福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第10章Part6

There was great applause at this. It was felt that a new sun was pushing its rim above the horizon. To some of the elders it seemed that the progress was a little too rapid.
"I would move," said the secretary, Harraway, a vulture-faced old graybeard who sat near the chairman, "that Brother McMurdo should wait until it is the good pleasure of the lodge to employ him."
"Sure, that was what I meant; I'm in your hands," said McMurdo.
"Your time will come, Brother," said the chairman. "We have marked you down as a willing man, and we believe that you will do good work in these parts. There is a small matter to-night in which you may take a hand if it so please you."
"I will wait for something that is worth while."
"You can come to-night, anyhow, and it will help you to know what we stand for in this community. I will make the announcement later. Meanwhile," he glanced at his agenda paper, "I have one or two more points to bring before the meeting. First of all, I will ask the treasurer as to our bank balance. There is the pension to Jim Carnaway's widow. He was struck down doing the work of the lodge, and it is for us to see that she is not the loser."
"Jim was shot last month when they tried to kill Chester Wilcox of Marley Creek," McMurdo's neighbour informed him.
"The funds are good at the moment," said the treasurer, with the bankbook in front of him. "The firms have been generous of late. Max Linder & Co. paid five hundred to be left alone. Walker Brothers sent in a hundred; but I took it on myself to return it and ask for five. If I do not hear by Wednesday, their winding gear may get out of order. We had to burn their breaker last year before they became reasonable. Then the West Section Coaling Company has paid its annual contribution. We have enough on hand to meet any obligations."
"What about Archie Swindon?" asked a brother.
"He has sold out and left the district. The old devil left a note for us to say that he had rather be a free crossing sweeper in New York than a large mine owner under the power of a ring of blackmailers. By Gar! it was as well that he made a break for it before the note reached us! I guess he won't show his face in this valley again."
An elderly, clean-shaved man with a kindly face and a good brow rose from the end of the table which faced the chairman. "Mr. Treasurer," he asked, "may I ask who has bought the property of this man that we have driven out of the district?"
"Yes, Brother Morris. It has been bought by the State & Merton County Railroad Company."
"And who bought the mines of Todman and of Lee that came into the market in the same way last year?"
"The same company, Brother Morris."
"And who bought the ironworks of Manson and of Shuman and of Van Deher and of Atwood, which have all been given up of late?"
"They were all bought by the West Gilmerton General Mining Company."

大家都对此高声喝彩，好象一轮朝日从地平线上升起。可是对一些年长的会员来说，这种成就似乎是太快了点。
“我提议，"一个灰白胡须的老人，长得面如鹫鹰，坐在身主的旁边，这就是书记哈拉威，他说道，“麦克默多兄弟应该等待，分会是很高兴使用他的。”
“当然，我也这样想，我一定遵命。"麦克默多说。
“兄弟，不久就会用到你的，"身主说，“我们已经知道你是一个情愿出力的人，我们也深信你在这地方会干得出色。今夜有一件小事，如果你愿意的话，你可以出一臂之力。”
“我愿等待更有价值的机会。”
“不管怎样，今夜你可以去，这可以帮助你了解我们团体主张什么。以后我还要宣布这主张。同时，"他看了看议事日程，说道，“我还有一两件事要在会上讲。第一点，我要问司库我们银行的结存情况。应该给吉姆·卡纳威的寡启发抚恤金。卡纳威是因公殉身的，把她照顾好是我们的责任。”
“吉姆是在上个月去谋刺马利克里克的切斯特·威尔科克斯时反遭毒手的，"麦克默多邻座的人告诉他说。
“现在存款很多，"司库面前放着银行存款本，报告说，“近来这些商行很大方。马克斯·林德公司付给的五百元还没动用。沃尔克兄弟送来一百元，可是我自己作主退还给他们，要他们出五百元。假如星期三我听不到回信，他们的卷扬机传动装置就会发生故障。去年我们烧毁了他们的轧碎机，他们才变得开通一点。西部煤业公司交来了年度捐献。我们手中有足够的资金去应付一切债务。”
“阿尔奇·斯温登怎么样？"一个弟兄问道。
“他已经卖去产业，离开本区了。这个老该死的给我们留下一张便条，上面说，他宁肯在纽约做一个自由的清道夫，也不愿处在一个敲诈勒索集团的势力下面做一个大矿主，天哪！他逃走了以后，我们才接到这张便条。我想他再也不敢在这个山谷中露面了。”
一个脸刮得干干净净的老年人，面容慈祥，长着一双浓眉，从桌子的另一端站起来。 “司库先生，"他问道，"请问，被我们赶跑的那个人的矿产，让谁买下了？”
“莫里斯兄弟，他的矿产被州里和默顿县铁路公司买下了。”
“去年托德曼和李氏的矿山是被谁买下的？”
“也是这家公司，莫里斯兄弟。”
“曼森铁矿、舒曼铁矿、范德尔铁矿以及阿特任德铁矿，最近都出让了，又是让谁家买去的？”
“这些铁矿都被西吉尔默顿矿业总公司买去了。”