"
"You blasted traitor!" hissed McGinty through his closed teeth.
"Ay, John McGinty, you may call me that if it eases your smart.
You and your like have been the enemy of God and man in these
parts. It took a man to get between you and the poor devils of
men and women that you held under your grip. There was just one
way of doing it, and I did it. You call me a traitor; but I
guess there's many a thousand will call me a deliverer that went
down into hell to save them. I've had three months of it. I
wouldn't have three such months again if they let me loose in the
treasury at Washington for it. I had to stay till I had it all,
every man and every secret right here in this hand. I'd have
waited a little longer if it hadn't come to my knowledge that my
secret was coming out. A letter had come into the town that
would have set you wise to it all. Then I had to act and act
quickly.
"I've nothing more to say to you, except that when my time comes
I'll die the easier when I think of the work I have done in this
valley. Now, Marvin, I'll keep you no more. