The Valley of Fear (Sherlock Holmes 7)

McGinty glanced his eyes over the account of the shooting of one JonasPinto, in the Lake Saloon, Market Street, Chicago, in the New Year weekof 1874.

"Your work?" he asked, as he handed back the paper.

McMurdo nodded.

"Why did you shoot him?"

"I was helping Uncle Sam to make dollars. Maybe mine were not as goodgold as his, but they looked as well and were cheaper to make. This manPinto helped me to shove the queer--"

"To do what?"

"Well, it means to pass the dollars out into circulation. Then he saidhe would split. Maybe he did split. I didn't wait to see. I just killedhim and lighted out for the coal country."

"Why the coal country?"

"'Cause I'd read in the papers that they weren't too particular inthose parts."

McGinty laughed. "You were first a coiner and then a murderer, and youcame to these parts because you thought you'd be welcome."

"That's about the size of it," McMurdo answered.

"Well, I guess you'll go far. Say, can you make those dollars yet?"

McMurdo took half a dozen from his pocket. "Those never passed thePhiladelphia mint," said he.

"You don't say!" McGinty held them to the light in his enormous hand,which was hairy as a gorilla's. "I can see no difference. Gar! you'llbe a mighty useful brother, I'm thinking! We can do with a bad man ortwo among us, Friend McMurdo: for there are times

when we have to takeour own part. We'd soon be against the wall if we didn't shove back atthose that were pushing us."

"Well, I guess I'll do my share of shoving with the rest of the boys."

"You seem to have a good nerve. You didn't squirm when I shoved thisgun at you."

"It was not me that was in danger."

"Who then?"

"It was you, Councillor." McMurdo drew a cocked pistol from the sidepocket of his peajacket. "I was covering you all the time. I guess myshot would have been as quick as yours."

"By Gar!" McGinty flushed an angry red and then burst into a roar oflaughter. "Say, we've had no such holy terror come to hand this many ayear. I reckon the lodge will learn to be proud of you.... Well, whatthe hell do you want? And can't I speak alone with a gentleman for fiveminutes but you must butt in on us?"

The bartender stood abashed. "I'm sorry, Councillor, but it's TedBaldwin. He says he must see you this very minute."

The message was unnecessary; for the set, cruel face of the man himselfwas looking over the servant's shoulder. He pushed the bartender outand closed the door on him.

"So," said he with a furious glance at McMurdo, "you got here first,did you? I've a word to say to you, Councillor, about this man."

"Then say it here and now before my face," cried McMurdo.

"I'll say it at my own time, in my own way."

"Tut! Tut!" said McGinty, getting off his barrel. "This will never do.We have a new brother here, Baldwin, and it's not for us to greet himin such fashion. Hold out your hand, man, and make it up!"

"Never!" cried Baldwin in a fury.

"I've offered to fight him if he thinks I have wronged him," saidMcMurdo. "I'll fight him with fists, or, if that won't satisfy him,I'll fight him any other way he chooses. Now, I'll leave it to you,Councillor, to judge between us as a Bodymaster should."

"What is it, then?"