Sherlock Holmes complete collection by sir arthur conan doyle

The Valley of Fear Chapter 7 THE TRAPPING OF BIRDY EDWARDS

AS MCMURDO had said, the house in which he lived was a lonely oneand very well suited for such a crime as they had planned. It was on theextreme fringe of the town and stood well back from the road. In anyother case the conspirators would have simply called out their man, asthey had many a time before, and emptied their pistols into his body; butin this instance it was very necessary to find out how much he knew, howhe knew it, and what had been passed on to his employers.It was possible that they were already too late and that the work hadbeen done. If that was indeed so, they could at least have their revengeupon the man who had done it. But they were hopeful that nothing ofgreat importance had yet come to the detective's knowledge, asotherwise, they argued, he would not have troubled to write down andforward such trivial information as McMurdo claimed to have given him.However, all this they would learn from his own lips. Once in theirpower, they would find a way to make him speak. It was not the first timethat 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 himas he waited at the station. McMurdo turned away and refused to speakwith him. He was back from his mission in the afternoon, and sawMcGinty at the Union House."He is coming," he said.[860] "Good!" said McGinty. The giant was in his shirt sleeves, withchains and seals gleaming athwart his ample waistcoat and a diamondtwinkling through the fringe of his bristling beard. Drink and politics hadmade the Boss a very rich as well as powerful man. The more terrible,therefore, seemed that glimpse of the prison or the gallows which hadrisen before him the night before."Do you reckon he knows much?" he asked anxiously.McMurdo shook his head gloomily. "He's been here some time-sixweeks at the least. I guess he didn't come into these parts to look at theprospect. If he has been working among us all that time with the railroadmoney at his back, I should expect that he has got results, and that he haspassed them on.""There's not a weak man in the lodge," cried McGinty. "True as steel,every man of them. And yet, by the Lord! there is that skunk Morris.What about him? If any man gives us away, it would be he. I've a mind tosend a couple of the boys round before evening to give him a beating up and see what they can get from him.""Well, there would be no harm in that," McMurdo answered. "I won'tdeny that I have a liking for Morris and would be sorry to see him cometo harm. He has spoken to me once or twice over lodge matters, andthough he may not see them the same as you or I, he never seemed thesort that squeals. But still it is not for me to stand between him and you.""I'll fix the old devil!" said McGinty with an oath. "I've had my eye onhim this year past.""Well, you know best about that," McMurdo answered. "But whateveryou do must be to-morrow; for we must lie low until the Pinkerton affairis 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 Edwardshimself where he got his news if we have to cut his heart out first. Did heseem to scent a trap?"McMurdo laughed. "I guess I took him on his weak point," he said. "Ifhe could get on a good trail of the Scowrers, he's ready to follow it intohell. I took his money," McMurdo grinned as he produced a wad of dollarnotes, "and as much more when he has seen all my papers.""What papers?""Well, there are no papers. But I filled him up about constitutions andbooks of rules and forms of membership. He expects to get right down tothe end of everything before he leaves.""Faith, he's right there," said McGinty grimly. "Didn't he ask you whyyou didn't bring him the papers?""As if I would carry such things, and me a suspected man, and CaptainMarvin after speaking to me this very day at the depot!""Ay, I heard of that," said McGinty. "I guess the heavy end of thisbusiness is coming on to you. We could put him down an old shaft whenwe've done with him; but however we work it we can't get past the manliving at Hobson's Patch and you being there to-day."McMurdo shrugged his shoulders. "If we handle it right, they can neverprove the killing," said he. "No one can see him come to the house afterdark, and I'll lay to it that no one will see him go. Now see here,Councillor, I'll show you my plan and I'll ask you to fit the others into it.You will all come in good time. Very well. [861] He comes at ten. He is totap three times, and me to open the door for him. Then I'll get behind himand shut it. He's our man then.""That's all easy and plain.""Yes; but the next step wants considering. He's a hard proposition.He's heavily armed. I've fooled him proper, and yet he is likely to be onhis guard. Suppose I show him right into a room with seven men in itwhere he expected to find me alone. There is going to be shooting, andsomebody is going to be hurt.""That's so.""And the noise is going to bring every damned copper in the townshipon top of it.""I guess you are right.""This is how I should work it. You will all be in the big room-same asyou saw when you had a chat with me. I'll open the door for him, show him into the parlour beside the door, and leave him there while I get thepapers. That will give me the chance of telling you how things areshaping. Then I will go back to him with some faked papers. As he isreading them I will jump for him and get my grip on his pistol arm.You'll hear me call and in you will rush. The quicker the better; for he isas strong