The Valley of Fear V 4 - The Bodymaster

None

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part two, Chapter two of the Valley of Fear by
Arthur Conan Doyle. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox
recordings are in the public domain. For more information or
to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Chapter two. The
Body Master Macmurdo was a man who made his mark quickly.

(00:25):
Wherever he was, the folk around soon knew it. Within
a week he had become infinitely the most important person
at Shafters. There were ten or a dozen boarders there,
but they were honest foremen or commonplace clerks from the stores,
of a very different caliber from the young irishman of

(00:46):
an evening. When they gathered together, his joke was always
the readiest, his conversation the brightest, and his song the best.
He was a born boon companion with a magnetism which
drew good, huge humor from all around him. And yet
he showed again and again, as he had shown in
the railway carriage, a capacity for sudden, fierce anger, which

(01:10):
compelled the respect and even the fear of those who
met him. For the law, too, and all who were
connected with it, he exhibited a bitter contempt which delighted some,
and alarmed others of his fellow borders. From the first
he made it evident by his open admiration that the

(01:31):
daughter of the house had won his heart, from the
instant that he had set eyes upon her beauty and
her grace. He was no backward suitor. On the second
day he told her that he loved her, and from
then onward he repeated the same story with an absolute
disregard of what she might say to discourage him.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Someone else, he would cry, well to worse luck for
someone else, Let him not go for himself. Am I
to lose my life's chance and on my heart to
desire for someone else? You can keep on seeing, no idy?
Did he will come when you will see? Yes? And
I'm young enough to wat He.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
Was a dangerous suitor, with his glib irish tongue and
his pretty, coaxing ways. There was about him also that
glamor of experience and of mystery, which attracts a woman's
interest and finally her love. He could talk of the
sweet valleys of County Monahan, from which he came, of

(02:34):
the lovely distant island, the low hills and green meadows
of which seemed the more beautiful when imagination viewed them
from this place of grime and snow. Then he was
versed in the life of the cities of the north,
of Detroit, and the lumber camps of Michigan, and finally
of Chicago, where he had worked in a plaining mill.

(02:56):
And afterwards came the hint of romance, the feeling that
strange things had happened to him in that great city,
so strange and so intimate that they might not be
spoken of. He spoke wistfully of a sudden leaving, a
breaking of old ties, a flight into a strange world,

(03:17):
ending in this dreary valley, and Etty listened, her dark
eyes gleaming with pity and with sympathy, those two qualities
which may turn so rapidly and so naturally to love.
Macmurdo had obtained a temporary job as bookkeeper, for he
was a well educated man. This kept him out most

(03:39):
of the day, and he had not found occasion yet
to report himself to the head of the lodge of
the Eminent Order of Freemen. He was reminded of his omission, however,
by a visit one evening from Mike Scanlon, the fellow
member whom he had met in the train. Scanlon, the small,

(04:00):
sharp faced, nervous, black eyed man, seem glad to see
him once more. After a glass or two of whiskey,
he broached the objects of his visit. Say, Macmurdo said, he.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
I remembered your address, so I made bold to call.
I'm surprised that you've not reported to the bodymaster. Why
haven't you seen Boss mc ginty yet.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
Well, I had defined a job. I've been busy.

Speaker 3 (04:31):
You must find time for him if you have none
for anything else. Good lord man, you're a fool not
to have been down to the Union House and registered
your name the first morning after you came here. If
you run against him, well you mustn't, That's.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
All macmurdo showed Males's surprise.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
He've been a member of the lodge for over two years, Scanlan,
But I never heard the duties were so brishing his
old debt.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
Maybe not in Chicago.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Well it's to seem so, sayty.

Speaker 4 (05:05):
Hear, is it?

Speaker 1 (05:08):
Scanlon looked at him long and fixedly. There was something
sinister in his eyes.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Isn't it.

Speaker 3 (05:15):
You'll tell me that in a month's time. I hear
you had a talk with a patrolman after I left
the train.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
How did you know that?

Speaker 5 (05:26):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (05:26):
It got about things do get about for good and
for bad in this district.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Well, yes, he tooed the hounds what had tortured them?

Speaker 3 (05:38):
By the Lord? You'll be a man after mc ginty's heart.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
What does he hate the police too?

