The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 151
On Saturday night, McMurdo officially became a member of the chapter.He had thought that the old members in Chicago would be automatically enrolled without any ceremony.But Vermissa has a unique ceremony that it is proud of, and every person who officially joins the club must pass this ceremony.The convention was held in a large room in the union building reserved for such ceremonies, where more than 60 members gathered in Vermisa, but this was far from the full strength of the organization, there were still some in the valley Their branch, there are also branches on the mountains on both sides.When major incidents occur, personnel from various regions will be transferred to each other, so some local crimes can be handled by people from other branches.There are no less than [-] members scattered throughout the coal mining area.

In a spacious meeting room, people are standing around a long table.Next to it was another table full of bottles and glasses that some members couldn't wait to down.McGinty sat at the head of the table, a black velvet hat covering his shaggy black hair.Around his neck was a long sash, like a bishop's sash, which made him look like a priest presiding over a devil's rite.Sitting to the left and right of McGinty were some of the important figures in the chapter, Ted Baldwin being one of the brutal and good-looking ones.These people all wear ribbons or badges to show their status.Most of them are middle-aged, while other members are young people aged 25 to [-], and these members are always ready to work hard for them.Most of the elders have ferocious and lawless faces, but on the faces of ordinary members, it is hard to believe that these enthusiastic and open-minded young people are actually a group of murderers without blinking an eye.They have done all kinds of bad things, and they are proud of it, and they worship the so-called "clean and neat" famous people from the bottom of their hearts.

Because of this distorted personality, they even take the initiative to kill some people who have never offended them, and these people often have never met them.And when it was done, they would argue endlessly about who caused the fatal blow, and take pleasure in describing to their companions the screams and twisted body of the deceased when he was killed.

At the beginning, they kept it secret when they arranged the deployment, but once it became a fact, they began to trumpet and publicize their crimes.Because the law is useless to them, no one dares to come forward to testify. In addition, they have countless witnesses on call and generous remuneration, so they don't have to worry about not being able to find some talented lawyers in China to defend themselves.Over the past ten years, they have committed crimes without any scruples, but none of them has been punished by law.The only threats to them are the victims, who, though outnumbered or attacked suddenly, often teach the gangsters a lesson.

McMurdo had been reminded before that membership was a pain in the ass, but no one had told him what that was.Now, he was led into the outer room by two stern-looking brothers.Through the partition wall, he vaguely heard the noisy voices in the conference room.His name was occasionally mentioned, and McMurdo knew they were discussing his membership.Later, an internal guard with a yellow and green shoulder strap slung across his shoulders came in and said, "The master of the body has ordered, bind his arms, blindfold him, and lead him in."

The three men took off McMurdo's coat, rolled up the sleeve of his right arm, and quickly tied a piece of rope around his elbows.Then a thick black hat was put on his head, covering most of his face, so that McMurdo couldn't see anything.Finally, he was brought back into the conference room.

McMurdo, with his hat on, felt very dark and oppressed.All he could hear were the whispers of people around him.Then, through the ear-muffs, he heard McGinty's low, distant voice, "Jack McMurdo, you've joined the Freedmen, haven't you?" ?”

McMurdo nodded in agreement.

"Are you a member of the No.20 Nine Chapter in Chicago?"

McMurdo nodded again.

"Night is unpleasant," said the voice.

"Yes, the night is unpleasant to a stranger on a journey," replied McMurdo.

"Overcast."

"Yes, a storm is coming."

"Are you satisfied, brothers?" asked the body master.

There was a murmur of approval from the crowd.

"Brother, by your coded words and answers, we're sure you're one of our own," said McGinty, "but you have to understand that we have unique rituals and certain responsibilities here and in other counties. You're ready to try ?"

"I'm ready."

"Are you a strong and brave man?"

"Correct."

"Please take a big step forward and prove it."

Before the words were finished, McMurdo felt two sharp objects pointing directly at his eyes, as if he might lose his eyes if he took a step forward.But McMurdo took a big step forward with courage and determination, and the weight was removed from his eyes.There was another whisper of approval.

"He was a strong and brave man," said the voice. "Can you bear the pain?"

"What others can bear, I can bear," McMurdo replied.

"Try him!"

McMurdo felt a sharp pain in his forearm, and he tried not to cry out.The sudden pain almost made him faint, but he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, and endured the excruciating pain.

"No matter how hard it is, I can bear it." McMurdo said loudly.

This time he heard cheers erupt from the crowd.Never before in a club has a newcomer received such warm approval.Everyone came up and patted him on the shoulder, and then the hat that covered his head was taken off.He stood there, accepting the congratulations of his brethren with a smile.

"One more thing, Brother McMurdo," said McGinty, "you have taken an oath to keep the secrecy, and you should know that any breach of the oath will result in immediate death."

