloodhounds were on his track once more, and he cleared—only just in time—for England. And thence came the John Douglas who for a second time marrieda worthy mate, and liv #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 167 Context: The police trial had passed, in which the case of John Douglas was referred toa higher court. So had the Quarter Sessions, at which he was acquitted as havingacted in self-defense."Get him out of England at any cost," wrote Holmes to the wife. "There areforces here which may be more dangerous than those he has escaped. There is nosafety for your husband in England."Two months had gone by, and the case had to some extent passed from ourminds. Then one morning there came an enigmatic note slipped into our letterbox. "Dear me, Mr. Holmes. Dear me!" said this singular epistle. There wasneither superscription nor signature. I laughed at the quaint message; but Holmesshowed unwonted seriousness."Deviltry, Watson!" he remarked, and sat long with a clouded brow.Late last night Mrs. Hudson, our landlady, brought up a message that agentleman wished to see Holmes, and that the matter was of the utmostimportance. Close at the heels of his messenger came Cecil Barker, our friend ofthe moated Manor #################### File: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf Page: 171 Context: om the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it isposted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copiedand distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any feesor charges. 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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: test 4.txt Page: 1 Context: test 4 #################### File: New%20Text%20Document%20%283%29.txt Page: 1 Context: @ -610,6 +610,7 @@ export default { chatsIsFirstChunk: [], pendingFilesRemaining: false, laravelEcho: null, saveCurrentContentIntervals: [], }), created() { moment.locale(this.locale) @ -767,6 +768,8 @@ export default { model: this.selectedModel !== null && this.selectedModel !== undefined ? this.selectedModel?.gpt_id : this.defaultModel, prompt_definition: this.selectedPromptDefinition !== undefined ? this.selectedPromptDefinition.prompt : '' } console.log('send()', requestPayload) axios .post("/chatbot", this.filterMessages(requestPayload)) @ -843,6 +846,10 @@ export default { }, async startConversation() { if(this.chat) { clearInterval(this.saveCurrentContentIntervals[this.chat.id]) } this.messages = []; this.isScrolledUp = false; this.startButtonClicked = true; @ -885,6 +892,11 @@ export default { clickConversation(e) { this.abortController.abort(); if (this.limitExceeded || !e.knowledgebase) return; if(this.chat) { clearInterval(this.saveCurrentContentIntervals[this.chat.id]) } this.page = 1 this.lastPage = null @ -1107,6 +1119,13 @@ export default { }else { Vue.set(this.pendingContentResponses, chatId, '') } if(isFirstChunk) { // save current AI response every 5 seconds this.saveCurrentContentIntervals[chatId] = setInterval(() => { this.saveCurrentContent({ chatId, content }) }, 5000) } } if (data.finish_reason === "stop") { @ -1117,6 +1136,10 @@ export default { this.pendingContentResponses.splice(chatId, 1) this.pendingContentResponses = this.pendingContentResponses.filter(e => e) // save after response stream is done clearInterval(this.saveCurrentContentIntervals[chatId]) this.saveCurrentContent({ chatId, content }, false) setTimeout(() => { this.checkPendingResponseAndSaveCurrent(chatId, content) }, 1500) @ -1175,6 +1198,14 @@ export default { }, saveCurrentContent({ chatId, content }, isPending = true) { axios.post('/save-current-content', { chat_id: chatId, content: content, pending: isPending, }) }, extractSources(sources) { return sources.split(', '); }, @ -1530,8 +1561,9 @@ export default { }, chatbotBroadcast() { this.laravelEcho.private(`conversation.file-pending-updated`) .listen('ConversationFilePendingUpdated', (e) => { this.laravelEcho.private(`conversation.pending-updated`) .listen('ConversationPendingUpdated', (e) => { console.log('ConversationPendingUpdated', e) if(this.chat && this.chat.id === e.chat_id) { // hide loading-blob if pending updated if(!e.pending && this.loading) { @ -1576,9 +1608,13 @@ export default { if(this.laravelEcho) { this.laravelEcho.leave(`knowledgebase.file-status-updated`) this.laravelEcho.leave(`conversation.file-pending-updated`) this.laravelEcho.leave(`conversation.pending-updated`) this.laravelEcho = null } this.saveCurrentContentIntervals.foreach((interval) => { clearInterval(interval) }) }, }; ########## """QUERY: what context do you have right now?""" Consider the chat history for relevant information. Use all information included. Use as much tokens as needed. Important: If you find information separated by a | in the context, it is a table formatted in Markdown. Final Files Sources: The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 6, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 7, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 8, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 11, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 15, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 16, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 17, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 19, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 22, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 23, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 26, 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 33, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 34, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 35, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 36, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 39, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 43, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 45, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 52, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 53, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 55, 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 62, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 64, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 70, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 73, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 74, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 79, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 80, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 82, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 83, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 85, 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 95, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 97, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 98, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 100, 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 106, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 108, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 110, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 111, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 112, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 114, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 115, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 116, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 118, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 122, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 123, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 124, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 125, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 126, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 127, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 130, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 133, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 134, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 137, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 138, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 139, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 140, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 145, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 146, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 148, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 150, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 152, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 154, 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 163, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 164, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 165, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 166, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 167, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 171, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 172, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 173, The-Valley-of-Fear.pdf - Page 175, test 4.txt - Page 1, New%20Text%20Document%20%283%29.txt - Page 1 ================================================== FINAL ANSWER Answer: Currently, I have access to a variety of contexts from different sources: 1. Excerpts from a PDF file titled "The Valley of Fear," which appears to be a Sherlock Holmes novel by Arthur Conan Doyle. The context includes various pages from the novel, detailing conversations and narrative passages involving characters such as Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and others involved in a mystery. 2. A brief interaction where you performed a test, and I acknowledged the test. 3. A detailed context involving a conversation between characters in "The Valley of Fear," including discussions about a character named Porlock, references to Professor Moriarty, and a cipher message. 4. A mention of a test file named "test 4.txt" with the content "test 4." 5. A block of code or script, possibly from a software development project, with references to a chatbot, conversations, and the use of an API endpoint "/chatbot." The code includes Vue.js syntax and seems related to managing chat interactions, saving responses, and handling real-time updates with Laravel Echo. 6. A note indicating that if you find information separated by a "|" in the context, it is a table formatted in Markdown. Please let me know if you need specific information or have a particular question about any of these contexts. ==================================================