Speaker 1 (05:46):
Scanlon burst out, laughing.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
You go and see him, my lad, said he as
he took his leave.

Speaker 3 (05:56):
It's not the police but you that he'll hate if
you don't. Now take a friend's advice and go at once.

Speaker 1 (06:04):
It chanced that on the same evening, mat Murdo had
another more pressing interview which urged him in the same direction.
It may have been that his attentions to Etty had
been more evident than before, or that they had gradually
obtruded themselves into the slow mind of his good German host,

(06:25):
But whatever the cause, the boarding house keeper beckoned the
young man into his private room and started on the
subject without any circumlocution.

Speaker 6 (06:37):
It seems to me, mister, said he that you are
getting set on my Etty. Ain't that so? Am I wrong?

Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (06:47):
That is so, the young man answered, Well.

Speaker 6 (06:51):
I want to tell you right now that it ain't
no manner of use. There some one slipped in afore
you she told miss Oh, well you can lay that
she told you the truth. But did she tell you
who it was?

Speaker 3 (07:06):
No?

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Oh, yesked sir, But she wouldn't tell.

Speaker 6 (07:10):
I dare say not of the little baggage. Perhaps she
did not wish to frighten your way righten.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
Mac murdo was on fire in a moment.

Speaker 6 (07:22):
Ah, yes, my friend, you need not be ashamed to
be frightened of him. It is Teddy Baldwin.

Speaker 2 (07:30):
And who the devil to see?

Speaker 4 (07:32):
Well?

Speaker 6 (07:32):
He is a boss of the scourers scores.

Speaker 2 (07:37):
We've heard of them before. The score is here, and
score is there, and always in a whisper. What are
you all afraid of? Who are the scorers?

Speaker 1 (07:49):
The boarding house keeper instinctively sank his voice, as everyone
did who talked about that terrible society this scourers said, he.

Speaker 6 (08:00):
Are the eminent order of freemen.

Speaker 1 (08:04):
The young man stared.

Speaker 2 (08:06):
Why I am a member of deetoor de mycilf you.

Speaker 6 (08:11):
I would never have had you in my house if
I had known it, not if you were to pay
me a hundred dollars a week.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
What's wrong with the order. It's for charity and good
fellowship to Russiso.

Speaker 6 (08:24):
Oh maybe in some places, not here.

Speaker 2 (08:27):
What is it here?

Speaker 6 (08:29):
It's a murder society, That's what it is.

Speaker 1 (08:33):
Mat Murdo laughed incredulously.

Speaker 2 (08:36):
Who could you prove that?

Speaker 1 (08:38):
He asked, prove it?

Speaker 6 (08:41):
Are there not fifty murders to prove it? For about
Meelman unvon Shurst, and the Nicholson family, and old mister
Hyam and little Billy James and the others.

Speaker 2 (08:54):
Prove it?

Speaker 6 (08:55):
Is there a man or a woman in this valley
but does not know it?

Speaker 1 (09:00):
See here, said mat Murdo, earnestly want.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
You to take back what you have said, or else
make it good. One or the other you must do
before I quit this room. Put yourself in my place.
Here am I a stranger into town. I belong to
a society that I know only as an innocent one.
You'll find it through the length and read to the states,

(09:27):
but always as an innocent one. No, when I am
counting upon Johnnie it here you tell me that it
is the same as a murder society called the Scourers.
I guess you owe me either an apology or else
an explanation mister Shafter.

Speaker 6 (09:44):
I can but tell you, but the whole world knows.

Speaker 2 (09:47):
Mister.

Speaker 6 (09:49):
The bosses of the Vaughan are the bosses of the other.
If you offend the one, it is the other that
will strike you. We have proved it too often.

Speaker 2 (10:01):
That's just gossip.

Speaker 1 (10:02):
Were you at proof, said Matt Murdo.

Speaker 6 (10:06):
If you live here long, you will get your proof.
But I forget that you are yourself one of them.
You will soon be as bad as the rest. But
you will find other lodgings. Mister, I cannot have you here.
Is it not bad enough that one of these people
come courting Mighty? And that I dare not turn him down,

(10:28):
but that I should have another for my border? Yes,
indeed you shall not sleep here after to night.

