Chapter 12 Five Darkest Hours
Jack McMurdo, since his arrest and acquittal, had made a name for himself among his circle.There was no precedent in the history of this society for a man to do something on the very night of his membership to bring him to trial before a judge.He had acquired a great reputation, and was regarded as a good drinker, a high-spirited reveler, a haughty disposition, and would never be insulted, even to the supreme authority of the chief himself.But more than that, he made a deep impression on his fellows: it was thought that no one in the whole club could conjure up a bloodthirsty plot in the blink of an eye, nor did he A man's hand can carry out intrigue as well as his. "He must be a nimble fellow," remarked the old fellows, waiting for the moment when McMurdo would begin to show his skills.
McGinty had enough tools of service in his hands, but he thought McMurdo was a man of the highest ability, and he felt like a master on a leash with a murderous and bloodthirsty hound, using some low-bred dogs to do it. It's a small matter, but one day I will let this beast go to prey.A few members, including Baldwin, resented and even harbored a grudge at the rapid rise of the outsider, but they shunned him, for McMurdo was as ready to duel as he was to laugh.
If, however, McMurdo had gained honor among his partisans, he had lost another aspect, even more important to him, that was the fact that Etty Shaft's father had never had anything to do with him again, nor would he He came to the door.Edie was deeply in love with McMurdo, but her good nature felt that if she married a thug, it was difficult to predict the consequences.
One night, Yi Di tossed and turned, staying up all night.In the morning she resolved to go to McMurdo, thinking that perhaps this was the last time she would see him, and to do her best to save him from the evil forces which had dragged him into the water.As McMurdo often begged her to come to his house, she went to McMurdo's house, and went straight to his drawing-room.McMurdo was sitting at the table, with his back to the door, and a letter before him.Nineteen-year-old Yi Di suddenly had a naughty thought about a girl.Edie pushed the door open gently, and, seeing that McMurdo was not aware of it, crept forward and laid her hand lightly on his shoulder.
Edie had wanted to frighten McMurdo, and it certainly did; but she did not expect to be frightened herself.McMurdo sprang back like a tiger, and put his right hand around Eddy's throat.At the same time, the left hand crumpled the letter in front of him.For a moment he stood there glaring.However, when he took a closer look, he couldn't help being surprised, and immediately restrained his ferocious face.Edie recoiled in horror, for she had never seen anything like it in her quiet, refined life.
"It was you!" said McMurdo, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. "Didn't think it was you, my dear, I almost strangled you. Come, dear," said McMurdo, holding out his hands. Said, "Let me apologize to you."
Edie saw suddenly in McMurdo's expression that he was frightened by crime.This left her in shock.Her womanly instinct told herself that McMurdo was not frightened in vain.He was a crime—that was the question—was terrified of crime!
"What's the matter with you, Jack," cried Itdie, "why did I frighten you like this? Oh, Jack, if you had a good conscience, you'd never look at me like that!"
"Yes, I was thinking about other things, so you walked in so gracefully and lightly..."
"No, no, it's not just that, Jack," said Edith suddenly suspiciously, "show me that letter you wrote."
"Ah, Edie. I can't show you."
Itti became more skeptical.
"It was addressed to another woman," she cried. "I see! Why won't you let me read it? It was addressed to your wife? How can I be sure that you are an unmarried man? Are you An outsider, no one understands you."
"I'm never married, Etty. Look, I swear it now! You're the only woman I love in the world. I swear it on the cross of Jesus!"
McMurdo paled, and pleaded passionately and earnestly, and Etty had to believe him.
"Well, then," said Itdie, "why don't you want me to read that letter?"
"I tell you, my dear," said McMurdo, "that I have sworn no more to show this letter than I have broken my vow to you. I therefore accept my A man of oath keeps his promise. It is a business of the council, and it must be kept secret even from you. I was frightened when you put a hand on my shoulder, because it might be a detective's hand. , don't you even understand that?"
Itdie thought he was telling the truth.McMurdo took her in his arms and kissed her to dispel her terror and doubts.