a man as I, and I may have more than I can manage. But I allowthat I can hold him till you come.""It's a good plan," said McGinty. "The lodge will owe you a debt forthis. I guess when I move out of the chair I can put a name to the manthat's coming after me.""Sure, Councillor, I am little more than a recruit," said McMurdo; buthis face showed what he thought of the great man's compliment.When he had returned home he made his own preparations for the grimevening in front of him. First he cleaned, oiled, and loaded his Smith &Wesson revolver. Then he surveyed the room in which the detective wasto be trapped. It was a large apartment, with a long deal table in thecentre, and the big stove at one side. At each of the other sides werewindows. There were no shutters on these: only light curtains which drewacross. McMurdo examined these attentively. No doubt it must havestruck him that the apartment was very exposed for so secret a meeting.Yet its distance from the road made it of less consequence. Finally hediscussed the matter with his fellow lodger. Scanlan, though a Scowrer,was an inoffensive little man who was too weak to stand against theopinion of his comrades, but was secretly horrified by the deeds of bloodat which he had sometimes been forced to assist. McMurdo told himshortly what was intended."And if I were you, Mike Scanlan, I would take a night off and keepclear of it. There will be bloody work here before morning.""Well, indeed then, Mac," Scanlan answered. "It's not the will but thenerve that is wanting in me. When I saw Manager Dunn go down at thecolliery yonder it was just more than I could stand. I'm not made for it,same as you or McGinty. If the lodge will think none the worse of me, I'lljust do as you advise and leave you to yourselves for the evening."The men came in good time as arranged. They were outwardlyrespectable citizens, well clad and cleanly; but a judge of faces wouldhave read little hope for Birdy Edwards in those hard mouths andremorseless eyes. There was not a man in the room whose hands had notbeen reddened a dozen times before. They were as hardened to humanmurder as a butcher to sheep.Foremost, of course, both in appearance and in guilt, was theformidable Boss. [862] Harraway, the secretary, was a lean, bitter manwith a long, scraggy neck and nervous, jerky limbs, a man ofincorruptible fidelity where the finances of the order were concerned, andwith no notion of justice or honesty to anyone beyond. The treasurer,Carter, was a middle-aged man, with an impassive, rather sulkyexpression, and a yellow parchment skin. He was a capable organizer, andthe actual details of nearly every outrage had sprung from his plottingbrain. The two Willabys were men of action, tall, lithe young fellows withdetermined faces, while their companion, Tiger Cormac, a heavy, dark youth, was feared even by his own comrades for the ferocity of hisdisposition. These were the men who assembled that night under the roofof McMurdo for the killing of the Pinkerton detective.Their host had placed whisky upon the table, and they had hastened toprime themselves for the work before them. Baldwin and Cormac werealready half-drunk, and the liquor had brought out all their ferocity.Cormac placed his hands on the stove for an instant-it had been lighted,for the nights were still cold."That will do," said he, with an oath."Ay," said Baldwin, catching his meaning. "If he is strapped to that, wewill have the truth out of him.""We'll have the truth out of him, never fear," said McMurdo. He hadnerves of steel, this man; for though the whole weight of the affair was onhim his manner was as cool and unconcerned as ever. The others markedit and applauded."You are the one to handle him," said the Boss approvingly. "Not awarning will he get till your hand is on his throat. It's a pity there are noshutters to your windows."McMurdo went from one to the other and drew the curtains tighter."Sure no one can spy upon us now. It's close upon the hour.""Maybe he won't come. Maybe he'll get a sniff of danger," said thesecretary."He'll come, never fear," McMurdo answered. "He is as eager to comeas you can be to see him. Hark to that!"They all sat like wax figures, some with their glasses arrested halfwayto their lips. Three loud knocks had sounded at the door."Hush!" McMurdo raised his hand in caution. An exulting glance wentround the circle, and hands were laid upon hidden weapons."Not a sound, for your lives!" McMurdo whispered, as he went fromthe room, closing the door carefully behind him.With strained ears the murderers waited. They counted the steps oftheir comrade down the passage. Then they heard him open the outerdoor. There were a few words as of greeting. Then they were aware of astrange step inside and of an unfamiliar voice. An instant later came theslam of the door and the turning of the key in the lock. Their prey wassafe within the trap. Tiger Cormac laughed horribly, and Boss McGintyclapped his great hand across his mouth."Be quiet, you fool!" he whispered. "You'll be the undoing of us yet!"There was a mutter of conversation from the next room. It seemedinterminable. Then the door opened, and McMurdo appeared, his fingerupon his lip.He came to the end of the table and looked round at them. A subtlechange had come over him. His manner was as of one who has great workto do. His face had set into granite firmness. His eyes shone with a fierceexcitement behind his spectacles. He had become a visible leader of men.They stared at him with eager interest; but he said nothing. Still with thesame singular gaze he looked from man to man.