Speaker 1 (10:36):
Mac Murdo found himself on the sentence of banishment, both
from his comfortable quarters and from the girl whom he loved.
He found her alone in the sitting room that same evening,
and he poured his troubles into her ear.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
Sure your father is after giving me notice.

Speaker 1 (10:55):
He said, It's little I would care who had just
my room?

Speaker 2 (11:00):
But indeed, edty do it? Only a week that I've
known you. You are the very breath of life to me,
and I can't live without you.

Speaker 7 (11:09):
Oh hush, mister macmurdo, don't speak, so said the girl.
I have told you, have I not that you are
too late? There's another And if I have not promised
to marry him at once, at least I can promise
no one else.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
Suppose I had been first, Eddy, would I have had
a chance.

Speaker 1 (11:34):
The girl sank her face into her hands.

Speaker 7 (11:42):
I wish to Heaven that you had been first.

Speaker 1 (11:48):
She sobbed. Macmurdo was down on his knees before her
in an instant.

Speaker 2 (11:54):
For God's sake, Eddy, let it stand at that.

Speaker 1 (11:58):
He cried, you ruin your life and.

Speaker 2 (12:01):
My own for the sake of this promise. Full are
you hurt? A cushla tis a safer guid than any prmise.
Before you knew what it was that you were seeing.

Speaker 1 (12:13):
He had seized Etty's white hand between his own strong
brown ones.

Speaker 2 (12:18):
See that you will be mine and we will fit
it out together. Not here, yes, here.

Speaker 7 (12:27):
No, no, jack.

Speaker 1 (12:29):
His arms were round her. Now it could not be here.

Speaker 7 (12:35):
Could you take me away?

Speaker 1 (12:38):
A struggle passed for a moment over mat Murdo's face,
but it ended by setting like granite. No here, he said.

Speaker 2 (12:49):
He'll hold you against the world. Eddy, right here where
we are.

Speaker 7 (12:54):
I should we not leave together?

Speaker 2 (12:57):
No, Eddy, we can't live here. I I'd never hold
my head up again if I felt that I had
been driven out. Besides, what is there to be afraid of?
Are we not free folks in a free country? If
you love me and I you, who will dare to
come between?

Speaker 7 (13:17):
You don't know Jack, You've been here too short a time.
You don't know this Baldwin. You don't know mc guinty
and his squires.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
No, I don't know them, and I don't fear them,
and I don't.

Speaker 1 (13:31):
Believe in them, said mac Murdo.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
I've lived among roof men, my darling, and instead of
fearing them, it has always ended that they have feared
me always, Etty. It's mad on the face of it.
If these men, as your father says, have done crime
after crime in the valley, and if every one knows
them by name, how comes it that none brought to justice?

Speaker 7 (13:58):
You answer me that, Etty, because no witness dares to
appear against them. He would not live a month if
he did. Also, because they have always their own man
to swear that the accused one was far from the
scene of the crime. But surely, Jack, you must have
read all this. I had understood that every paper in

(14:19):
the United States was writing about it.

Speaker 2 (14:21):
Well, I have read something. It is true, But I
had thought it was a story. Maybe these men have
some reason in what they do. Maybe they are wronged
and have no other way to help themselves.

Speaker 7 (14:35):
Oh Jack, don't let me hear you speak. So that
is how he speaks.

Speaker 2 (14:41):
The other one, Baldwin, he speaks like that, does he?

Speaker 7 (14:46):
And that is why I loathe him so, Oh Jack,
Now I can tell you the truth.

Speaker 4 (14:53):
I loathe him with all.

Speaker 7 (14:55):
My heart, but I fear him also. I fear for myself,
But above all I fear him for Father. I know
that some great sorrow would come upon us if I
dared to say what I really felt. That is why
I have put him off with half promises. It wasn't

(15:16):
real truth, our only hope. But if you would fly
with me, Jack, we could take Father with us, and
we can live forever far from the power of these
wicked men.

Speaker 1 (15:27):
Again there was the struggle upon Macmurdo's face, and again
it sat like granite.

Speaker 2 (15:34):
No harm shall come to you, Wtty nor to your
father either as the wicked men you expect, you me
find that I am as bad as a worst of
them before we're through.

Speaker 7 (15:46):
No, no, Jack, I would trust you anywhere.

