The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 157
"Senator, it's safer for you to sit there," said the man they called McMurdo, "and you, Baldwin, if you don't take your hand off the gun, you will There's no need for an executioner. Take it away, or I'll... put it there, all right. There's forty armed policemen round this house now, and there's no chance of you getting away. Captain Malvern, Hand over their guns!"

Under the deterrence of so many rifles, this group of criminals was powerless to resist, and they were all disarmed.They sat around the table sullenly, submissively shocked.

"Before parting, I have a few words to say." The man who led them into the trap began. "I don't think we will meet again, except in the witness box of the court. In the meantime, you can Think back to the past. Now that you know who I am, I can finally show you my cards. I am Pinkerton Detective, Bertie Edwards. I was chosen to catch you gang of criminals , put myself in a difficult and dangerous game. No one knew that I was in danger, not even those closest to me. Only Captain Malvern and my assistant knew about it. Tonight's The game is finally over, thank God I'm the winner!"

At this moment, seven pale faces were looking at him, with uncontrollable hostility in their eyes, and Edwards saw this stubborn and threatening look. "Perhaps you think the game is not over. Well, I resign myself to fate. However, your hand is not far away, and besides you, there are sixty people who will be thrown in prison tonight. You know, after I take over I didn't believe there was such an organization when I took this case, I thought it was nonsense in the newspapers, and I was going to find out about it. They told me that it had something to do with the Freedmen's Society, so I went I joined the Freedmen's Association in Chicago. As a result, I found out that this organization only does good things and does no harm. At that time, I was even more convinced that this was all a gimmick made up by the newspapers.

"But I didn't give up investigating. Ever since I came to this coal and iron mining area and came to this valley, I knew that I was wrong, and this is by no means nonsense. So I stayed to investigate. Previously in Chicago, I've never killed anyone, and I've never minted counterfeit money. The coins you've taken from me are real, but it's the first time I've spent money so well. I know what to do to your liking, So lied about being a fugitive. Everything worked out the way I wanted it to.

"I joined your criminal organization and did my best to gain trust. Maybe people will hate me for it, but anyway, if you can catch you, let them say. But what is the truth? You beat Stanger I just joined the old man that night, so I didn't have time to inform him. But, Baldwin, when he was almost killed by you, I stopped you. If I ever advised you, it was to gain your trust, and I participated Something planned, I'm sure I could have prevented it from happening. I couldn't save Dunn and Monsis because I didn't know it beforehand, but I would see those murderers hanged. I gave Chester Wilcox, so when I blew up his house, he had already moved away with his family. There are many other crimes that I tried to stop, you can think about it, often when you are about to start , the man took another way home, or stayed in town when you ambush him, or stayed home when you thought he was going. Find out that's exactly what I'm for."

"You bloody traitor!" McGinty cursed, gnashing his teeth.

"Well, McGinty, call it what you want, if it relieves your pain. You and your partisans are the enemy of God, and the enemy of all the inhabitants of this place. One does need someone to save you and those poor wretches." Knowing the situation among the oppressed, that's the only way to deal with you, and that's what I did. You call me a traitor, but I think there will be thousands of people who will call me a savior, and save them Rescued from hell. For three full months, I conducted an in-depth investigation here, mastered the secrets of the dead cool party and everyone's criminal facts. If I didn't know that my identity had been exposed, then I would have to wait It's been a while since I did it. Someone got a letter that must have alarmed you. So I must act now.

"I have nothing more to say to you. I think that, at the end of my old age, I shall be comforted to think of what I have done for this valley. And now, Captain Malvern, I will delay you no longer. It's time to do business, please arrest them."

There are still some things that need to be explained to the readers.Scanlon was sent to deliver a wax-sealed letter to Miss Etty Sheffert, and he blinked and smiled knowingly as he accepted the mission.In the early morning of the next day, a beautiful woman and a person who covered their faces with a cloth took the express train of the railway company and left this dangerous place without stopping.This is the last time Edie and her lover are seen in this uncanny valley.Ten days later they were married in Chicago, officiated by Jacob Sheffert Sr.

These diehards were sent to remote locations for trial, where their followers posed no threat to the legal guardians.These gangsters worked like hell, spending money like water to rescue them, but it turned out to be in vain, and the money was plundered from the town through extortion.The indictment from the testimony was thorough, clear, and substantiated, refuting any defense of conspiracy.Because the person who wrote this testimony is familiar with their life, organization and criminal facts, and knows everything in the dead cool party.After all these years, the diehards have finally been beaten and shattered.Since then, the dark clouds hanging over the valley have finally been dispelled.