"I know," McMurdo said.

"Then will you obey the orders of the body master under all circumstances?"

"I obey."

"Then, as the head of Chapter 340 of Vermisa [-], I welcome you to join the club, enjoy the privileges of the club, and participate in the debates of the club. Brother Scanlon, please put the wine on the table, and let us serve this well-deserved Brother cheers!"

The coat was handed to McMurdo, who looked at his right arm, which was still prickly, before putting it on.A circle had been branded on his forearm with a triangle inside, and the mark was dark and red, like the mark of a branding iron.Those around him also rolled up their sleeves to show him their club logos.

"We all have that sign," one of them said, "but none of us have faced it as bravely as you."

"Well, nothing," said McMurdo, but his arm was still burning with pain.

When the initiation ceremony was over and the wine was gone, everyone began to discuss the affairs of the meeting.McMurdo was accustomed to the dullness of the Chicago chapter, but the content of the meeting here aroused his interest, and the more he listened to it, the more he was surprised.

"The first item on the agenda of the meeting," said McGinty, "was the reading of a letter from Wendell, master of the 240th Chapter Nine of Merton County. In it he said:

Dear Sir:
It is necessary for us to unite against Andrew Wray, the owner of the stummash coal mine in the neighboring area.Remember your trouble with the police last fall, when we sent two brethren to help.Now, please send two competent people. Skulshkin of our association will be in charge of receiving them. You know the address.Skullshkin would tell them when and where the operation would begin.

Your friend JW Wendell"

"Wendell has never refused us when we needed help, and we can't refuse him this time either." McGinty paused, looking around the room with his sinister, vicious eyes, and asked, "Who is there?" Willing to go?"

Several young people raised their hands.McGinty looked at them and smiled approvingly.

"You can go, Tiger Cormac. If you do as well as you did last time, you'll make it. And you, Wilson."

"I don't have a pistol," said the man, who was only a teenager.

"Is this your first time? Well, newcomers always have to exercise. This is a good opportunity. As for the pistol, you will find that it is waiting for you, or I made a mistake. If you can report back on Monday , time is enough, then you will be warmly welcomed."

"Is there any pay this time?" asked Cormac, a stocky, dark, ferocious young man who had been nicknamed "Tiger" because of his ferocity.

"Don't worry about the pay. You're doing this for the honor. Maybe you'll get a little reward when it's done."

"What the hell did that man do?" asked young Wilson.

"Obviously you shouldn't ask that. They've already passed judgment on the man. Nothing else is our business. All we have to do is punish him for them. The same goes for them when they come to help us. Speaking of which, next week's silent There are two brothers from the Dunn Branch who came to help us.”

"Who are they?" someone asked.

"You'd better not ask anything. If you don't know anything, then the testimony is nothing, and you won't get in trouble. But they'll do a clean job."

"One more thing, it's time to finish!" cried Ted Baldwin. "Three of our brothers were fired by Brad the foreman last week. He should have been given a look."

"How?" McMurdo asked the people around him in a low voice.

"Give him a big bullet and be done!" the man laughed loudly. "What do you think of this, brother."

McMurdo has now become a part of this evil organization, and his soul seems to have merged with this spirit.

"I love it," McMurdo said. "This is where the hero boy comes in!"

Those around them who heard their conversations were full of praise.

"What's going on?" asked the black-faced body master sitting at the other end of the table.

"Sir, this new brother thinks our approach suits him."

Immediately, McMurdo stood up and said, "I would like to say, my lord, if I have the opportunity to contribute to this association, I will be extremely honored."

Everyone praised him, as if seeing a morning sun leaping from the horizon.But for some older members, these may seem premature.

"I suggest," said an eagle-faced elder with a gray beard, that he was Secretary Haraway sitting next to the body master, "Brother McMurdo should bide his time and follow the arrangements of the chapter."

"Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted to say, I'm at my disposal," McMurdo said.

"Brother, you will have your chance soon," said the Lord of the Body. "We already know that you are a willing worker, and we believe that you are fully capable. There is a small matter tonight. If you want, you can help. "

"I'm willing to wait for a more appropriate time."

"Anyway, you can come tonight to help you understand what our group stands for, which I'll be announcing later. Besides," he said, looking at the agenda, "I have a thing or two to say. First, I would like to inquire about our bank balance for a pension to be paid to the widow of Jim Carnaway. He died in the service of the club and it is our duty to take care of his loved ones."

"Jim died in the line of duty last month when he was ordered to execute Chester Wilcox of Maley Creek," someone close to McMurdo told him.

