The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 155
McMurdo looked at him in surprise and said, "Are you crazy, man? Don't we see enough cops and detectives in this place? What can they do to us?"

"No, no, he's not a native. As you say, we know the local detectives all too well, and they can't do anything to us, but have you heard of the Pinkerton detectives?"

"I've heard the names of these people."

"Well, you know, it's not a good fruit to be caught by them. This is not a careless government agency, but a group of extremely careful think tanks. If they decide to intervene in this matter, they will definitely not give up until their goals are achieved. .If a Pinkerton detective were to investigate us, it would be the end of everybody."

"We must kill him."

"Ah, this is the first thing you think of! Then it must be brought up at the meeting? I knew it would kill people."

"Of course, so what if you kill someone? Isn't this kind of thing often seen in this place?"

"You are right, but I don't want to kill anyone, so my heart will be uneasy again. But now I can't even guarantee my own life. God, what should I do?" He hesitated Jue, shaking his body back and forth in pain.

His words struck McMurdo deeply, and he clearly agreed with Morris that the crisis had to be faced.McMurdo grabbed Morris by the shoulders and shook him enthusiastically.

"Hey, man," cried McMurdo, excitedly, "is it any use for you to sit here like an old lady with a sad face? Let's see. Who is this man? Where is he? Are you How did you know him? Why did you come to me?"

"I found you because you could help me out. I told you that before I came here, there was a shop in the West Country, and there were a bunch of good friends of mine. One of them worked at the telegraph office. , I received a letter from him yesterday. It is very clear at the beginning, you can read it yourself."

I saw the letter read:

What's up with those diehards?I have often seen reports about them in the newspapers recently.I hope to hear from you soon.I heard that five companies and two railway bureaus have teamed up to seriously investigate this matter.Now that they have made up their minds, I dare say they will go there.They will directly intervene in the case.The Pinkerton Detectives are being called upon to investigate the matter, and one of their best, Bertie Edwards, has taken on some cases.Someone will stop these evil things from happening again.

"Please read the postscript again."

Of course, what I'm talking about is just an overview of what I learned in my daily work, and I can't further clarify this matter.They communicated in a strange code, the meaning of which I could not make out.

McMurdo sat silently for a long time with the letter in his hand, feeling as if a fog had risen before his eyes, and an abyss lay beneath his feet.

"Who else knows about this?" McMurdo asked.

"I didn't tell anyone else."

"But does this man, your friend, write to anyone else?"

"Well, I bet he knows a guy or two."

"Is it someone from the club?"

"Very likely."

"The reason I ask this is because he may have described Bertie Edwards in his letters to someone else, so we can track him down."

"It's possible, indeed, but I don't think he knew Edwards. He just got the news from the day-to-day business, and I don't think he'd have any friendship with Pinkerton's detectives."

McMurdo jumped to his feet.

"God!" he cried, "I think I know who this man is. I didn't think of such a thing before, how stupid! But luckily, before he does any harm to us, we can first Get him. Hey, Maurice, you just leave it to me, okay?"

"Of course, as long as you don't involve me."

"Don't worry, you can sit on the sidelines and watch. I don't even need to mention your name, I will take care of everything myself, just treat this letter as addressed to me. Are you satisfied now?"

"It's just what I want."

"That's the end of our conversation, then, and you'll be silent. I'm going to the meeting now, and we'll be able to demoralize the old Pinkerton detective in no time."

"Aren't you going to kill him?"

"Brother Morris, the less you know, the less guilt you'll feel. You can get some sleep and don't have to ask about it again. Let it go. Leave it to me."

Morris shook his head sadly before leaving and sighed: "I feel like my hands are covered with his blood."

"Anyway, self-defense is not murder," McMurdo grinned. "Instead of letting him kill us, let's kill him first. If he stays in the valley for a long time, one day he will kill us." Catch them all. Hey, Brother Morris, the whole chapter should thank you for electing you as the body, because you saved the whole chapter."

However, judging from his attitude in handling this matter, it was not as easy as he said.He began to think very seriously about this new news.Perhaps he felt ashamed, perhaps he was worried about Detective Pinkerton's prestige, or maybe he knew that these large and rich companies were determined to eliminate the diehards, whatever the considerations, his His actions showed that he had prepared for the worst.All letters that might implicate him in criminal cases were destroyed before he left the house.Then he let out a long sigh of satisfaction, feeling a little safe.But the danger didn't seem to be far away from him, because he stopped at the door of old Shepherd's house on the way.Old Sheffert had forbidden McMurdo to come into his house, but McMurdo tapped twice on the window, and Etty came out to meet him.The fierce and stubborn look in her lover's eyes dissipated, but Edith sensed danger from his stern face.

"Something must have happened to you!" cried Itdie. "Oh, Jack, you're in danger, aren't you?"

