Part two chapter 1 of the valley of fear by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Part 2, the scours chapter 1,
the man. It was the 4th of February.
In the year 1875, it had been a severe winter and the snow lay
deep in the Gorges of the Gilmerton mountains, the steam
plows had. However, kept the railroad open
and the evening train, which connects the long line of coal
mining and ironworking settlements was slowly groaning
its way up the Steep gradients which led from stag Ville on the
plane to vermissa the central Township, which lies at the head
of vermissa valley. From this point, the track
sweeps downward to Barton's Crossing Helm Dale and the
purely agricultural County of Merton.
It was a single track railroad, but at every siding and they
were numerous long lines of trucks piled with coal and iron
ore told of the Hidden wealth which had brought a rude
population and a bustling life to this, most desolate corner of
the United States of America. For desolate.
It was little could the first pioneer, who had traversed it
have ever imagined that the fairest prairies.
And the most Lush water pastures were valueless compared to this
Gloomy land of black Crag and Tangled Forest above the
darkened often, scarcely penetrable Woods upon their
flanks, the hi bear crowns of the mountains, white snow and
Jagged Rock towered upon each flank leaving along A winding
tortuous Valley in the center up this the little train was slowly
crawling the oil lamps had just been lit in the leading
passenger car along bear, carriage in which some 20 or 30
people were seated. The greater number of these were
workmen returning from their day's toil in the lower part of
the valley. At least a dozen by their grimed
faces and the safety lanterns which They Carried Proclaim
themselves miners. These saps smoking in a group
and conversed in low voices. Glancing, occasionally at two
men on the opposite, side of the car whose uniforms and badges
showed them to be policemen, several women of the laboring
class and one Two Travelers who might have been small, local
store, Keepers made up the rest of the company.
With the exception of one young man in a corner by himself.
It is with this man that we are concerned.
Take a good look at him for he is worth it.
He's a fresh complexion and middle-sized young man, not far.
When would guess from his thirtieth year, he has large
shrewd humorous. Gray eyes, which twinkle
inquiringly from time to time as he looks round through his
spectacles. Vehicles at the people about
him, it is easy to see that he is of a sociable and possibly
simple disposition anxious to be friendly to all men.
Anyone could pick him at once as gregarious in his habits and
communicative in his nature with a quick wit and a ready smile,
and yet the man who studied him more closely, might discern a
certain firmness of jaw and Grim tightness about the lips which
would warn him that there were debts.
It's beyond and that this Pleasant brown haired young.
Irishman might conceivably leave his Mark for good or evil upon
any society to which he was introduced having made one or
two tentative remarks to the nearest minor and receiving only
short, Gruff replies, The Traveler resigned himself to
uncongenial silence, staring moodily out of the window at the
fading landscape. It was not a cheering Prospect
through the growing Gloom their pulse, the red glow of the
furnaces, on the sides of the hills, great heaps of slag and
dumps Of Cinders loomed up on each side.
With the high, shafts of the Collier, he's towering above
them. Huddled groups of mean wooden
houses. The windows of, which were
beginning to outline themselves in light were scattered here and
there along the line and the frequent halting place.
Aces were crowded with their swarthy inhabitants the iron and
coal. Valleys of the vermissa,
district were no resorts for the Leisure door, the cultured
everywhere. There were Stern signs of the
crudest battle of Life. The rude work to be done and the
rude strong workers, who did it? The young traveler gazed out
into this dismal country with a face of mingled, repulsion and
interest, which showed that the scene was new to him at
intervals he drew from his pocket, a bulky letter to which
he referred and on the margins of which he scribbled some
notes. Once from the back of his waist,
he produced something which one would hardly have expected to
find in the possession of so mild-mannered, a man It was a
Navy revolver of the largest size as he turned it slantwise
to the light. The glint upon the rims of the
copper shells within the drum showed that it was fully loaded.
He quickly restored it to his secret pocket but not before it
had been observed by working man who had seated himself upon the
adjoining bench. Hello mate.
Said he, you seem healed. And ready, the young man smiled
with an air of embarrassment. Yes.
Said, he, we need them sometimes in the place I come from.
And where may that be? I'm last from Chicago, a
stranger in these parts. Yes, you may find, you need it
here. So, the workmen, ah, is that so
the young man seemed interested. Have you heard nothing of
doings? Hereabouts.
Nothing out of the way. Why I thought the country was
full of it. You'll hear quick enough.
What made you come here? I heard there was always work
through willing, man. Are you a member of the Union?
Sure. Then, you'll get your job.
I guess. Have you any friends?
Not yet. But I have the means of making
them. How's that then?
I am one of the eminent order Freeman.
There's no town where there's a large and where there's a large.
