The Valley of Fear Part 11 (1/2)
”We've all had it,” said one; ”but not all as brave as you over it”
”Tut! It was nothing,” said he; but it burned and ached all the same
When the drinks which followed the ceremony of initiation had all been disposed of, the business of the lodge proceeded McMurdo, accustoo, listened with open ears and more surprise than he ventured to shohat followed
”The first business on the agenda paper,” said McGinty, ”is to read the following letter froe 249 He says: ”Dear Sir: ”There is a job to be done on Andrew Rae of Rae & Sturmash, coal owners near this place You will re had the service of two brethren in the ood ins of this lodge, whose address you know He will show them when to act and where Yours in freedom, ”JW WINDLE DMAOF”
”Windle has never refused us e have had occasion to ask for the loan of a man or two, and it is not for us to refuse him” McGinty paused and looked round the room with his dull, malevolent eyes ”Who will volunteer for the job?”
Several young fellows held up their hands The Body ser Cormac If you handle it as well as you did the last, you won'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 soreat start for you As to the pistol, you'll find it waiting for you, or I'm mistaken If you report yourselves on Monday, it will be tireat welcome when you return”
”Any reward this ti young er”
”NeverMaybe when it is done there will be a few odd dollars at the botto Wilson
”Sure, it's not for the likes of you to ask what the ed over there That's no business of ours All we have to do is to carry it out for the of that, two brothers fro over to us next week to do some business in this quarter”
”Who are they?” asked someone
”Faith, it is wiser not to ask If you know nothing, you can testify nothing, and no trouble can come of it But they are men ill make a clean job when they are about it”
”And tiettin' out of hand in these parts It was only last week that three of ourhiet it full and proper”
”Get what?” McMurdo whispered to his neighbour
”The business end of a buckshot cartridge!” cried the h ”What think you of our ways, Brother?”
McMurdo's criminal soul seemed to have already absorbed the spirit of the vile association of which he was now a member ”I like it well,” said he ”'Tis a proper place for a lad of mettle”
Several of those who sat around heard his words and applauded them
”What's that?” cried the black-maned Bodymaster from the end of the table
”'Tis our new brother, sir, who finds our ways to his taste”
McMurdo rose to his feet for an instant ”I would say, Eminent Bodymaster, that if a man should be wanted I should take it as an honour to be chosen to help the lodge”
There was great applause at this It was felt that a new sun was pushi+ng its rim above the horizon To soress was a little too rapid
”I would raybeard who sat near the chairood pleasure of the lodge to employ him”
”Sure, that hat I meant; I'm in your hands,” said McMurdo
”Your time will come, Brother,” said the chair ood work in these parts There is a sht in which you may take a hand if it so please you”
”I ait for soht, anyhow, and it will help you to knoe stand for in this colanced at his agenda paper, ”I have one or twoFirst of all, I will ask the treasurer as to our bank balance There is the pension to Ji the work of the lodge, and it is for us to see that she is not the loser”
”Jim was shot last month when they tried to kill Chester Wilcox of Marley Creek,” McMurdo's neighbour inforood at the moment,” said the treasurer, with the bankbook in front of hienerous of late Max Linder & Co paid five hundred to be left alone Walker Brothers sent in a hundred; but I took it on myself to return it and ask for five If I do not hear by Wednesday, their winding gear et out of order We had to burn their breaker last year before they beca Coh on hand to ations”
”What about Archie Swindon?” asked a brother
”He has sold out and left the district The old devil left a note for us to say that he had rather be a free crossing sweeper in New York than a largeof blackmailers By Gar! it was as well that he uess he won't show his face in this valley again”
An elderly, clean-shaved ood brow rose from the end of the table which faced the chairht the property of this man that we have driven out of the district?”
”Yes, Brother Morris It has been bought by the State & Merton County Railroad Coht the mines of Todman and of Lee that came into the market in the same way last year?”
”The saht the ironworks of Manson and of Shuiven up of late?”
”They were all bought by the West Gil Company”
”I don't see, Brother Morris,” said the chairman, ”that it matters to us who buys them, since they can't carry them out of the district”
”With all respect to you, Eminent Bodymaster, I think iton now for ten long years We are gradually driving all the small men out of trade What is the result? We find in their places great companies like the Railroad or the General Iron, who have their directors in New York or Philadelphia, and care nothing for our threats We can take it out of their local bosses; but it only means that others will be sent in their stead And we are erous for ourselves The small men could not har as we did not squeeze them too dry, they would stay on under our power But if these big companies find that we stand between them and their profits, they will spare no pains and no expense to hunt us down and bring us to court”
There was a hush at these olooed had they been that the very thought that there was possible retribution in the background had been banished from their minds And yet the idea struck a chill to the most reckless of theo easier upon the small men On the day that they have all been driven out the power of this society will have been broken”
Unwelcory cries as the speaker resuloom upon his brow
”Brother Morris,” said he, ”you were always a croaker So long as the ether there is no power in the United States that can touch theh in the lawcourts? I expect the big coht, same as the little companies do And now, Brethren,” McGinty took off his black velvet cap and his stole as he spoke, ”this lodge has finished its business for the evening, save for one s The time has now coe indeed is human nature Here were these ain had struck down the father of the fa, without one thought of co wife or helpless children, and yet the tender or pathetic in music could move them to tears McMurdo had a fine tenor voice, and if he had failed to gain the good will of the lodge before, it could no longer have been withheld after he had thrilled the on the Stile, Mary,” and ”On the Banks of Allan Water”
In his very first night the new recruit had made himself one of the most popular of the brethren, h office There were other qualities needed, however, besides those of good fellowshi+p, to iven an exa was over The whisky bottle had passed round many times, and the men were flushed and ripe for mischief when their Bodymaster rose once more to address them
”Boys,” said he, ”there's oneup, and it's for you to see that he gets it I'er of the Herald You've seen how he's been opening his ain?”
There was a murmur of assent, with many a muttered oath McGinty took a slip of paper from his waistcoat pocket