"Then sit beside me. This is the queen's strange throne, but it is the best your poor lover can give you. I think he will make you happy someday." .are you in better spirits now?"
"How can I have a moment's peace of mind when I know you're one of the criminals, when I don't know when I'll hear the court hearing about your murder?" One of our lodgers called it yesterday What are you talking about 'McMurdo's a bloody gangster'. It's like a knife in my heart!"
"Indeed, let them talk about it, it's nothing special."
"But they're telling the truth."
"Well, dear, it's not as bad as you think. We're just poor people trying to use our means to get our power."
Edie put her arms around her lover's neck. "Give it up! Jack, for me, for God's sake, for God's sake! I came here today to beg you. Oh, Jack, look, I'm on my knees and begging you! I'm on my knees begging you to give it up it!"
McMurdo took Etie in his arms, put her head on his chest, and comforted her: "Of course, my dear, you don't know what your request means. If it means breaking my oath and turning my back on my accomplices , how could I give it up? If you could see what I did, you wouldn't ask me for it. Besides, how could I do it even if I wanted to? Don't you think, Can the Death Clan allow a man to walk away with all its secrets?"
"I've thought about it, Jack. I've got it all planned out. Father has saved some money. He's tired of this place, where the horrors of those people have darkened our lives. Father's ready to leave. We're together Flee to Philadelphia, or go to New York, and there we will be safe from them."
McMurdo smiled, and said: "This party has a long arm. Do you think it can't reach Philadelphia or New York from here?"
"Okay, then, let's go to the West, or to England, or to Germany, where my father is from. As long as we get out of this 'uncanny valley', we can go anywhere."
McMurdo thought of old Brother Morris.
"Indeed, it is the second time I have heard the valley so called," said McMurdo, "and it does seem to be hanging over many of you."
"It darkens our lives all the time. Do you think Ted Baldwin would forgive us? What do you think our luck would be if he wasn't afraid of you? Just look at the way he looked at me." Hungry eyes are enough!"
"My God! If I meet him like this again, I must teach him a lesson. But, little girl, I can't leave here. I can't. Please believe me completely. But as long as you let me figure out a way, I will definitely find a decent way out."
"It's disrespectful to do something like that."
"Well, well, that's just your opinion. But if you'll give me six months, I can make it so that I can walk away from here worthy of a man."
The girl smiled happily.
"Six months!" she exclaimed. "Is that your promise?"
"Yes, it may be seven or eight months. But it will not be more than one year before we can leave this valley."
That's all Itdie can get, but it's important.This faint ray of dawn will drive away all the haze in the future.She returned to her father's house full of light and joy.She had not been in this mood since Jack McMurdo came into her life.
Some people may think that all the actions of the Death Cool Party will be known to its partisans, but he will soon find that this organization is much wider and more complicated than a simple branch.Even McGinty, the owner, was ignorant of many things.For there was an official, called the County Representative, who lived in Hobson's Land, far from the city center, and who exercised his power with unexpected and arbitrary means, and ruled over the various chapters.McMurdo saw him only once, and he was a cunning, somewhat gray-haired, furtive, rat-like man, always squinting with malice.His name was Evans Potter.Even Vermissa's big boss felt a little intimidated in his presence.It's like extraordinary feeling powerless in the face of danger.
One day, McMurdo's roommate, Scanlon, received a note from McGinty with a letter from Evans Potter advising that two competent men would be dispatched—Law Le and Andrews—go to the neighborhood to act, and the object of their act will not be described in detail.Can the owner give them proper accommodation?McGinty wrote that no one could keep a secret in the union, and he therefore tasked McMurdo and Scanlan with arranging for the two visitors to stay at their apartment for a few days.
