Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 136 Uncanny Valley (14)
All these bloody facts have become solid history, and those who want to know the details can find the basis of the records.Those records also show that two police officers, Hunter and Evans, were shot because they had the audacity to arrest two members of the Vermissa Chapter; The records of her husband being shot—her husband beaten half to death on McGinty's orders; Jenkins murdered after his brother James Murdoch; the Staplehorse family bombed, Stan's Ruth's murder...one by one, all happened in that cold winter.

The valley of fear is filled with the shadow of death.Spring finally came, the streams began to flow due to the thaw, and flowers appeared on the treetops and branches.Nature, which had been suppressed for a long time, gradually returned to life.But the men and women who are deeply shrouded in terror are still desperate.Because nothing made them feel more hopeless and helpless than the early summer of [-].Contribute

The cloud of terror reached its peak.McMurdo was by this time a member of the senior deacons, and was a promising candidate to succeed McGinty as branch president.Nowadays, his opinions are sought for most matters in the meeting, so that if he does not intervene to guide and assist later, many things will be difficult to carry out.However, as his reputation in the Freedmen's Association grew, more and more people walked on the streets of Vermissa cursing and hating him.They are determined to disregard terror and threats, and unite thoroughly to resist those domineering people.The chapter had heard rumors that there were secret meetings at the Herald office, and that law-abiding civilians were beginning to be distributed weapons.But McGinty and his men didn't mind.Relying on their large numbers and superior weapons, they are defiant and bold.They think that their opponents have no power and power, and they are in a state of disunity, so there is nothing wrong with it.The result, they believe, is nothing more than the same old, aimless talk that ends in nothing.That's what McGinty, McMurdo and the congregation say.

Saturday night is usually the day for members to gather.On a Saturday evening in May, McMurdo was on his way to a meeting when the Morris brothers, who were called cowards, came to him unexpectedly.Maurice was sad, his brows were furrowed, his benevolent face looked haggard.

"May I have a word with you, Mr. McMurdo."

"of course can."

"I have never forgotten that after I told you what was in my heart that time, even the president himself kept his mouth shut when he interrogated you."

"Since you trust me, how can I not protect you? But that doesn't mean I agree with you."

"I know that. But it's only to you that I can speak my heart, and I'm not afraid to let it out. And now I have a secret," he said, putting his hand on his chest, "and it's killing me. I wish it was No one but me but me. If I speak up, there will be another murder. But if I don't speak up, it may lead to the end of us all. God help me, I don't know what to do !"

McMurdo looked at him earnestly, and he shivered.McMurdo poured him a glass of whiskey.

"That's the medicine for people like you," said McMurdo. "Now tell me."

After Morris drank the wine, his pale face returned to rosy. "I can explain it to you in one sentence," he said. "We've got detectives after us."

McMurdo looked at him in amazement.

"What? You're crazy, man!" said McMurdo. "Isn't this place full of cops and detectives? What's the deal with us?"

"No, no, not the natives. As you say, the natives, we all know, don't do much. But you've heard of the Pinkerton detective (played by Alan Pinkerton) Founded, is it a national detective organization——Translator's Note)?"

"I've heard of it."

"Well, I can tell you, don't take it lightly when they're after you. It's not a casual government agency, it's a serious organization that will do whatever it takes to find something. .If some Pinkerton detective gets involved, we're all ruined."

"We have to kill him."

"Oh, that's the first thing you think of! The chapter will certainly do the same. Didn't I just say it would turn out to be another murder."

"Of course, what is murder? Isn't it a very common thing here?"

"Indeed, that's true, but I don't want this man to be killed, otherwise my conscience will never be at ease. But if we don't kill him, our own lives are in danger. God, what should I do?" He body Rocking back and forth, hesitating.

These words moved McMurdo deeply.It's not hard to see that McMurdo agrees with Morris on the crisis, which needs to be taken seriously.So he stroked Maurice's shoulder and shook him eagerly.

"Well, man," cried McMurdo, agitated, almost shouting, "it's no use for you to sit here like a widow weeping. Let's examine the situation. Who is this man? Where is he? How did you hear? Why did you come to me?"

"I came to you because you are the only one who can help me. As I said, I had a store in the west before I came here, and there were some good friends of mine there. One of them worked in the telegraph office, and that was me. Received yesterday his letter to me. The first paragraph is, read it for yourself."

McMurdo read:

How are the vampires in your area doing now?Saw a lot of reports about them in the newspaper.Hope to hear from you in secret soon.Five big companies and two railway bureaus are very concerned about this matter and are determined to go all out to deal with them.Now that they've gotten to the bottom of this, you can be sure they're clearly prepared.The Pinkerton Detective Company has been ordered to investigate, and its ace, Purdy Edward, is on the move.These evils now seem to be about to be stopped.

"Read the postscript."

Of course, what I tell you is learned from daily business work, so please keep it secret.The code for the telegram is different every day, and I can't figure it out.