[863] "Well!" cried Boss McGinty at last. "Is he here? Is Birdy Edwardshere?" "Yes," McMurdo answered slowly. "Birdy Edwards is here. I am BirdyEdwards!"There were ten seconds after that brief speech during which the roommight have been empty, so profound was the silence. The hissing of akettle upon the stove rose sharp and strident to the ear. Seven white faces,all turned upward to this man who dominated them, were set motionlesswith utter terror. Then, with a sudden shivering of glass, a bristle ofglistening rifle barrels broke through each window, while the curtainswere torn from their hangings.At the sight Boss McGinty gave the roar of a wounded bear andplunged for the half-opened door. A levelled revolver met him there withthe stern blue eyes of Captain Marvin of the Mine Police gleaming behindthe sights. The Boss recoiled and fell back into his chair."You're safer there, Councillor," said the man whom they had knownas McMurdo. "And you, Baldwin, if you don't take your hand off yourpistol, you'll cheat the hangman yet. Pull it out, or by the Lord that mademe- - There, that will do. There are forty armed men round this house,and you can figure it out for yourself what chance you have. Take theirpistols, Marvin!"There was no possible resistance under the menace of those rifles. Themen were disarmed. Sulky, sheepish, and amazed, they still sat round thetable."I'd like to say a word to you before we separate," said the man whohad trapped them. "I guess we may not meet again until you see me onthe stand in the courthouse. I'll give you something to think over betweennow and then. You know me now for what I am. At last I can put mycards on the table. I am Birdy Edwards of Pinkerton's. I was chosen tobreak up your gang. I had a hard and dangerous game to play. Not a soul,not one soul, not my nearest and dearest, knew that I was playing it. OnlyCaptain Marvin here and my employers knew that. But it's over to-night,thank God, and I am the winner!"The seven pale, rigid faces looked up at him. There was unappeasablehatred in their eyes. He read the relentless threat."Maybe you think that the game is not over yet. Well, I take my chanceof that. Anyhow, some of you will take no further hand, and there aresixty more besides yourselves that will see a jail this night. I'll tell youthis, that when I was put upon this job I never believed there was such asociety as yours. I thought it was paper talk, and that I would prove it so.They told me it was to do with the Freemen; so I went to Chicago andwas made one. Then I was surer than ever that it was just paper talk; for Ifound no harm in the society, but a deal of good."Still, I had to carry out my job, and I came to the coal valleys. When Ireached this place I learned that I was wrong and that it wasn't a dimenovel after all. So I stayed to look after it. I never killed a man inChicago. I never minted a dollar in my life. Those I gave you were asgood as any others; but I never spent money better. But I knew the wayinto your good wishes, and so I pretended to you that the law was afterme. It all worked just as I thought."So I joined your infernal lodge, and I took my share in your councils. Maybe they will say that I was as bad as you. They can say what theylike, so long as I get you. But what is the truth? The night I joined youbeat up old man Stanger. I could not warn him, for there was no time; butI held your hand, Baldwin, when you would have killed him. If ever Ihave suggested things, so as to keep my place among you, they werethings which I knew I could prevent. I could not save Dunn [864] andMenzies, for I did not know enough; but I will see that their murderers arehanged. I gave Chester Wilcox warning, so that when I blew his house inhe 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 theother road, or was down in town when you went for him, or stayedindoors when you thought 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. Youand your like have been the enemy of God and man in these parts. It tooka man to get between you and the poor devils of men and women that youheld under your grip. There was just one way of doing it, and I did it. Youcall me a traitor; but I guess there's many a thousand will call me adeliverer that went down into hell to save them. I've had three months ofit. I wouldn't have three such months again if they let me loose in thetreasury at Washington for it. I had to stay till I had it all, every man andevery secret right here in this hand. I'd have waited a little longer if ithadn't come to my knowledge that my secret was coming out. A letterhad come into the town that would have set you wise to it all. Then I hadto act and act quickly."I've nothing more to say to you, except that when my time comes I'lldie the easier when I think of the work I have done in this valley. Now,Marvin, I'll keep you no more. Take them in and get it over."There is little more to tell. Scanlan had been given a sealed note to beleft at the address of Miss Ettie Shafter, a mission which he had acceptedwith a wink and a knowing smile. In the early hours of the morning abeautiful woman and a much muffled man boarded a special train whichhad been sent by the railroad company, and made a swift, unbrokenjourney out of the land of danger. It was the last time that ever either Ettieor her lover set foot in the Valley of Fear. Ten days later they weremarried in Chicago, with old Jacob Shafter as witness of the wedding.The trial of the