McGinty was hanged on the gallows, weeping and wailing, ending his life.Eight of his leading criminals were also executed.In addition, more than 50 party members were sentenced to varying degrees.So far, Bertie Edwards has completed his mission.

However, as Edwards predicted, the game is not over.One wave is not flat, and another wave rises again.Ted Baldwin escaped hanging first, then the Willaby brothers, and several other brutes in the chapter.After ten years in prison, they were finally released.Edwards knew that once his enemy got out of prison, his peaceful life would end with it.These partisans swear that they must use Edwards' blood to avenge their own partisans!

They came to Chicago to seek revenge, came close to it twice, and there was no doubt that there would be a third soon.Edwards had to change his name and left Chicago and went to California.The death of Etty Edwards cast a sudden dark cloud over his life.Later, he escaped again, changed his name to Douglas again, and went to a remote canyon, where he met an Englishman named Buck, and the two partnered in mining and accumulated a large fortune.Soon after, he found that the bloodthirsty hounds were stalking him again, so he decided to move to England immediately.Afterwards John Douglas lived five years as a gentleman in Sussex, where he married a noble lady.After that, there was the strange case that happened in Birlstone Manor, which was introduced in the previous article.

After the trial of the British police, the John Douglas case was transferred to the higher court for judgment.In the end, the local court sentenced him to homicide in self-defense and acquitted him.

"At all costs, he must be sent out of England," Holmes wrote to Douglas' wife. "It is not safe here, and it is even more dangerous than any place he has ever been. England is not your husband's home. .”

Two more months passed like this, and we almost gradually forgot about the case.But one morning, an anonymous letter appeared in our mailbox.There was neither address nor signature on the letter, just a few simple words: "God, Mr. Holmes, God!" Seeing these outlandish words, I couldn't help laughing, but Holmes looked very serious.

"This is not good news, Watson!" said Holmes, frowning.

Late that night, a message came from Mrs. Hodson, the landlady, saying that a gentleman wanted to see Mr. Holmes.Immediately behind her we meet our friend at Birlstone Hall, Cecil Barker, with a sullen and haggard face.

"I have sad news, terrible news, Mr. Holmes," said Buck.

"I am afraid so," said Holmes.

"You haven't got the telegram yet, have you?"

"I received an anonymous letter."

"Poor Douglas. They tell me his real name was Edwards, but to me he will always be Jack Douglas of Benito Canyon. I went to South Africa by steamer."

"Yes."

"The ship arrived in Cape Town last night. I had a telegram this morning from Mrs. Douglas:
Jack was blown into the sea by strong winds near St. Helena Island.No one knows how this accident happened.

Ivy Douglas"

"Ah, that's how it ended!" said Holmes thoughtfully. "Well, I'm sure there are some people behind the scenes."

"You mean it wasn't an accident?"

"This was by no means an accident."

"He was murdered?"

"Obviously yes!"

"I think so, too. Those damned diehards, the desperadoes!"

"No, no, my good sir," said Holmes, "the matter is at the hands of another mastermind. It is not a case of a stubbed shotgun and a bungled six-shot revolver. It is evident that it is Moriah. Dee's approach, the root of the crime is in London, not America."

"But what was his motive?"

"Because this person can't tolerate failure. This person maintains his dominance through his foolproof means. Such a think tank and the huge organization behind him are operating at the same time in order to get rid of a person. Hitting a walnut with a hammer—too much force to be ludicrous, but apparently this one too was easily smashed."

"But what has Douglas to do with them?"

"So far, all I can say is that I got the information from one of Moriarty's assistants. The American criminals, like other transnational criminal gangs, operate in England and naturally have to work with their counterparts here. The crime lords conspired. Since then, their prey has been in their pocket. At first, Moriarty sent his men to find the prey, and then told them how to deal with the matter. But when he learned that Baldwin After the assassination failed, I started to take matters into my own hands. I warned your friend that it was far more dangerous here than anywhere he had ever been. Am I right?"

Buck clenched his fists angrily, hit his head hard and said, "You mean, we can only be manipulated by others? Does it mean that no one can deal with this devil?"

"No, I didn't say that," said Holmes, looking ahead as if he had seen the future. "I didn't say they were invincible, but you must give me time, you must give me time!"

All were sitting in silence at the moment, while Holmes' piercing eyes peered out through the clouds into the future.

(End of this chapter)