McMurdo took the telegram and sat listlessly for a long time, when a cloud of fog rose up and made him feel as if he had fallen into an abyss.

"Anyone else know about it?" asked McMurdo.

"I didn't tell anyone."

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

"Well, I dare say he knows a couple of them."

"Is it from the club?"

"Very likely."

"I asked this because maybe he could give us some information about Purdy Edward. Then we can start to track down his whereabouts."

"Oh, that's all right. But I don't think he knew Edward. He told me the news, and got it in the course of his business. How could he know the Pinkerton detective?"

McMurdo jumped to his feet.

"My God!" he exclaimed, "I must catch him. How foolish I must be to not even know that! But we're lucky! Take him before he can do any damage. Say, Maurice, will you leave this matter to me?"

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

"That's it, and you can let go. I don't even need to mention your name. I do things alone, and this letter is written to me. Are you satisfied?"

"I hope so."

"Well, stop here, and you don't say anything. Now I'm going to the chapter, and I'm going to get the old Pinkerton detective down very quickly."

"You're not going to kill this man, are you?"

"Maurice, my friend, the less you know, the clearer your conscience. Better go back to sleep, don't ask any more questions, and let things take their course. Now I'll deal with it."

When Morris left, he shook his head sadly and sighed: "It seems like my hands are covered with his blood."

"Self-defense isn't murder anyway," laughed McMurdo grimly. "Either we kill him or he kills us. If we keep him here long, he'll catch us all sooner or later. Well, Mo Brother Rhys, you should be elected president because you saved our entire chapter."

That being said, it's clear from his actions that he takes this new threat far more seriously than he says.Maybe it's a guilty conscience; maybe it's because of the prestige of the Pinkerton organization; maybe it's because of the knowledge that those big and rich companies are determined to wipe out the blood-sucking party. In any case, his actions show that he has done the worst. Intend.Before leaving home, he destroyed every scrap of paper that might implicate him in a criminal case.Then he let out a long breath of satisfaction, seeming to feel safe.But in fact he was not relieved, because on the way to the branch, he stopped at the old Shaft's house again.Shafter had banned McMurdo from his house.McMurdo tapped lightly on the window, and Edie came out to meet him.The mischievous Irishman in her lover's eyes is gone, and Etty seems to see some kind of danger in his serious face.

"Something must have happened to you!" cried Itdie. "Oh, Jack, you must be in danger!"

"Yes, my dear, but it's not too bad. It's wise to move our house before things get worse."

"move place?"

"Remember I promised you that sooner or later I would get out of here. I think the day has finally come. I got some bad news tonight. I think there's going to be trouble."

"Is it the police?"

"Yes, a Pinkerton detective. But, my dear, you don't have to ask too much, and you don't have to know what it's going to do to a man like me. I'm in too deep, but maybe soon enough Pull away. You said that if I left here, you would go with me."

"Oh, Jack, that's the only way you can save yourself."

"In some things, I'm still honest, Etie, even if I had everything, I would never hurt a hair of your beautiful body, let alone drag you down from the clouds. You believe me ?"

Edie silently put her hand in McMurdo's.

"Well, then, please listen to me and do as I tell you, it's the only way we can survive. I'm sure something big is going to happen in the valley. Many of us need to be on our guard. Anyway, I'm one of the One. If I leave here, no matter when, you have to go with me!"

"I'll follow, Jack."

"No, no, you must go 'with' me. If I leave this valley, I will never come back, perhaps to avoid the police, and I will not even have a chance to communicate. How can I leave you? You must Come with me. There is a good woman in my hometown, and I will settle you there and marry you. Will you go?"

"Okay, Jack, I'll go with you."

"God bless you for trusting me! If I betray your trust, I'll be a devil from hell. Now, Etty, please take note, if only I'll bring you a note, and once you get it , I have to abandon everything, go directly to the waiting room of the station, wait there, and I will come to you."

"I received a note from you, no matter day or night, I will definitely go, Jack."

Having made preparations to leave, McMurdo felt a little better, and walked towards the branch.It was already full of people.He answered the signal and passed through the heavily fortified outer guard and inner guard.McMurdo received a warm welcome as soon as he walked in!The room was full of people, and through the smoke he saw McGinty's long, thick black hair in a mess, Baldwin's ferocious and unfriendly expression, Secretary Harraway's vulture-like face, except In addition, there are more than a dozen core figures of the branch.He was glad they were all here so that he could confer on the news he had received.

"It's a pleasure to see you, brother!" cried McGinty. "There's a matter here that calls for a just decision by a wise man."

"It's Rand and Egan," explained McMurdo as his neighbor explained to him as he sat down, "they're both vying for the bounty of the chapter, and they both think it's a Do it yourself. Tell me who actually shot it?"

McMurdo stood up from his seat, raised his hands, his face was expressionless, which stunned everyone present, and then there was a dead silence.

"My Honorable Master," said McMurdo gravely, "I have an urgent report!"