"We're pretty well off," reported the accountant-treasurer, with his bank savings book in front of him. "The firms have been generous lately. The five hundred dollars paid by Max Linde have not been used. The Volker Brothers company has received one hundred dollars." , but I sent it back at my beck and call, and I asked for five hundred dollars. If they don't get an answer by Wednesday, their windlass will fail. They didn't know how to work it out last year, after burning down their crusher. And the Western Coal Company pays an annual fee. We have enough money to do everything."

"How is Archie Swinton?" asked a brother.

"He's sold his assets and gone out of here. The old bastard left us a note saying he'd rather be a freelance scavenger in New York than run a big mine under the purported protection of a racketeering ring." Lord, my God, this note came after he ran away, and I guess he never dared to come back here again."

An elder stood up from the other end of the table. He had a pair of thick eyebrows and a peaceful, clean-shaven face.

"Mr. Treasurer," said he, "may I ask who bought the mines of the man we have driven away?"

"Yes, Brother Morris. His mines were bought by the State and Merton County Railroad."

"Then who bought Todman and Li's Minerals last year?"

"They too, Brother Morris."

"Recently, the Monsen Iron Mine, Schuman Iron Mine, Vondel Iron Mine, and Atlanta Iron Mine have all been sold. Who bought them?"

"Both bought by West Gilmerton Mining Corporation."

"Brother Morris," said McGinty, "since they can't take the mines out of here, what does it matter to us who buys them?"

"I respect you very much, my lord, but I think this matter is closely related to us. For the past ten years, this kind of change has been going on. We drove away one small businessman after another, but the result? What happened instead? It is some powerful big companies, such as railway companies, coal and iron corporations, etc. These companies are headquartered in New York or Philadelphia, and they don’t pay attention to us at all. Even if we drive away those disobedient small coal mines Lord, but it's just that another replacement will be ushered in, which puts us in danger. Those small businessmen are no threat to us. They have no money and no power. As long as we are not too harsh, they can only They depend on us to survive. But if those big companies find that we will affect their development, they will spare no effort to break us and take us to court."

Hearing the news, everyone looked a little depressed and remained silent.They used to be domineering and arrogant, so that they never thought about whether they would get retribution in the future.But now, after listening to Morris, even the most desperate person will be disappointed.

"A word of advice," Morris went on, "that we should learn how to stop. If all the small coal miners disappear one day, our community will be hit hard."

Loyalty is harsh.When Morris finished speaking and returned to his seat, there was immediate objection from some people.McGinty frowned, and stood up sullenly.

"Brother Morris, you always worry too much. I think that as long as the brothers work together, I am afraid that there is no force in the United States that can compete with us head-on. Don't we often compete with our opponents in court? I dare say those The big corporations will see that it's easier for them to pay us than to fight us. Now, brethren," said McGinty, taking off his velvet hat and saint belt, "tonight's This is the end of the meeting, and there is one small thing to remind everyone before the meeting ends: Now is the time to raise your glass and have fun."

Human nature is really elusive.These are a group of murderous guys. They destroy other people's families time and time again. They see the wives and children of those victims mourning, but they never feel guilty and have no compassion.However, when they heard the sad and emotional music, they were also moved to tears.McMurdo had the mellow voice of a tenor, and even though he had never been appreciated by his brethren before, when the singing of "Mary, I'm Sitting on the Hedge" and "By Aaron" ended, His singing also deeply moved them.

On the very first night, the new member had made himself the most popular of his brethren, and already foreshadowed his promotion and high positions.To truly become a respected member of the Liberty Association, in addition to being well received, there are other conditions that need to be met, and this evening is not over yet, McMurdo has already been recognized by everyone in this regard.After drinking for three rounds, people were already drunk, at this time, the body owner stood up again and said: "Brothers, there is a man in this town who must be eradicated, and you have seen how he accuses us and speaks rudely. .The man is none other than James Stanger of the Herald."

Then there was a murmur in the crowd, and people began to curse and swear.McGinty took a newspaper from his coat pocket and read:

"Law and order!

This is the title of Stangga.

Reign of Terror in the Coal and Iron Mines

Twelve years have passed since the first assassination showed that there was a criminal organization among us, and their rampage has never stopped.Today their crimes have reached such heights that we live in a place which is the disgrace of the civilized world.How could our country ever expect to receive such rewards from immigrants fleeing from European dictatorships?These thugs are now bullying the benefactors who gave them a place to live, doing whatever they want and lawlessness.Shall we allow them to build a lawless paradise of terrorism under the star-spangled banner of liberty?These things are frightening, like being in the most corrupt monarchy of the East.As we all know, they are notorious and their organization has long been made public.How long can we tolerate them?How can we live forever in..."

"Enough, I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense!" McGinty yelled, throwing the newspaper on the table. "That's what Stanger has against us. I'm going to ask now, what are we going to do with him?"

"Kill him!" There were many murderous voices in the venue.

(End of this chapter)