Speaker 1 (15:51):
Mac Murdo laughed bitterly.

Speaker 2 (15:54):
Good Lord, Oh little you know of me. You're innocent soul.
My dear could not even guess what is pershing in mine?
But hello, who's the visitor?

Speaker 1 (16:07):
The door had opened suddenly the young fellow came swaggering
in with the air of one who is the master.
He was a handsome, dashing young man of about the
same age and build as mac murdo himself. Under his
broad brimmed black felt hat, which he had not trouble
to remove, a handsome face with fierce, domineering eyes and

(16:32):
a curved hawk bill of a nose, looked savagely at
the pair who sat by the stove. Etty had jumped
to her feet, full of confusion and alarm.

Speaker 7 (16:42):
Ugh, I'm glad to see you, mister.

Speaker 1 (16:45):
Baldwin said she.

Speaker 7 (16:47):
You're earlier than I had thought. Come and sit down.

Speaker 1 (16:54):
Baldwin stood with his hands on his hips, looking at
mac murdo. Who is this, he asked, asked curtly.

Speaker 7 (17:02):
It's a friend of mine, mister Baldwin. And no border here,
mister macmurdo, May I introduce you to mister Baldwin.

Speaker 1 (17:13):
The young man nodded in surly fashion to each other.

Speaker 4 (17:17):
Maybe miss Etty has told Howard is with us, said Baldwin.

Speaker 2 (17:21):
Oh, you didn't understand that there was any relation between you.

Speaker 4 (17:26):
Didn't you. Well you can understand it now. You can
take it from me that this young lady is mine,
and you'll find it a very fine evening for a walk.

Speaker 2 (17:35):
Thank you. I am in no humor for a walk.

Speaker 4 (17:39):
Aren't you.

Speaker 1 (17:41):
The man's savage eyes were blazing with anger.

Speaker 4 (17:44):
Maybe you are in a good humor for a fight,
mister Bodda, that I.

Speaker 1 (17:48):
Am, cried mac Murdo, springing to his feet.

Speaker 2 (17:53):
You never said a more welcome word.

Speaker 7 (17:56):
For God's sake, Jack, Oh, for god.

Speaker 1 (18:00):
Sake, cried poor distracted Etty.

Speaker 7 (18:04):
Oh Jack, Jack, he will hurt you.

Speaker 1 (18:07):
Oh it's Jack, is it, said Baldwin, with an oath.

Speaker 4 (18:11):
You've come to that already, have you?

Speaker 5 (18:14):
Oh?

Speaker 7 (18:15):
Ted, be reasonable? Be kind for my sake, Ted, if
you ever loved me, be big hearted and forgiving.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
He think Kitty that if you were to leave us alone,
we could get this thing settled.

Speaker 1 (18:30):
Said mat Murdo quietly.

Speaker 2 (18:32):
Oh maybe, mister Baldwin, you will take a turn down
the street with me. It's a for an evening, and
there's some open groan beyond the next block.

Speaker 4 (18:42):
I'll get even with you without needing to dirty.

Speaker 1 (18:44):
My hands, said his enemy.

Speaker 4 (18:47):
You will wish you had never set foot in this
house before I am through with you.

Speaker 1 (18:51):
No time like the present, cried mac Murdo.

Speaker 4 (18:55):
I'll choose my own time. Mister. You can leave the
time to me, see ya.

Speaker 1 (19:00):
He suddenly rolled up his sleeve and showed upon his
forearm a peculiar sign which appeared to have been branded there.
It was a circle with a triangle within it.

Speaker 4 (19:12):
Do you know what that means?

Speaker 2 (19:14):
I neither know nor care.

Speaker 4 (19:17):
Well you will know. I'll promise you that you won't
be much older either. Perhaps miss Etive can tell you
something about it. As to you, Etty, you will come
back to me on your knees. Do you hear a
gull on your kniece? And then I'll tell you what
your punishment may be. You have soared done by the Lord,
I'll see that you reap.

Speaker 1 (19:38):
He glanced at them both in fury. Then he turned
upon his heel, and an instant later the outer door
had banged behind him. For a few moments, mat murder
and the girl stood in silence. Then she threw her
arms around him.

Speaker 7 (19:55):
Oh Jack, how brave youuver ah, But it's no use.
You must fly to night, Jack to night. It's your
only hope.