"Since Brother McMurdo has an emergency report," said McGinty, "according to the rules of the meeting, it should be discussed first. Now, brother, please speak."

McMurdo took the letter from his pocket.

"Respected president and brothers," McMurdo said, "I bring some bad news today. Fortunately, we knew it in advance, so that we can discuss it in time, otherwise we will inevitably suffer from it and be destroyed. I have been notified that the richest and most powerful organizations in the country will unite to destroy us, and a man named Purdy Edward of a detective agency called Pinkerton has come to this valley and is collecting evidence .That is enough to put all of us in this room under threat of death and possible recidivism. That's what I'm talking about as an emergency, please discuss."

There was a sudden silence in the room, which was finally broken by McGinty.

"Brother McMurdo, do you have any proof?"

"I got a letter and that's where the situation is," McMurdo said.He read this paragraph aloud, and said, "I have pledged my personality that I cannot tell the rest of the letter, nor can I give the letter to you, but I can assure you that there will be nothing in the letter that contradicts our association. It's a matter of interest. That's all I know."

"Permit me to tell you," said an older brother, "that I have heard of Purdy Edward, one of the most famous detectives in the Pinkerton Private Eye Company."

"Can anyone identify him?"

"Yes," said McMurdo, "I have seen him."

Suddenly there was a murmur of surprise in the room.

"I'm sure he's out of our hands," continued McMurdo, smiling, "and if we act quickly and tactly, this matter can be settled quickly. If you can trust me, give If I have some support, then we have nothing to fear."

"But what are we afraid of? How can he know about us?"

"Mr. Congressman, if everyone is as strong and loyal as you are, you can say so. But this man has those capitalists' millions backing him. Do you think there is not a weak-willed brother in our society who can be bought?" He'll have our secret—perhaps he has. There's only one sure way now."

"That is, he cannot leave this valley alive!" Baldwin said.

McMurdo nodded. "You speak well, Brother Baldwin," said McMurdo. "You and I have often disagreed, but to-night we agree."

"Where is he, then? Where can I meet him?"

"Dear President," said McMurdo enthusiastically, "I would like to suggest that this is a matter of life and death for us, and that it is not advisable to discuss it openly in this meeting. I do not distrust any of the brethren here, but as long as there is Any information gets to that detective, and we risk losing our chance of catching him. I'm asking the club to select some of the most reliable people, if I may suggest, Mr. Congressman, you one, and Brother Baldwin, five more Personally. Then I'm free to say what I know and what I'm going to do."

McMurdo's advice was immediately followed.In addition to McGinty and Baldwin, the elected staff also include the eagle-faced Secretary Haraway, Tiger Cormac, Treasurer Carter, and the bold Willaby brothers.

The revelry of the old party was covered by a dark cloud, and many people began to see for the first time that the places where they had lived for a long time were gradually drifting dark clouds of law and revenge, and the clear sky disappeared in an instant.Inflicting terror on others has become the norm in their lives, and they never expect retribution.To their horror now, retribution was so urgent and so pressing on their shoulders.So, the usual feast ended hastily this time.The party members dispersed early, and only their leaders remained to discuss.

"Now tell me, McMurdo," said McGinty, of whom there were only seven people left, all sitting there stunned.

"As I said just now, I knew Purdy Edward," explained McMurdo, "and it is needless to say that he does not use that name here. The man was brave and manly, and certainly not a fool. He used a pseudonym." Steve Wilson, who lives in Hobson Land."

"How do you know?"

"Because I spoke to him. I didn't realize it at the time, and if it hadn't been for this letter, I'd never have forgotten it. But now I'm sure it was the man. On Wednesday I went to Hobson's Land on errands, at Met him in the car. He said he was a reporter and I believed him at the time. He said he was writing for a New York newspaper and wanted to know something about the vampires and what he called 'atrocities' He asked a lot of questions and said he was going to get some writing material. You can believe that I didn't reveal anything. He said, "If I can get material that is useful for the article, I will pay you a lot of money." After a while of what he loved to hear, he gave me a 20-dollar bill for my reward. And said, 'If you'll tell me everything I need, ten times the reward.'"

"So, what did you tell him?"

"Make up any story I can think of."

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

"I can tell you that he got off at Hobson Land, just as I was going to the telegraph office, and he came out just as I went in.

"'Well,' said the operator after he had gone out, 'I think we should charge double for this kind of message.' I said, 'I think you should charge double.' The clerk said, "He comes to send a telegram every day." I said, "Yes, this is a special news from his newspaper. I'm afraid others will take it first." The operator thought so at the time. But now I think very differently."

"My God! You're right," said McGinty, "but what do you think we should do?"

"Why not deal with him at once?" suggested one of the partisans.

"Well, yes, the sooner the better."

"If I knew where he lived, I would have done so at once," said McMurdo. "I only know that he is in Hobson's Landing, but not where he lives. But if you will listen to me, I will There is a plan."

"Okay, what's the plan?"

(End of this chapter)