The Valley of Fear Part 7 (2/2)
”How's that, then?”
”I am one of the Ee, and where there is a lodge I'll find ular effect upon his colanced round suspiciously at the others in the car Thethe He ca traveller, and held out his hand
”Put it there,” he said
A hand-grip passed between the two
”I see you speak the truth,” said the workht hand to his right eyebrow The traveller at once raised his left hand to his left eyebrow
”Dark nights are unpleasant,” said the workers to travel,” the other answered
”That's good enough I'e 341, Vermissa Valley Glad to see you in these parts”
”Thank you I'o Bodymaster JH Scott But I am in luck to meet a brother so early”
”Well, there are plenty of us about You won't find the order ht here in Vermissa Valley But we could do with some lads like you I can't understand a spry o”
”I found plenty of work to do,” said McMurdo
”Then why did you leave?”
McMurdo nodded towards the policelad to know,” he said
Scanlan groaned sympathetically ”In trouble?” he asked in a whisper
”Deep”
”A penitentiary job?”
”And the rest”
”Not a killing!”
”It's early days to talk of such things,” said McMurdo with the air of aChicago, and let that be enough for you Who are you that you should take it on yourself to ask such things?” His gray eyes glealasses
”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 halt 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 recoo”
”Well, I don't know it; but Vermissa is out of my beat I live at Hobson's Patch, and that's here where we are drawing up But, say, there's one bit of advice I'll give you before we part: If you're in trouble in Verht to the Union House and see Boss McGinty He is the Body can happen in these parts unless Black Jack McGinty wants it So long, s But o to Boss McGinty”
Scanlan descended, and McMurdo was left once again to his thoughts Night had now fallen, and the fla 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 rhythuess helllike that,” said a voice
McMurdo turned and saw that one of the police out into the fiery waste
”For that matter,” said the other police like that If there are worse devils down yonder than souess you are new to this part, young man?”
”Well, what if I am?” McMurdo answered in a surly voice
”Just this,your friends I don't think I'd begin with Mike Scanlan or his gang if I were you”
”What the hell is it to you who are ht every head in the carriage round to witness the altercation ”Did I ask you for your advice, or did you think me such a sucker that I couldn't move without it? You speak when you are spoken to, and by the Lord you'd have to wait a long tirinned at the patrolood-natured men, were taken aback by the extraordinary vehemence hich their friendly advances had 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 sa your advice in when nobody asks for it”
”Maybe we'll see ,” said one of the patrolrin ”You're a real hand-picked one, if I a the saain”
”I'm not afraid of you, and don't you think it!” cried McMurdo ”My name's Jack McMurdo--see? If you want me, you'll find me at Jacob Shafter's on Sheridan Street, Verht 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 deed 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 Verest town on the line McMurdo picked up his leather gripsack and was about to start off into the darkness, when one of the miners accosted him
”By Gar, mate! you kno to speak to the cops,” he said in a voice of awe ”It was grand to hear you LetShafter's on the way to hts” from the other miners as they passed from the platform Before ever he had set foot in it, McMurdo the turbulent had become a character in Vermissa