“I’ve thought of that, Jack. I’ve planned it all. Father has savedsome money. He is weary of this place where the fear of thesepeople darkens our lives. He is ready to go. We would fly togetherto Philadelphia or New York, where we would be safe from them.”
McMurdo laughed. “The lodge has a long arm. Do you think itcould not stretch from here to Philadelphia or New York?”
“Well, then, to the West, or to England, or to Germany, wherefather came from—anywhere to get away from this Valley of Fear!”
McMurdo thought of old Brother Morris. “Sure, it is the secondtime I have heard the valley so named,” said he. “The shadow doesindeed seem to lie heavy on some of you.”
“It darkens every moment of our lives. Do you suppose that TedBaldwin has ever forgiven us? If it were not that he fears you, whatdo you suppose our chances would be? If you saw the look in thosedark, hungry eyes of his when they fall on me!”
“By Gar! I’d teach him better manners if I caught him at it! Butsee here, little girl. I can’t leave here. I can’t—take that from meonce and for all. But if you will leave me to find my own way, I willtry to prepare a way of getting honourably out of it.”
“There is no honour in such a matter.”
“Well, well, it’s just how you look at it. But if you’ll give me sixmonths, I’ll work it so that I can leave without being ashamed tolook others in the face.”
The girl laughed with joy. “Six months!” she cried. “Is it apromise?”
“Well, it may be seven or eight. But within a year at the furthestwe will leave the valley behind us.”
It was the most that Ettie could obtain, and yet it wassomething. There was this distant light to illuminate the gloomof the immediate future. She returned to her father’s house morelight-hearted than she had ever been since Jack McMurdo hadcome into her life.
It might be thought that as a member, all the doings of thesociety would be told to him; but he was soon to discover that theorganization was wider and more complex than the simple lodge.
Even Boss McGinty was ignorant as to many things; for there wasan official named the County Delegate, living at Hobson’s Patchfarther down the line, who had power over several different lodgeswhich he wielded in a sudden and arbitrary way. Only once didMcMurdo see him, a sly, little gray-haired rat of a man, with aslinking gait and a sidelong glance which was charged with malice.
Evans Pott was his name, and even the great Boss of Vermissa felttowards him something of the repulsion and fear which the hugeDanton may have felt for the puny but dangerous Robespierre.
One day Scanlan, who was McMurdo’s fellow boarder, receiveda note from McGinty inclosing one from Evans Pott, whichinformed him that he was sending over two good men, Lawlerand Andrews, who had instructions to act in the neighbourhood;though it was best for the cause that no particulars as to theirobjects should be given. Would the Bodymaster see to it thatsuitable arrangements be made for their lodgings and comfortuntil the time for action should arrive? McGinty added that itwas impossible for anyone to remain secret at the Union House,and that, therefore, he would be obliged if McMurdo and Scanlanwould put the strangers up for a few days in their boarding house.
The same evening the two men arrived, each carrying hisgripsack. Lawler was an elderly man, shrewd, silent, and selfcontained,clad in an old black frock coat, which with his soft felthat and ragged, grizzled beard gave him a general resemblance toan itinerant preacher. His companion Andrews was little morethan a boy, frank-faced and cheerful, with the breezy manner ofone who is out for a holiday and means to enjoy every minuteof it. Both men were total abstainers, and behaved in all ways asexemplary members of the society, with the one simple exceptionthat they were assassins who had often proved themselves to bemost capable instruments for this association of murder. Lawlerhad already carried out fourteen commissions of the kind, andAndrews three.
They were, as McMurdo found, quite ready to converse abouttheir deeds in the past, which they recounted with the half-bashfulpride of men who had done good and unselfish service for thecommunity. They were reticent, however, as to the immediate jobin hand.
“They chose us because neither I nor the boy here drink,”
Lawler explained. “They can count on us saying no more thanwe should. You must not take it amiss, but it is the orders of theCounty Delegate that we obey.”
“Sure, we are all in it together,” said Scanlan, McMurdo’s mate,as the four sat together at supper.
“That’s true enough, and we’ll talk till the cows come home ofthe killing of Charlie Williams or of Simon Bird, or any other jobin the past. But till the work is done we say nothing.”
“There are half a dozen about here that I have a word to sayto,” said McMurdo, with an oath. “I suppose it isn’t Jack Knoxof Ironhill that you are after. I’d go some way to see him get hisdeserts.”
“No, it’s not him yet.”
“Or Herman Strauss?”
“No, nor him either.”
“Well, if you won’t tell us we can’t make you; but I’d be glad toknow.”
Lawler smiled and shook his head. He was not to be drawn.
In spite of the reticence of their guests, Scanlan and McMurdowere quite determined to be present at what they called “the fun.”
When, therefore, at an early hour one morning McMurdo heardthem creeping down the stairs he awakened Scanlan, and the twohurried on their clothes. When they were dressed they found thatthe others had stolen out, leaving the door open behind them.
It was not yet dawn, and by the light of the lamps they could seethe two men some distance down the street. They followed themwarily, treading noiselessly in the deep snow.