I'll find my friends. The remark had a singular effect
upon his companion. He glanced around, suspiciously
at the others in the car. The miners were still Whispering
among themselves. The two police officers were
dozing He came across seated himself, close to the young
traveler and held out his hand. Put it there.
He said a handgrip passed between the two.
I see you speak. The truth said the workmen, but
it's well to make certain he raised his right hand to his
right eyebrow, The Traveler at once, raised his left hand to
his left eyebrow. Dark nights are unpleasant said
the workmen. Yes for strangers to travel the
other answered, that's good enough.
I'm brother Scanlon lodged 341 vermissa Valley, glad to see you
in these parts. Thank you.
I'm brother John McMurdo large 29, Chicago bodymaster JH Scott,
but I'm in luck to meet a brother.
So, early, well, there are plenty of us about you won't
find the order more. Flourishing anywhere in the
states and right here, in vermissa Valley, but we could do
with some Lads. Like, you, I can't understand a
spry man of the Union, finding no work to do in Chicago.
I found plenty of work to do said McMurdo.
Then why did you leave McMurdo nodded toward the policeman and
smiled? I guess those chaps will be glad
to know. He said Scanlon groans,
sympathetically, In trouble. He asked in a whisper deep, a
Penitentiary job and arrest. Not a killing.
It's early days to talk of such things segment murder with the
air of a man. Who'd been surprised into saying
more than he intended. I've my own good reasons for
leaving Chicago and let that be enough for you.
Who are you that you should take it on yourself to ask such
things. His gray, eyes gleamed with
sudden and dangerous Anger from behind his glasses.
All right, mate. No offense, meant the boys will
think none the worse of you. Whatever, you may have done.
Where are you Bound for now vermissa?
That's the third. Hold down the line.
Where are you staying? McMurdo took out an envelope and
held it close to the murky oil lamp.
Here is the address. Jacob Shafter Sheridan Street.
It's a boarding house that was recommended by a man I know in
Chicago. Well, I don't know it, but for
mr. Is out of my beat, I live at
Hobson's patch and that's here, were drawing up to now.
But say there's one bit of advice.
I'll give you before we part. If you're in trouble in
vermissa. Go straight to the union house
and see boss McGinty. He's the body master of
vermissa, Lodge and nothing can happen in these parts and less
Blackjack McGinty. Once it so long mate.
Maybe we'll meet in large one of these evenings, but mind my
words, if you're in trouble, go to boss McGinty.
Scanlon descended and McMurdo was left once again to his
thoughts night had now fallen and the Flames of the frequent
furnaces were roaring and leaping in the darkness against
their lurid background. Dark Figures were bending and
straining, twisting and turning with the motion of winch, or of
windlass to the rhythm of an eternal Clank and raw, I guess
he'll must look something like that.
Said, a voice McMurdo turned and saw that one of the policemen
had shifted in his seat and was staring out into the fiery.
Waste. For that matter said, the other
policeman, I allow that he'll must be something like that.
If there are worse Devils Down Yonder than some, we could name
it's more than I'd expect. I guess you're new to this part
young man. Well, what if I am McMurdo
answered in a surly voice, just this.
Mr. That I should advise you to be careful in choosing your
friends. I don't think I'd begin with
Mike Scanlon or his gang. If I were you, what the hell is
it to you? Who my friends Rod McMurdo in a
voice, which brought every head in the carriage round to
witness? The altercation?
Did I ask you for your advice or did you think Miss such a sucker
that I couldn't? Move without it.
You speak when you're spoken to and by the Lord, you'd have to
wait a long time. If it was me, he thrust out his
face and grinned at the patrolman, like a snarling, dog,
the two policemen. Heavy good-natured men were
taken aback by the extraordinary vehement switch their friendly
advances. Have been rejected.
No offense, stranger said one, it was a warning for your own
good seeing that you are by your own showing new to the place.
I'm new to the place, but I'm not new to you and your kind
cried, McMurdo in cold Fury. I guess you're the same in all
places. Shoving, your advice.
In when nobody asks for it, maybe we'll see more of you
before. Long said, one of the patrolmen
with a grin, you're a real hand-picked one.
If I'm a judge. I was thinking the same remark,
the other I guess we may meet again.
I'm not afraid of you. And don't you think it?
Cried McMurdo my name is Jack McMurdo.
See, if you want me you'll find me at Jacob shaft as on
Sheridan, Street vermissa. So I'm not hiding from you.
I'm a day or night. I dare to look the like of you
in the face. Don't make any mistake about
that. There was a murmur of sympathy
and admiration from the miners at The Dauntless demeanor of the
newcomer, while the two policemen Shrugged, their
shoulders and renewed a conversation between themselves.
A few minutes later, the train ran into the ill-lit station,
and there was a general clearing for vermissa.