Speaker 5 (20:07):
He will have your life.

Speaker 7 (20:09):
I read it in his horrible eyes. Oh what chance
have you against a dozen of them? We've bossed mc
guinty and Allez the power of the lodge behind them.

Speaker 1 (20:21):
Mat Murdo disengaged her hands, kissed her, and gently pushed
her back into a chair.

Speaker 2 (20:28):
Dear, ra cushla, dear, don't be disturbed or fear for me.
I am a freeman myself am after telling your further
about it, Maybe I'm no better than the others, So
don't make a stint of me. Perhaps you hate me too,
know that I've told you as much.

Speaker 7 (20:49):
Hate you, Jack, what life losts I could never do that.
I've heard that says no harm being a free man anywhere,
but here, so vi should I think worse of you
for that? But if you are a free man, Jack,
why should you not go down and make a friend
of Boss mc guindy. Oh hurry, Jack, hurry, did you

(21:12):
have add in first, or the hounds will be on
your trail.

Speaker 2 (21:16):
I was thinking the same thing.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
Said Mat Murdo.

Speaker 2 (21:21):
I'll go right now and fix it. You can tell
your further that I'll sleep here to night and find
some other quarters in the morning.

Speaker 1 (21:30):
The bar of mc ginty's saloon was crowded, as usual,
for it was the favorite loafing place of all the
rougher elements of the town. The man was popular for
he had a rough, jovial disposition, which formed a mask
covering a great deal which lay behind it. But apart

(21:51):
from this popularity, the fear in which he was held
throughout the township, and indeed down the whole thirty miles
of the valley, past the mountains on each side of it,
was enough in itself to fill his bar, for none
could afford to neglect his goodwill. Besides those secret powers,
which it was universally believed that he exercised in so

(22:14):
pitiless a fashion. He was a high public official, a
municipal councilor and a commissioner of Rhodes, elected to the
office through the votes of the ruffians, who in turn
expected to receive favors at his hands. Assessments and taxes
were enormous, the public works were notoriously neglected, the accounts

(22:38):
were slurred over by bribed auditors, and the decent citizen
was terrorized into paying public blackmail and holding his tongue
less some worse thing before him. Thus it was that
year by year Boss McGinty's diamond pins became more obtrusive,

(22:59):
his gold chain more weighty across a more gorgeous vest,
and his saloon stretched father and father until it threatened
to absorb one whole side of the market square. Macmurdo
pushed open the swinging door of the saloon and made
his way amid the crowd of men within, through an
atmosphere blurred with tobacco smoke and heavy with the smell

(23:22):
of spirits. The place was brilliantly lighted, and the huge,
heavily gilt mirrors upon every wall reflected and multiplied the
garish illumination. There were several bartenders in their shirt sleeves,
hard at work mixing drinks for the loungers who fringed
the broad brass trimmed counter at the far end, with

(23:46):
his body resting upon the bar, and a cigar stuck
at an acute angle from the corner of his mouth,
stood a tall, strong, heavily built man who could be
none other than the famous McGinty himself. He was a
black mane giant, bearded to the cheekbones, and with a
shock of raven hair which fell to his collar. His

(24:10):
complexion was as swarthy as that of an Italian, and
his eyes were of a strange, dead black, which, combined
with a slight squint, gave them a particularly sinister appearance.
All else in the man, his noble proportions, his fine features,
and his frank bearing fitted in with that jovial man

(24:33):
to man manner which he affected. Here, one would say,
is a bluff, honest fellow, whose heart would be sound,
however rude his outspoken words might seem. It was only
when those dead, dark eyes, deep and remorseless were turned
upon a man that he shrank within himself, feeling that

(24:55):
he was face to face with an infinite possibility of
latent ear evil, with the strength and courage and cunning
behind it, which made it a thousand times more deadly.
Having had a good look at this man, mac murdo
elbowed his way forward with his usual careless audacity, and

(25:15):
pushed himself through the little group of courtiers who were
fawning upon the powerful boss, laughing uproariously at the smallest
of his jokes. The young stranger's bold gray eyes looked
back fearlessly through their glasses at the deadly black ones,
which turned sharply upon him.

Speaker 5 (25:36):
Well, young man, I can't call your face to mind.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
I am you here, mister mc giddy.