That same night, the two men showed up, each carrying a handbag.Lawler was an older, shrewd man, taciturn and more sedate, in an old frock coat and soft felt hat, with a shaggy gray beard that gave the impression of an itinerant preacher.His companion, Andrews, was a half-grown boy, with a frank face, a cheerful disposition, and a brisk demeanor, as if one were on holiday alone and were ready to have a good time without missing a minute.Neither of them drank alcohol, and were in every respect party members.They are the powerful tools and murderers of this murderous society.Lawler had committed fourteen such crimes, and Andrews had killed three.
McMurdo found that they spoke with pleasure of their past deeds, with a certain pride of having done something for the Society.But it is tight-lipped about the tasks to be carried out at present.
"They picked us because neither this kid nor I drink," Lawler explained, "and they trust us not to say what we shouldn't. It's an order from the county representative and we must obey. Please don't take offense." .”
"Of course, we're all in the same party," said Scanlon, McMurdo's roommate, as the four sat down to dinner.
"It's true, we can talk without limit about how to kill Charlie Williams, or how to kill Simon Byrd, and other cases in the past. But until we have this thing, we can't do anything talk."
"There's six or seven of them here, and I'm going to give them a lesson," cursed McMurdo. "I suppose you're Jack Knox, Tracking Iron Mountain? I think he deserves to be punished."
"No, it's not him."
"Or Hermann Strauss?"
"No, not him."
"Okay, if you don't want to say it, we won't force it, but I'd like to know."
Lawler shook his head and smiled.He was determined not to speak.
Despite their silence, Scanlon and McMurdo decided to join in what they called "the game".So one morning McMurdo heard them tiptoeing downstairs, woke Scanlon, and dressed hastily.The door was now wide open, and before daylight they saw by the light that the two men had reached the street, and McMurdo and Scanlon followed cautiously through the snow.
Their apartment was near the edge of the town, and the two men quickly walked to the intersection outside the town.Three other people were waiting there, and Lawler and Andrews had a quick word with them before leaving together.It is conceivable that there must be something important, so so many people are needed.There were several trails leading to the various mines, and these men took a trail leading to Crow Mountain.The mines there were in the hands of a man of courage and sagacity, and thanks to the energy and innocence of the English manager, Josiah Dunne, discipline had long been maintained in spite of the terror that had hung over the valley, Orderly.
It was already daylight, and the workers slowly set out on the road, some alone, some in small groups, walking along the darkened path.
McMurdo and Scanlan walked slowly, mingling with the crowd, keeping sight of those they were following.A puff of smoke rose, followed by a piercing screech of a siren.This is the signal to start work. Ten minutes later, the cage will be lowered, and the labor will begin.
When they came to the open area around the mine, there were already hundreds of miners waiting there, stomping their feet and breathing on their hands because of the severe cold.These strangers stood near the computer room.Scanlon and McMurdo boarded a pile of cinders from which there was a panoramic view.They saw the mine technician, a bearded Scot named Menzies, come out of the engine room, blow his whistle, and direct the cage to lower.
At this moment, a slender, honest-faced, clean-shaven young man walked towards the mine.As he approached, he caught sight of the group of silent, standing people next to the engine room, with their hats pulled down and their coat collars turned up to cover their faces.For a moment the manager had a presentiment of death's grim hand on his heart, but he was desperate to do his duty to expel these intruding strangers.
"Who are you?" he asked, walking forward. "What are you wandering about here?"
No one answered him, but the teenager Andrews stepped forward and shot him in the stomach.The hundreds of miners waiting to start work stood there motionless, bewildered, as if they had been stunned by fright.The manager covered his wound with his hands, stooped, and staggered away, but the other killer fired again, and he fell to the ground, struggling for his life among the slag.When the Scotsman Menzies saw it, he roared and raised a big iron wrench to beat the murderers, but he was shot twice in the face at once, and also fell dead at the feet of the murderers.
There was a commotion, and some miners rushed forward, but two strangers fired several shots at the heads of the crowd, and the crowd broke up, and some ran straight back to their homes in Vermissa.
Only a few of the most daring reunited and returned to the mines.The gang of murderers had disappeared into the early morning mist. Although they killed two lives in front of hundreds of onlookers, they left no evidence.
