There was a surge forward of some of the miners, and an inarticulatecry of pity and of anger; but a couple of the strangers emptied theirsix-shooters over the heads of the crowd, and they broke and scattered,some of them rushing wildly back to their homes in Vermissa.
When a few of the bravest had rallied, and there was a return to themine, the murderous gang had vanished in the mists of morning, withouta single witness being able to swear to the identity of these men whoin front of a hundred spectators had wrought this double crime.
Scanlan and McMurdo made their way back; Scanlan somewhat subdued, forit was the first murder job that he had seen with his own eyes, and itappeared less funny than he had been led to believe. The horriblescreams of the dead manager's wife pursued them as they hurried to thetown. McMurdo was absorbed and silent; but he showed no sympathy forthe weakening of his companion.
"Sure, it is like a war," he repeated. "What is it but a war between usand them, and we hit back where we best can."
There was high revel in the lodge room at the Union House that night,not only over the killing of the manager and engineer of the Crow Hillmine, which would bring this organization into line with the otherblackmailed and terror-stricken companies of the district, but alsoover a distant triumph which had been wrought by the hands of the lodgeitself.
It would appear that when the County Delegate had sent over five goodmen to strike a blow in Vermissa, he had demanded that in return threeVermissa men should be secretly selected and sent across to killWilliam Hales of Stake Royal, one of the best known and most popularmine owners in the Gilmerton district, a man who was believed not tohave an enemy in the world; for he was in all ways a model employer. Hehad insisted, however, upon efficiency in the work, and had, therefore,paid off certain drunken and idle employees who were members of theall-powerful society. Coffin notices hung outside his door had notweakened his resolution, and so in a free, civilized country he foundhimself condemned to death.
The execution had now been duly carried out. Ted Baldwin, who sprawlednow in the seat of honour beside the Bodymaster, had been chief of theparty. His flushed face and glazed, blood-shot eyes told ofsleeplessness and drink. He and his two comrades had spent the nightbefore among the mountains. They were unkempt and weather-stained. Butno heroes, returning from a forlorn hope, could have had a warmerwelcome from their comrades.
The story was told and retold amid cries of delight and shouts oflaughter. They had waited for their man as he drove home at nightfall,taking their station at the top of a steep hill, where his horse mustbe at a walk. He was so furred to keep out the cold that he could notlay his hand on his pistol. They had pulled him out and shot him againand again. He had screamed for mercy. The screams were repeated for theamusement of the lodge.
"Let's hear again how he squealed," they cried.
None of them knew the man; but there is eternal drama in a killing, andthey had shown the Scowrers of Gilmerton that the Vermissa men were tobe relied upon.
There had been one contretemps; for a man and his wife had driven upwhile they were still emptying their revolvers into the silent body. Ithad been suggested that they should shoot them both; but they wereharmless folk who were not connected with the mines, so they weresternly bidden to drive on and keep silent, lest a worse thing befallthem. And so the blood-mottled figure had been left as a warning to allsuch hard-hearted employers, and the three noble avengers had hurriedoff into the mountains where unbroken nature comes down to the veryedge of the furnaces and the slag heaps. Here they were, safe andsound, their work well done, and the plaudits of their companions intheir ears.
It had been a great day for the Scowrers. The shadow had fallen evendarker over the valley. But as the wise general chooses the moment ofvictory in which to redouble his efforts, so that his foes may have notime to steady themselves after disaster, so Boss McGinty, looking outupon the scene of his operations with his brooding and malicious eyes,had devised a new attack upon those who opposed him. That very night,as the half-drunken company broke up, he touched McMurdo on the arm andled him aside into that inner room where they had their first interview.
"See here, my lad," said he, "I've got a job that's worthy of you atlast. You'll have the doing of it in your own hands."
"Proud I am to hear it," McMurdo answered.
"You can take two men with you--Manders and Reilly. They have beenwarned for service. We'll never be right in this district until ChesterWilcox has been settled, and you'll have the thanks of every lodge inthe coal fields if you can down him."
"I'll do my best, anyhow. Who is he, and where shall I find him?"
McGinty took his eternal half-chewed, half-smoked cigar from the cornerof his mouth, and proceeded to draw a rough diagram on a page torn fromhis notebook.
"He's the chief foreman of the Iron Dike Company. He's a hard citizen,an old colour sergeant of the war, all scars and grizzle. We've had twotries at him; but had no luck, and Jim Carnaway lost his life over it.Now it's for you to take it over. That's the house--all alone at theIron Dike crossroad, same as you see here on the map--without anotherwithin earshot. It's no good by day. He's armed and shoots quick andstraight, with no questions asked. But at night--well, there he is withhis wife, three children, and a hired help. You can't pick or choose.It's all or none. If you could get a bag of blasting powder at thefront door with a slow match to it--"
"What's the man done?"
"Didn't I tell you he shot Jim Carnaway?"
"Why did he shoot him?"
"What in thunder has that to do with you? Carnaway was about his houseat night, and he shot him. That's enough for me and you. You've got tosettle the thing right."
"There's these two women and the children. Do they go up too?"
"They have to--else how can we get him?"
"It seems hard on them; for they've done nothing."
"What sort of fool's talk is this? Do you back out?"
"Easy, Councillor, easy! What have I ever said or done that you shouldthink I would be after standing back from an order of the Bodymaster ofmy own lodge? If it's right or if it's wrong, it's for you to decide."
"You'll do it, then?"
"Of course I will do it."
"When?"