Speaker 5 (25:44):
You are not so new that you can't give a
gentleman his proper title.

Speaker 1 (25:49):
He counselor mc ginty, young man, said a voice from
the group.

Speaker 2 (25:54):
I'm sorry, counselor. I'm strange the ways of de blase,
but I was advised to see you.

Speaker 5 (26:02):
Well, you see me? This is all there is. What
do you think of me?

Speaker 2 (26:08):
Well, literally days. If you're hurt, it's as big as
your body, and your soul as vain as your feast.
Didn't let ask nothing better.

Speaker 1 (26:17):
Said macmurdo.

Speaker 5 (26:19):
By gar, you've got an Irish tongue in your head anyhow.

Speaker 1 (26:24):
Cried the saloon keeper, not quite certain whether to humor
this audacious visitor or to stand upon his dignity.

Speaker 5 (26:32):
So you are good enough to pass my appearance.

Speaker 1 (26:37):
Sure, said mac murdo.

Speaker 5 (26:40):
And you were told to see me, he was, who
told you.

Speaker 2 (26:47):
Brother Scanlon of Lodge three forty one. Fair me, sir.
You drink your health counselor, and to a better acquaintance.

Speaker 1 (26:56):
He raised a glass with which he had been served
to his lips and elevated his little finger as he
drank it. McGinty, who had been watching him, narrowly raised
his thick black eyebrows.

Speaker 5 (27:09):
Oh it's like that, is it?

Speaker 1 (27:13):
Said he.

Speaker 5 (27:14):
I'll have to look a bit closer into this.

Speaker 2 (27:17):
Mister McMurdo.

Speaker 5 (27:21):
A bit closer, mister McMurdo, for we don't take folk
on trust in these parts, nor believe all we're told,
neither come in here for a moment. Behind the bar.

Speaker 1 (27:35):
There was a small room there, lined with barrels. McGinty
carefully closed the door and then seated himself on one
of them, biting thoughtfully on his cigar and surveying his
companion with those disquieting eyes. For a couple of minutes
he sat in complete silence. Matt Murdo bore the inspection cheerfully,

(27:58):
one hand in his coat pocket, the other twisting his
brown mustache. Suddenly McGinty stooped and produced a wicked looking revolver.

Speaker 8 (28:08):
See here, my joker, said he.

Speaker 5 (28:12):
If I thought you were playing any game on us,
it would be short work for you.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
This is a strange welcome.

Speaker 1 (28:20):
Macmurdo answered, with some dignity.

Speaker 2 (28:23):
For the body master of a Lord Jiah Freeman to
give to a stranger. Brother.

Speaker 8 (28:27):
Aye, but it's just that same that you have to prove,
said McGinty.

Speaker 5 (28:34):
And God help you if you fail. Where were you made?

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Lord twenty nine Chicago when June twenty fourth, eighteen seventy two.

Speaker 5 (28:48):
What body master, Jeeves Scott? Who is your district ruler?

Speaker 2 (28:56):
Wilson?

Speaker 5 (28:58):
Hmm, you seem glib enough in your tests. What are
you doing here?

Speaker 2 (29:04):
Working the same as you? But the Boora Jube.

Speaker 5 (29:09):
Have her back answer quick enough.

Speaker 2 (29:12):
Yes, he was always quick of speech.

Speaker 5 (29:15):
Are you quick of action?

Speaker 2 (29:17):
I've heard that name among those that knew me best.

Speaker 5 (29:21):
Well, we may try you sooner than you think. Have
you heard anything of the lodge in these parts?

Speaker 2 (29:29):
They've heard that it takes a man to be a brother.

Speaker 5 (29:33):
True for you, mister mcamurdo, why did you leave Chicago.

Speaker 2 (29:38):
I'm dumbed if I tell you that.

Speaker 1 (29:40):
Mc ginty opened his eyes. He was not used to
being answered in such fashion, and it amused him.

Speaker 5 (29:48):
Why won't you tell me?

Speaker 2 (29:50):
Because no brother may tell another a life.

Speaker 5 (29:54):
Then the truth is too bad to tell.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
You can put it that way if you like.

Speaker 5 (30:00):
See here, mister, you can't expect me, as body master,
to pass into the large A man for who's past
he can't answer.