Scanlon and McMurdo turned home.Scanlon was dismayed because this was the first time he had witnessed murder, and it was not a "game" as he had been led to believe.The horrific cries of the murdered manager's wife haunted their ears as they rushed back into town.McMurdo was too shocked to say a word, but he was not impressed by the cowardice of his companion.
"Really, it's like a war," repeated McMurdo. "What is a war between us and them? Hit them back wherever you can."
In the chapter offices of the union building that night there was revelry, not only for the victory over the assassination of the Crow Hill coal manager and technician, a victory which gave the party what it wanted over the blackmailed and stupefied corporations; but also for the chapter itself victories over the years.
When the County Delegate sent five of his men to Vermissa to assassinate, he demanded that Vermissa secretly send three men to kill William Hales of Steckroyal as a reward.Hales was a well-known and beloved mine owner in the Gilmertown area.He was convinced that he had no enemies in the world, for he was in every respect a model employer.But he was efficient in his work, and had dismissed drunken, rambunctious, idle employees who were members of the all-powerful Die Cool Party.Even if death threatened him, it could not shake his resolve.In a free and civilized country, he was murdered.
After they killed, Ted Baldwin, who was the leader of the group, lay sprawled halfway on the bench of honor beside the body owner.His flushed face and dull, bloodshot eyes suggested he hadn't slept or drunk too much.On the first day he spent the night in the mountains with two accomplices.They are unkempt and tired.But few heroes who return from the Death Squad get such a warm welcome from their comrades.
They happily talked about their masterpieces over and over again, accompanied by excited shouts and wild laughter.They hid themselves on the top of a steep hill, and waited for the dusk return of the man they were about to kill, who, they knew, would let his horse saunter here.Because of the severe cold, the victim was wearing fur clothing, so that he could not pull out a pistol in the future.They pulled him off his horse and shot him several times.He begged for mercy.This begging for mercy was repeated over and over by the die-hard party members as a joke.
"Let us hear his screams again," cried the bandits.
None of them knew the man, but it was the endless drama of carnage, and they were trying to show the diehards of the Gilmertown area that they could be trusted.
In another accident, a couple were driving here when they dumped all the bullets in their guns on the lying corpse.It was suggested that these two should be killed together, but they had nothing to do with the mine, so they ordered the couple to be silent and to go away quickly, so as not to suffer any misfortune.Therefore, the mangled corpse was left there to warn the hard-hearted mine owners, while the three outstanding Avengers disappeared in the wilderness of the ancient unexplored mountains.
They got it, they were safe and secure here, and the applause and applause of their party members was endless.
It was a proud day for the diehards, and gloom hung over the valley.But just as a resourceful general chooses the moment of victory to multiply his gains and leave the enemy no time to recuperate after a rout, so Chief McGinty had a plan of battle before his sinister eyes, devising new schemes to murder those who opposed him. people.That very evening, after the half-drunk partisans had dispersed, McGinty touched McMurdo on the arm and led him into the inner room where they had first met.
"Well, my boy," said McGinty, "I've got you a job worth doing at last. You can do it yourself."
"I'm proud to hear that," McMurdo replied.
"You may take two men with you, Mendes and Reilly. I have ordered them. We shall never be safe in this part of the country until Chester Wilcox is removed." .If you can take him out, you'll have the thanks of every chapter in the coal district."
"Anyway, I'll do my best. Who is he? Where can I find him?"
McGinty took the cigar from the corner of his mouth, tore a sheet of paper from his notebook, and began to draw a sketch.
"He's the chief foreman of Dyke Steel, a strong-willed man, an old Marine sergeant in the war, with many wounds and gray hair. We tried him twice without success, and Jim Carnaway lost his life instead. Now please go ahead and finish it. This is the house, all alone at the intersection of Dyke Steel, as you can see in this picture, no one Can hear voices. Can't go during the day, he's always on the alert, shoots fast and well, and shoots without asking. But at night—yes, with his wife, three kids, and a servant Live there. You kill them all, no choice. If you put a pack of dynamite on the front door with a slow-moving fuse on it..."