Was by far, the largest town on the line McMurdo picked up his
leather grip sack and was about to start off into the darkness,
when one of the miners, accosted him by gar, mate.
You know, how to speak to the cups.
He said, in a voice of all it was Grand to hear you.
Let me carry your grip and show you the road and passing shaft
as on the way. To my own Shack.
There was a chorus of friendly Goodnights from the other
miners, as they passed from the platform before ever.
He had set foot on it McMurdo. The turbulent had become a
character in vermissa. The country had been a place of
Terror, but the town was in its way even more depressing down
that Long Valley. There was at least a certain
gloomy Grandeur in the huge fires and the clouds of drifting
smoke. While the strength and Industry
of man found fitting monuments in the Hills which he had
spilled by the side of his monstrous excavations, but the
town showed a dead level of mean ugliness and squalor The Broad
Street was churned up by the traffic into a horrible.
Rutted paste of Muddy snow. The sidewalks were narrow and
uneven. The numerous Gaslamp served only
to show more clearly a long line of wooden houses each with its
Veranda facing the street unkempt and dirty.
As they approach the center of the town, the scene was
brightened by a row of well-lit stores and even more by a
cluster of saloons and game. Aiming houses in which the
miners spent their hard-earned but generous Wages that's a
union house. Said, the guide pointing to one
Saloon which rose almost to the Dignity of being a hotel Jack
McGinty is the boss there. What sort of man is he McMurdo
asked, what have you never heard of the boss?
How could I have heard of him when, you know that I'm a
stranger in these parts? Well, I thought his name was
known clear across the country. It's been in the papers often
enough. What for well the minor load is
voice over the Affairs. What?
Affairs? Good Lord, mr.
You are queer. If I must say it without a
fence, there's only one set of Affairs that you'll hear of in
these parts. And that's the Affairs of the
scouters. Why I seem to have read of the
scouters in Chicago, a gang of murderers, are they not rush on
your life? Cried?
The miner standing still in alarm and gazing in amazement At
His companion, man. He won't live long in these
parts of your speak in the open Street.
Like that. Many a man has had the life
beaten out of him for Less. Well, I know nothing about them,
it's only what I've read. And I'm not saying that you've
not read the truth. The man looked nervously, round
him as he spoke peering into the shadows as if he feared to see
some lurking Danger. If killing his murder and God
knows there's a murderer in to spare, but don't you dare to
breathe the name of Jack McGinty in connection with it?
Stranger for every whisper, goes back to him and he's not one
that is likely to let it pass. Now, that's our sure.
After that, one standing back from the street you'll find old
Jacob Shafter that runs it as honest.
A man as lives in this Township. I thank you said McMurdo and
shaking hands with his new acquaintance, he plotted grip,
sack in hand up The Path, which led to the dwelling-house at the
door of which he gave a resounding knock.
It was opened at once, by someone, very different, from
what he had expected. It was a woman young and
singularly beautiful. She was of the German type blond
and fair-haired with the Piquant contrast of a pair of beautiful
dark eyes. Eyes, with which she surveyed,
The Stranger with surprise. And a pleasing embarrassment,
which brought a wave of color over her pale face framed in the
bright light of the open doorway, it seemed to McMurdo
that he had never seen a more beautiful picture.
The more attractive for its contrast with the sordid and
gloomy surroundings a lovely Violet growing upon one of those
black slag heaps of the mines, would not have seemed more
surprising. So entranced was he that he
stood staring without a word and it was she who broke the
silence? I thought it was father said,
she with a pleasing little touch of a German accent.
Did you come to see him? He's downtown.
I expect him back every minute, McMurdo continued to gaze at
her, in open admiration, until her eyes dropped, in confusion
before this masterful visitor. No Miss he said at last, I'm in
no, hurry to see him but your house was recommended to me for
board. I thought it might suit me and
now I know it will You are quick to make up your mind.
Said she with a smile, anyone, but a blind man could do as much
the other answered. She laughed at the compliment.
Come right in sir. She said I miss, it'll show
after mr. Shaft has daughter, my mother's
dead and I run the house. You can sit 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 McMurdo explained
his business. A man of the name of Murphy had
given him the address in Chicago, he in turn and had it
from someone else. Old Shasta was quite ready,
stranger made, no bones about terms.
Agreed at once to every condition and was apparently,
fairly flush of money for seven dollars a week.
Paid in advance. He was to have board and lodging
So, it was that McMurdo the self-confessed fugitive from
Justice took up his Abode. Under the roof of the shaft has
the first step, which was to lead to so long and dark, a
train of events ending in a far distant, Land End of part, 2
chapter 1, So, it was that McMurdo the self-confessed
fugitive from Justice took up his Abode.
Under the roof of the shaft has the first step, which was to
lead to so long and dark, a train of events ending in a far
distant, Land End of part, 2 chapter 1,