"Yes, my dear, but it's not too bad. It would be wise for us to move elsewhere before it does any harm."

"Move away?"

"I promised to take you away, and I think it's time. Bad news tonight. We're in trouble."

"Is it the police?"

"Well, a Pinkerton detective. But, my dear, you don't have to worry about it, and you don't have to know what it means to me. I'm stuck with it, and I must get rid of it as soon as possible. You promised to tell me We left together."

"Yes, Jack, if it will save you."

"I'm honest about some things, Ettie, and I would never hurt a hair on your beautiful body. You sit on a golden throne in the clouds, and I've always looked up to you, but never You pull an inch from there. Do you trust me?"

Itdie silently put her hand in McMurdo's.

"Okay, then listen and do as I tell you, for this is the only way we can survive. Something big is going to happen in this valley, and I have no doubts about it. Many people are in danger, and I am In it. If I leave here, you will come with me, day or night!"

"I'm going to find you, Jack."

"No, no, you must come with me. Once out of here, I can never come back. Maybe I can't even write to you to avoid the police. How can I keep you? I There is a kind woman in the place where I used to live, and we will be married as soon as we are settled. Will you go with me?"

"Yes, Jack, I'll come with you."

"You trust me so much, thank God! If I fail you, I'm a devil from hell! Now please listen, Etie, once you get my note for you, you must leave Everything, go to the waiting room of the station and wait for me, and I will find you there."

"When I get your note, I'll be there, day or night, Jack."

McMurdo was ready to leave this place, his mood gradually recovered, and he walked towards the branch building.It was full of people, and the rally had already begun.He got the signal and passed the heavily guarded external and internal guards before entering the conference hall.People greeted McMurdo as he walked in.The long meeting hall was full of people, and through the smoke, he saw the messy black hair of the master McGinty, the ferocious and unfriendly expression of Baldwin, and the eagle eagle of the clerk Haraway. The same face, plus the faces of a dozen chapter leaders.He was delighted to see that they were all here and could discuss the news he had just received together.

"We're glad to see you, brother!" exclaimed McGinty the Body Master. "Here's a matter that awaits the just judgment of a King Solomon."

"It's Rand and Iken," explained the man sitting next to McMurdo. "They went to Steele on a mission, and they both said they shot that old guy Crabe and robbed him. Asking for a bounty from the chapter. Tell me, who actually shot him?"

Suddenly McMurdo stood up from his seat and raised his hand at the same time.The expression on his face made everyone look at him in surprise.The venue fell into silence, and everyone was waiting for him to speak.

"Honorable Master," McMurdo said solemnly, "I have something important to report to you!"

"Since Brother McMurdo has an urgent matter," McGinty said, "it should be the priority. Now, brother, you can talk."

McMurdo took the letter from his pocket.

"Dear body masters, brothers," said McMurdo, "I have some bad news to tell you today. But it is much better for us to know and discuss countermeasures in advance than to be attacked without warning. .According to reliable sources, some deep-pocketed groups in the country are teaming up to deal with us. That Pinkerton detective, Bertie Edwards, has come to this valley to investigate and try to send many of us to felons. Prison. This is what I want to talk about, please discuss countermeasures together.”

There was a sudden silence in the hall.After a while, the body master McGinty finally broke the silence and said, "Brother McMurdo, where did you get this news?"

"I just got a letter that says it all," McMurdo read the passage aloud before adding, "I have to keep my promise not to publish the details of this letter or to It is handed over to you, but I assure you that there is nothing in the letter that involves the interests of the Association. As soon as I get the news, I will rush here to report to you.”

"With all due respect," said an old member, "I know Bertie Edwards. He's a well-known detective in the Pinkerton Detective Company."

"Has anyone seen him?"

"Yes, I've seen him," said McMurdo.

There was a startled murmur in the hall.

"I bet he won't get out of our way," McMurdo said, laughing. "If we act quickly and tactfully enough, we can get this thing over pretty quickly. If you can trust me and give me some With help, there is nothing to be afraid of."

"But what's so scary about him? How much does he know about what we've done?"

"Mr. Senator, if everyone was as strong and reliable as you, you might still be able to say that. But behind this man, there are many powerful capitalists. Don't you think there is not a weak-willed brother among us who would By money? He will know our secret, and may even have it. Now there is only one way."

"That is not to let him leave this valley alive!" Baldwin said.

McMurdo nodded and said, "You are right, Brother Baldwin, you and I often have differences of opinion, but tonight you agree with me."

"So, where is this man? How do we find him?"

"My lord," said McMurdo earnestly, "I propose that, since the fate of the whole branch is at stake, it is not advisable to discuss it publicly at the meeting. Of course, I am not expressing doubts about any of the brothers here, But even if a word reaches that detective, we'll never have a chance of catching him. I request that the most reliable of the members of the chapter be selected - if I propose, Mr. Senator, by yourself and Baldwin Brother, add five others to the discussion. Then I will tell all I know and tell you what I intend."