Scowrers was held far from the place where theiradherents might have terrified the guardians of the law. In vain theystruggled. In vain the money of the lodge-money squeezed by blackmailout of the whole countryside-was spent like water in the attempt to savethem. That cold, clear, unimpassioned statement from one who knewevery detail of their lives, their organization, and their crimes wasunshaken by all the wiles of their defenders. At last after so many yearsthey were broken and scattered. The cloud was lifted forever from thevalley.McGinty met his fate upon the scaffold, cringing and whining when thelast hour came. Eight of his chief followers shared his fate. Fifty-odd hadvarious degrees of imprisonment. The work of Birdy Edwards wascomplete. And yet, as he had guessed, the game was not over yet. There wasanother hand to be played, and yet another and another. Ted Baldwin, forone, had escaped the scaffold; so had the Willabys; so had several othersof the fiercest spirits of the gang. For ten years they were out of the world,and then came a day when they were free once more-a day whichEdwards, who knew his men, was very sure would be an end of his life ofpeace. They had sworn an oath on all that they thought holy to have hisblood as a vengeance for their comrades. And well they strove to keeptheir vow!From Chicago he was chased, after two attempts so near success that itwas sure [865] that the third would get him. From Chicago he went undera changed name to California, and it was there that the light went for atime out of his life when Ettie Edwards died. Once again he was nearlykilled, and once again under the name of Douglas he worked in a lonelycañon, where with an English partner named Barker he amassed a fortune.At last there came a warning to him that the bloodhounds were on histrack once more, and he cleared-only just in time-for England. Andthence came the John Douglas who for a second time married a worthymate, and lived for five years as a Sussex county gentleman, a life whichended with the strange happenings of which we have heard.EpilogueTHE POLICE trial had passed, in which the case of John Douglas wasreferred to a higher court. So had the Quarter Sessions, at which he wasacquitted as having acted in self-defense."Get him out of England at any cost," wrote Holmes to the wife. "Thereare forces here which may be more dangerous than those he has escaped.There is no safety for your husband in England."Two months had gone by, and the case had to some extent passed fromour minds. Then one morning there came an enigmatic note slipped intoour letterbox. "Dear me, Mr. Holmes. Dear me!" said this singular epistle.There was neither superscription nor signature. I laughed at the quaintmessage; but Holmes showed 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, ourfriend of the moated Manor House. His face was drawn and haggard."I've had bad news-terrible news, Mr. Holmes," said he."I feared as much," said Holmes."You have not had a cable, have you?""I have had a note from someone who has.""It's poor Douglas. They tell me his name is Edwards; but he willalways be Jack Douglas of Benito Cañon to me. I told you that theystarted together for South Africa in the Palmyra three weeks ago.""Exactly.""The ship reached Cape Town last night. I received this cable fromMrs. Douglas this morning:Jack has been lost overboard in gale off St. Helena. No oneknows how accident occurred.IVY DOUGLAS."Ha! It came like that, did it?" said Holmes thoughtfully. "Well, I've nodoubt it was well stage-managed.""You mean that you think there was no accident?""None in the world.""He was murdered?""Surely!"[866] "So I think also. These infernal Scowrers, this cursed vindictivenest of criminals- -""No, no, my good sir," said Holmes. "There is a master hand here. It isno case of sawed-off shotguns and clumsy six-shooters. You can tell an old master by the sweep of his brush. I can tell a Moriarty when I see one.This crime is from London, not from America.""But for what motive?""Because it is done by a man who cannot afford to fail, one whosewhole unique position depends upon the fact that all he does mustsucceed. A great brain and a huge organization have been turned to theextinction of one man. It is crushing the nut with the triphammer-anabsurd extravagance of energy- but the nut is very effectually crushed allthe same.""How came this man to have anything to do with it?""I can only say that the first word that ever came to us of the businesswas from one of his lieutenants. These Americans were well advised.Having an English job to do, they took into partnership, as any foreigncriminal could do, this great consultant in crime. From that moment theirman was doomed. At first he would content himself by using hismachinery in order to find their victim. Then he would indicate how thematter might be treated. Finally, when he read in the reports of the failureof this agent, he would step in himself with a master touch. You heard mewarn this man at Birlstone Manor House that the coming danger wasgreater than the past. Was I right?"Barker beat his head with his clenched fist in his impotent anger. "Donot tell me that we have to sit down under this? Do you say that no onecan ever get level with this king devil?""No, I don't say that," said Holmes, and his eyes seemed to be lookingfar into the future. "I don't say that he can't be beat. But you must giveme time -you must give me time!"We all sat in silence for some minutes while those fateful eyes stillstrained to pierce the veil.