Speaker 1 (30:11):
Mac murdo looked puzzled. Then he took a warm newspaper
cutting from an inner pocket.

Speaker 2 (30:19):
You wouldn't squeal on a fellow.

Speaker 1 (30:21):
Said he.

Speaker 5 (30:22):
I'll wipe my hand across your face if you say
such words to.

Speaker 1 (30:27):
Me, cried mc ginty hotly. You are right the councilor,
said mac murdo meekly.

Speaker 2 (30:34):
Who should apulo jaze? He spoke without thought. Well, I
know that I am safe in your hands. Look at
that clipping.

Speaker 1 (30:44):
Mc ginty glanced his eyes over the account of the
shooting of one Jonas Pinto in the Lake Saloon Market Street, Chicago,
in the New Year week of eighteen seventy four. Your work,
he asked, as he handed back the paper. Matt Murdo nodded,
Why did you shoot him?

Speaker 2 (31:05):
He was helping Uncle Sam to make dollars. Maybe mine
were not as good gold as his, but he looked
as well, and were cheaper to make. This man Pinto
helped me to shove the queer to do what well
it means to pass the dollars out into circulation. Then
he said he would split. Maybe he did split. He

(31:28):
didn't wait to see. I just killed him and lighted
out for the coal country.

Speaker 5 (31:35):
Why the coal country, because.

Speaker 2 (31:38):
I'd read in the papers that they went too particular
into his parrots.

Speaker 5 (31:43):
McGinty laughed, Ah, you're first a coiner and then a murderer,
and you came to these parts because you thought you'd
be welcome.

Speaker 2 (31:57):
That's about the size of it.

Speaker 1 (31:59):
Mattdo answered, well, I guess you'll go far.

Speaker 5 (32:05):
Say can you make those dollars yet?

Speaker 1 (32:09):
Mac Murdo took half a dozen from his pocket.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
Those never a bust, The Philadelphia mint said.

Speaker 5 (32:16):
He, you don't say.

Speaker 1 (32:20):
Mc ginty held them to the light in his enormous hand,
which was hairy as a gorilla's.

Speaker 5 (32:25):
I can see no difference. Gor You'll be a mighty
useful brother. I'm thinkin we can deal with a bad
man or two among us, friend mac Murdo, for there
are times we have to take our own part. We'd
soon be against the wall if we didn't shove back
at those that were pushing us.

Speaker 2 (32:49):
Well, I guess I'll do my share of shoving with
the rest of the boys.

Speaker 5 (32:54):
Seem to have a good nerve. You didn't squirm when
I shoved this gun at you.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
It was not made that it was in danger. Oh
then it was you, Councilor.

Speaker 1 (33:07):
Matt Murdo drew a cocked pistol from the side pocket
of his pea jacket.

Speaker 2 (33:12):
He was covering you all. The dame who just may
should win been as quick as yours.

Speaker 5 (33:18):
By God.

Speaker 1 (33:24):
McGinty flushed an angry red and then burst into a
roar of laughter.

Speaker 5 (33:29):
Say, we've had no such holy terror come to hand
this many a year, I reckon the lodge will learn
to be proud of you. Well, what the hell do
you want? And I can't speak alone with a gentleman
for five minutes, which you must butt in on us.

Speaker 1 (33:47):
The bartenderstood abashed.

Speaker 2 (33:49):
I'm sorry, counselor, but it's said Baldwin. He says he
must see you this very minute.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
The message was unnecessary for the set cruel face of
the man himself was looking over the servant's shoulder. He
pushed the bartender out and closed the door on him,
so said he, with a furious glance at mac murdo.

Speaker 4 (34:13):
You got your first dedio. I have a word to
say to your counselor about this man.

Speaker 2 (34:18):
Didn't see it here, and no before I may face.

Speaker 1 (34:21):
Cried mac murdo.

Speaker 4 (34:23):
I'll say it at my own time and my own way.

Speaker 1 (34:26):
Tut tut, said McGinty, getting off his barrel.

Speaker 5 (34:30):
This will never do. We have a new brother here, Baldwin,
and it's not for us to greet him in such fashion.
Hold out your hand, man and make it up.

Speaker 1 (34:41):
Never, cried Baldwin in a fury.