The proposal was immediately accepted.In addition to McGinty and Baldwin, the members participating in the discussion also included Haraway, the eagle-faced clerk, Cormac the tiger, the brutal middle-aged murderer Treasurer Cotter, and the two brothers Willaby, the outlaw who is not afraid of death.

Dark clouds hung over everyone, the usual scenes of carnival were over, and many saw for the first time the vengeful cloud of the law covering the clear sky above them.They never imagined that one day they would suffer retribution for the usual methods of terror imposed on people, but once this retribution was close at hand, it made them feel so uneasy and terrified.Everyone left early, only a few of their leaders stayed to discuss the matter.

"You may begin, McMurdo," said McGinty.At this time, there were only eight people left in the hall, sitting motionless on chairs.

"I just said I knew Bertie Edwards," McMurdo explained, "and you'd know the truth if I didn't tell you. He's using an alias here. He's brave and he's not stupid. .his name is Steve Wilson and he lives in Hobson Land."

"How did you know?"

"Because I spoke to him. I didn't think of it at the time, and if it weren't for the letter, I wouldn't think of it again, but I'm sure now that he was the detective. Met him on the Internet. He said he was a reporter and I believed him at the time. He wanted to know everything about diehards and called it an 'atrocity'. He said he was writing for a New York newspaper , asked me a lot of questions in order to get some information. Please rest assured that I did not disclose anything to him. He said, 'If you can provide me with some material that will help me, I will pay a high price.' So I said He gave me twenty dollars for something he liked to hear. And he said, 'If you could tell me something, I'd pay you ten times that.'”

"So, what did you say to him?"

"I made it up."

"How do you know he's not a reporter?"

"I'll tell you. He got off at Hobson's Landing, and I was going there. Then I went into the telegraph office, and he happened to just come out of there.

"After he left, the operator said to me, 'Look, I think we should charge him double for this kind of message.' I said, 'I think so, too.' The telegram form he filled out was simply It’s as difficult to understand as Chinese.’He sends out a telegram every day.’The operator said again.‘That’s right,’I said,‘This is a special article he wrote for the newspaper, for fear of being known by others.’This is what I was I thought about it, but now it’s completely different.”

"God, I think you're right!" said McGinty. "So what do you think we should do?"

"We can kill him first," someone suggested.

"That's right, the sooner the better."

"If I knew where he lived, I'd do it right away," said McMurdo, "but I only know he's in the Hobson area, and I don't know his exact address. However, if you accept my offer, I have a plan."

"what's the plan?"

"I'm going out tomorrow morning and looking for the operator. I think the operator will know his address. Then I'll show him that I'm a member of the Freemen's Branch, and if he'll pay a good price, I'll I am willing to tell him all the secrets about the branch. He will definitely agree. At that time, I told him that some confidential documents are in my house. Because it is inconvenient for others to see, I asked him to come to my house at ten o'clock in the evening to check. He would Understand, this is the most basic common sense. We can catch him then."

"what's next?"

"The rest you can prepare yourself. Widow McNamara's house is a lonely house. Her ears are as deaf as a stake. The only lodgers there are Scanlon and I, If Scanlon agrees, I'll let you know. I want seven of you to come to my house at nine o'clock in the evening so that he can be caught. If he ever gets out alive, he'll tell people all his life about Bertie Good luck to Edwards!"

"It looks like the Pinkerton Detective Company is going to open a spot, or I've been mistaken," said McGinty. "That's it, McMurdo. Tomorrow night at nine o'clock we'll meet you." Wait at home. Once you close the door behind him, we'll take care of the rest."

Seven Bertie Edwards' Brilliant Strategies

As McMurdo had said, the house he was renting was a lonely house on the edge of town, away from the main road, and it was the ideal place for their criminal operations.If only the detective was to be killed, the murderers would have only to lure out their prey in the old fashion, and then dump the pellets on him.But this time it was different, they had to try to get information from this person: how did he find out about them?What ever reported to his employer?
Maybe they acted too late, and the other party had already sent someone to send away the information.If this is the case, they can at least find the person who sent the information to settle accounts.However, they did not really want the detective to get any valuable information, otherwise why would he bother to get McMurdo's fabricated material of value to him?However, they wanted to hear everything from him.Once they got him, they'd have a way of getting him to talk, and this wasn't the first time they had dealt with such an opponent.

McMurdo went to Hobson Land as originally planned.This morning, the police seemed to take special care of him. While waiting for the bus in McMurdo, Captain Malvern, an old acquaintance in Chicago, even greeted him.McMurdo turned sullenly and walked away.At noon that day, McMurdo finished his work and returned to the union to report to McGinty.

"He's coming," McMurdo said.

(End of this chapter)