登陆注册
5243600000050

第50章 CHAPTER 5(4)

It had been suggested that they should shoot them both; but they were harmless folk who were not connected with the mines, so they were sternly bidden to drive on and keep silent, lest a worse thing befall them. And so the blood-mottled figure had been left as a warning to all such hard-hearted employers, and the three noble avengers had hurried off into the mountains where unbroken nature comes down to the very edge of the furnaces and the slag heaps. Here they were, safe and sound, their work well done, and the plaudits of their companions in their ears.

It had been a great day for the Scowrers. The shadow had fallen even darker over the valley. But as the wise general chooses the moment of victory in which to redouble his efforts, so that his foes may have no time to steady themselves after disaster, so Boss McGinty, looking out upon 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 and led 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 at last. 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 been warned for service. We'll never be right in this district until Chester Wilcox has been settled, and you'll have the thanks of every lodge in the 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 corner of his mouth, and proceeded to draw a rough diagram on a page torn from his 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 two tries 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 the Iron Dike crossroad, same as you see here on the map- without another within earshot. It's no good by day. He's armed and shoots quick and straight, with no questions asked. But at night- well, there he is with his 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 the front 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 house at night and he shot him. That's enough for me and you. You've got to settle 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 should think I would be after standing back from an order of the Bodymaster of my 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."

"Well, you had best give me a night or two that I may see the house and make my plans. Then-"

"Very good," said McGinty, shaking him by the hand. "I leave it with you. It will be a great day when you bring us the news. It's just the last stroke that will bring them all to their knees."

同类推荐
  • A Question of Latitude

    A Question of Latitude

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 浔阳秋怀,赠许明府

    浔阳秋怀,赠许明府

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 十六国春秋

    十六国春秋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Worldly Ways and Byways

    Worldly Ways and Byways

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 少室六门

    少室六门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 舍得的人生收获多

    舍得的人生收获多

    本书道出了智慧之人的舍得之道,也写出了愚鲁之人的失败教训,用简单的哲理道出了“舍得”的内涵,并揭示出舍得之道对于人生发展的重要影响。
  • 余生有你刚好

    余生有你刚好

    某天,李楚窈问周跳跳,“你说你哥当初为什么选我?”周跳跳笨手笨脚的在李楚窈头上编了个巨丑的麻花辫,话不过脑子的回答,“大概是因为你跟我一样不学无术,没有野心,好拿捏。”周厉走近抬手给了周跳跳一个暴栗,也不知打的是她说的话还是她在李楚窈头上搞的小动作。然而不久后,却是周厉亲手教会她商场里的尔虞我诈。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 梅花道人遗墨

    梅花道人遗墨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 霉女保镖

    霉女保镖

    卓悦,单亲家庭长大的孩子,在外人眼里她是一个有着跆拳道黑带五段身手,独立自强的女人。在朋友眼里,她是一个有点小迷糊,外加偶而还有一点小白的弱女子。由于老爸沉迷于赌博,欠下20万元的高利贷逃走,而不负责任的把一切都丢给刚好失去工作的卓悦。迫于无奈,她答应了天和帮二少边旭阳的要求,做他的贴身保镖……
  • 知了知了瑾风来到

    知了知了瑾风来到

    回国后的林知了面对苏瑾风的穷追不舍,才幡然醒悟,青春时脑子一热撩的人,犯的错,得用一辈子还。(男主不算高岭之花那一挂,偶尔能跟女主一起逗比那种)
  • 知足常乐:人们忘了放下也是一种幸福

    知足常乐:人们忘了放下也是一种幸福

    本书主要内容简介:每个人心中都有一把幸福的钥匙,但我们却常在不知不觉中把它交给别人掌管。一个成熟的人应该自己掌握幸福的钥匙,他不期待别人使自己快乐,反而能将快乐与幸福带给别人。这样的人就是知足的人,就是能放下一切无谓的烦恼的人。
  • 意外重生小心混混女

    意外重生小心混混女

    一个馒头可以引发一场血案,一个馒头也可以成就一代女恶棍。她是天符井街最有名有可恨的女混混,她混吃,混喝,混自己。她打架不要命,抢钱不要脸。反正她就是坏,她也喜欢别人说她坏。直到一次烂好心,她救人却是挂了自己,却在醒来时,穿越到了一个200多斤的肥女身上,当狠毒遇到愚蠢,当肥胖遇到减肥,当余珠遇到鱼柱,当女混混变成花痴,当银河落下一滴银泪,请相信,这个世界上,没有什么肥是减不下去的,也没有什么事是不可能的。
  • 祁先生太傲娇

    祁先生太傲娇

    “嘶……轻点,疼。” “这样可以吗?” “嗯…” 看着男人背后皮开肉绽的伤口,女孩蹙眉心疼的为他上药。 她,曾经的弃婴一枚,十八岁成人礼的当晚接到一通电话扔下一众宾客独自跑去了医院,却进错病房成了他的解药。祁寒陌,X国商业帝国的唯一继承人,霸道腹黑不近女.色,亲妈怀疑他的取向有问题想尽办法为其‘治疗’,终于在某一天他成功中招后躺进医院。某节目访谈:“请问祁总平时除了工作您最喜欢做什么呢?” 男人长腿交叠,低低懒懒的笑,“疼老婆。”电视机前的某女人揉着细腰直接将遥控器砸在屏幕他的脸上,“大骗子!明明每天都在欺负我,各种解锁各种压榨,这也叫疼?”【此文甜宠无虐,爆宠齁甜,双洁!】
  • 婆婆的极品家规

    婆婆的极品家规

    说出来大家可能都不太相信,在2000的时候竟会有这样的极品婆婆。在家里,她就是老佛爷;唯独我这个儿媳妇是外姓人,她想把我这个儿媳妇改造成过去的那种逆来顺受的媳妇儿。我因为刚刚结婚,有些不好意思。婆婆就在结婚的第一天早上“当当”用脚踹门,让我起来去做饭,我默默地做了;吃饭完老公想帮忙捡碗,让婆婆给骂跑了,说:“你放那!有人捡。”我也做了。我们俩口子睡觉我婆婆不让我们插门,不让锁门;她想进来就进来,害得我都不敢出被窝。她们家不养猪,却偏偏我来了,就养了俩个猪仔儿;我天天给她们做好饭还得去喂猪,还得早晚请安……农村都是平房,还得给婆婆端尿桶、倒尿桶……后来我和我的同事说了,她们就都不让我做了,我就不做了,可是,却换来老婆婆的大骂:“反了你,敢顶嘴了,你给我打她……”此时,我已经怀孕了,但是老公是个非常非常孝顺的人,他妈让打我,他真的举起了手,狠狠地打了我一个响亮的耳光……
  • 三国末路皇帝

    三国末路皇帝

    不做无敌的主角,只做特别的自己,我是穆里尼奥,不好意思,说错了,我是刘协,且看平淡中逆天改命