"What did this man do?"
"Didn't I tell you he shot Jim Carnaway?"
"Why did he shoot Jim?"
"What does that have to do with you? Canaway walked near his house at night and he shot Canaway. That's what you and I are talking about. You can go and get this sorted out now."
"And two women and a child. Kill them too?"
"Kill him too, otherwise how can we kill him?"
"They haven't committed any crimes, and it seems a bit difficult to kill them together."
"How stupid is that? Have you changed your mind?"
"Wait, Senator, don't worry! When have I ever said or done anything that would make you think I'm not taking orders from my Lord? Whether it's true or not, it's up to you to decide."
"So, you're going to finish it?"
"Of course I went to finish it."
"when?"
"Oh, you'd better give me an evening or two so I can look at the house, make plans, and..."
"Very well," said McGinty, shaking his hand, "I leave this up to you. We'll have a good time celebrating when you bring the news back. It's just the last thing that makes them all Bow to us."
McMurdo pondered for a long time on his sudden acceptance of such a commission.The lonely house where Chester Wilcox lived was about five miles away in the neighboring valley.On this night, McMurdo went alone to prepare for the assassination.When he came back from scouting the situation, it was already daylight.The next day he went to see his two assistants, Mendes and Reilly, two reckless young men who were in high spirits as if they were going to a siege game.
Two nights later they met outside the town, all three armed, one with a sack of quarry explosives.It was two o'clock in the morning when they came to the lonely house.At night, the wind was strong, the clouds were chaotic, and the half moon appeared and disappeared.Fearing that the hounds would come out, they walked forward very cautiously, the guns in their hands opened wide.But only heard the howling wind, there was no other sound, only the swaying branches, no movement.
McMurdo stood and listened for a while at the door of this lonely house, and there was no sound inside, so he put the powder-powder beside the door, dug a small hole with his penknife, lit the fuse, and walked with his two accomplices. In a safe place far away, lie down in the ditch and watch.The roar of dynamite explosions and the muffled rumble of collapsing houses told them they had done their job.Never in the bloody history of the society had there been such a clean masterpiece.
However, alas, their careful planning and bold execution were in vain!It turned out that Chester Wilcox had heard the news that many people had been murdered, and knew that the diehards were coming to murder him, so he moved his family to a safer and unknown place the day before.There was also a contingent of police guarding it.All that was destroyed by the explosives was an empty house, and this resolute old Marine Corps sergeant still strictly managed the miners of the Dyke Iron Works.
"Wait for me to deal with him," said McMurdo. "Give him to me, and if I wait a year for him, I shall be sure to finish him."
Everyone in the meeting expressed their gratitude and trust to him, so the matter was temporarily over.
A few weeks later, newspapers reported that Wilcox had been assassinated.And McMurdo continued to finish his unfinished work, which is already known.
That's what the Freedmen do, and that's what the Diehards do.They reigned terror over this vast and fertile region, and for a long time the people lived in fear because of the terror of the Deathstrokers.Why stain the paper with so many sinful facts?Have I not fully explained these men and their methods?
The actions of these people have been recorded in history, and people can see the detailed plot from the records.There the reader will see that they also shot and killed cops Hunter and Evans for having the audacity to arrest two diehards - two atrocities planned by the Vermissa chapter and which brutally murdered two The isolated and unarmed man; the reader may also read that Mrs. Rabe was shot and held fast to her husband, whom Chief McGinty ordered to be beaten half to death; that old Jenkins was murdered, and soon after his brother was murdered ; James Murdoch was crippled; the Staplehorse family was bombed; Standalus was murdered; one tragedy after another occurred in this terrible winter.
A dark haze hangs over the Uncanny Valley.Spring is here, the stream is gurgling, and the vegetation is sprouting.Nature, long chained, is revived; but men and women who live in terror remain hopeless.Never had the cloud over them been so dark and hopeless as in the early summer of 1875.
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