He was trembling in every
limb. He poured some whisky into a glass and handed it to him.
"That's the physic for the likes of you," said he. "Now let me
hear of it."
Morris drank, and his white face took a tinge of colour. "I can
tell it to you all in one sentence," said he. "There's a
detective on our trail."
McMurdo stared at him in astonishment. "Why, man, you're crazy,"
he said. "Isn't the place full of police and detectives and what
harm did they ever do us?"
"No, no, it's no man of the district. As you say, we know them,
and it is little that they can do. But you've heard of
Pinkerton's?"
"I've read of some folk of that name."
"Well, you can take it from me you've no show when they are on
your trail. It's not a take-it-or-miss-it government concern.
It's a dead earnest business proposition that's out for results
and keeps out till by hook or crook it gets them. If a Pinkerton
man is deep in this business, we are all destroyed."
"We must kill him."
"Ah, it's the first thought that came to you! So it will be up at
the lodge. Didn't I say to you that it would end in murder?"
"Sure, what is murder? Isn't it common enough in these parts?"
"It is, indeed; but it's not for me to point out the man that is
to be murdered.
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