Speaker 2 (34:45):
You've oold divide him if he thinks they've wronged.

Speaker 1 (34:47):
Him, said Matt Murdo.

Speaker 2 (34:50):
In fight him with fists. Did one satisfy him? Invite
him many other way? He chooses No. I'll leave it
to you, counselor, to judge me between us as a
body master should What is it then, a young lady,
she's free to choose for herself, is.

Speaker 5 (35:09):
She cried Baldwin, as between two brothers of the lodge,
I should say that she.

Speaker 1 (35:15):
Was, said the boss.

Speaker 4 (35:18):
Oh that's your ruling, is it?

Speaker 2 (35:20):
Yes?

Speaker 8 (35:21):
It is, Ted Baldwin, said McGinty with a wicked stare.

Speaker 5 (35:27):
Is it you that would dispute it?

Speaker 4 (35:30):
You would draw a one that has stood by you
this five years in favor of a man that you
never saw before your new life. You're not body master
for life, Jack mcintee, And by God, when next it
comes to a ward.

Speaker 1 (35:41):
The counselor sprang at him like a tiger. His hand
closed round the other's neck, and he hurled him back
across one of the barrels. In his mad fury, he
would have squeezed the life out of him if Matt
Murdo had not interfered.

Speaker 2 (35:57):
Easy, Counselor, For heavens, Goo easy.

Speaker 1 (36:01):
He cried as he dragged him back. McGinty released his hold,
and Baldwin cowed and shaken, gasping for breath and shivering
in every limb as one who was looked over the
very edge of death. Sat up on the barrel over
which he had been hurled.

Speaker 5 (36:19):
You've been asking for this many a day, Ted Baldwin.
Now you've got.

Speaker 1 (36:24):
It, cried McGinty, his huge chest rising and falling.

Speaker 5 (36:30):
Maybe you think if I was voted down from bodymaster,
you would find yourself in my shoes. It's for the
lodge to say that. But so long as I am
the chief, I'll have no man lifted his voice against
me or my rulings.

Speaker 1 (36:47):
I've nothing against you, mumbled Baldwin, feeling his throat well,
then cried the other, relapsing in a moment into a
bluff joviality.

Speaker 5 (36:59):
You're all good friends again, and there's an end of
the matter.

Speaker 1 (37:04):
He took a bottle of champagne down from the shelf
and twisted out the cork. See now, he continued, as
he filled three high glasses.

Speaker 5 (37:15):
Let us drink the quarreling toast of the lodge. After that,
as you know, there give me no bad blood between us. Now,
then the left hand on the apple of my throat,
I say to you, Ted Baldwin, what is the offense, sir?

Speaker 1 (37:33):
The clothes are heavy, answered Baldwin, but.

Speaker 5 (37:36):
They will forever brighten, and this I swear.

Speaker 1 (37:40):
The men drank their glasses, and the same ceremony was
performed between Baldwin and macmurdo. There cried mc ginty, rubbing
his hands.

Speaker 5 (37:52):
That's the end of the black blood. You come under
large discipline if it goes further, and that's a heavy
hand in these parts, as brother Baldwin knows, and as
you will damn soon find out, Brother McMurdo, if you
ask for trouble, may they be.

Speaker 1 (38:09):
Sure to do that, said Matt Murdo. He held out
his hand to Baldwin, be quik.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
To quarrel in, quick to forgive. It's by what I
reach blood, they tell me. But it's over for me.
It bear no grudge.

Speaker 1 (38:25):
Baldwin had to take the proffered hand, for the baleful
eye of the terrible boss was upon him. But his
sullen face showed how little the words of the other
had moved him. Mc ginty clapped them both on the shoulders.

Speaker 5 (38:39):
That he's girls, he's girls, He cried. To think that
the same petticoats should come between two of my boys.
It's the devil's own luck. Well, it's the colneen inside
of them. They must settle the question what's outside the
jurisdiction of a body master, And the Lord be praised

(39:01):
for that. We have enough on us without the women
as well. You have to be affiliated to Lodge three
four one, Brother McMurdo. We have our own ways and methods,
different from Chicago. Saturday night is our meeting and if
you come then we'll make you free forever of the
Vermissa Valley.

Speaker 1 (39:24):
End of Part two, Chapter two