The Valley of Fear

e

ttlements was slowly groaning its way up the steep gradients which lead from Stagville on the plain to Vermissa, the central township which lies at the head of Vermissa Valley. From this point the track sweeps downward to Bartons Crossing, Helmdale, and the purely agricultural coun

s compared to this gloomy land of black crag and tangled forest. Above the dark and often scarcely penetrable woods upon their flanks, the high, bare crowns of the

eturning from their day's toil in the lower part of the valley. At least a dozen, by their grimed faces and the safety lanterns which they carried, proclaimed themselves miners.

torekeepers made up the rest of the company, with the exception of one young man in a corner by

ee that he is of a sociable and possibly simple disposition, anxious to be friendly to all men. Anyone could pick him at once as gregarious in his habits and communicative in his nature, with a quick wit and a ready smile. And yet the man who studied him more closely m

ving only short, gruff replies, the traveller resigned himself to uncong

cinders loomed up on each side, with the high shafts of the collieries towering above them. Huddled groups of mean, wooden houses, the windows of which were beg

isured or the cultured. Everywhere there were stern signs of the crudest batt

he scribbled some notes. Once from the back of his waist he produced something which one would hardly have expected to find in the possession of so mild-mannered a man. It was a navy revolver of the largest size. As he turned it slantwise to the

id he. "You seem

iled with an air

ed them sometimes in t

re may t

t from C

er in the

es

u need it here,"

" The young man

nothing of doi

out of

full of it. You'll hear quick

as always work f

member of

ur

ur job, I guess. Ha

have the means

that,

. There's no town without a lodge, and wh

ers in the car. The miners were still whispering among themselves. The two police officers we

there,"

passed bet

o make certain." He raised his right hand to his right eyebrow.

e unpleasant,"

rs to travel," th

canlan, Lodge 341, Vermissa Valley

e 29, Chicago. Bodymaster J. H. Scott. But

re in the States than right here in Vermissa Valley. But we could do with some lads l

of work to do,

y did yo

en and smiled. "I guess those chap

etically. "In trouble?"

ee

tentiar

the r

a kil

n he intended. "I've my own good reasons for leaving Chicago, and let that be enough for you. Who are you that you shoul

will think none the worse of you, whatever yo

rmi

lt down the line. Wh

lamp. "Here is the address-Jacob Shafter, Sheridan Street. It's

before we part: If you're in trouble in Vermissa, go straight to the Union House and see Boss McGinty. He is the Bodymaster of Vermissa Lodge, and nothing can happen in th

uent furnaces were roaring and leaping in the darkness. Against their lurid background dark figures were bending and

look something like

policemen had shifted in his seat and

thing like that. If there are worse devils down yonder than some we could na

m?" McMurdo answer

careful in choosing your friends. I don't think I'd

tercation. "Did I ask you for your advice, or did you think me such a sucker that I couldn't move without it? You speak when you are spoken

taken aback by the extraordinary vehemence with

warning for your own good, seeing that you

!" cried McMurdo in cold fury. "I guess you're the same in

," said one of the patrolmen with a grin. "Yo

" remarked the other. "I

want me, you'll find me at Jacob Shafter's on Sheridan Street, Vermissa; so I'm not hiding from yo

e dauntless demeanour of the newcomer, while the two policemen shru

ing; for Vermissa was by far the largest town on the line. McMurdo picked up his leather

ce of awe. "It was grand to hear you. Let me carry your grip and sh

rs as they passed from the platform. Before ever he had set foot

and industry of man found fitting monuments in the hills which he had spilled by the side of his monstrous excavations. But the town showed a dead level of mean ugliness and squalor. The broad street was churned up by the traffi

row of well-lit stores, and even more by a cluster of saloons and gaming

g to one saloon which rose almost to the dignity

a man is he?"

ou never hear

him when you know that I am

wn clear across the country. It's

at

lowered his voice-

affa

offense. There's only one set of affairs that you'll hear

the Scowrers in Chicago. A ga

ement at his companion. "Man, you won't live long in these parts if you speak in t

g about them. It's o

er, then God knows there is murder and to spare. But don't you dare to breathe the name of Jack McGinty in connection with it, stranger; for every whisper goes back to him, and he is not one

intance he plodded, gripsack in hand, up the path which led to th

ed the stranger with surprise and a pleasing embarrassment which brought a wave of colour over her pale face. Framed in the bright light of the open doorway, it seemed to McMurdo that he had never seen a more beautiful picture; the more attractive for its

ittle touch of a German accent. "Did you come to see

n admiration until her eyes dropped in

him. But your house was recommended to me for board

ke up your mind," sa

man could do as much

after's daughter. My mother's dead, and I run the house. You can sit down by the stove in the

address in Chicago. He in turn had had it from someone else. Old Shafter was quite ready. The stranger made no bones about terms, agreed at

p his abode under the roof of the Shafters, the first step which was to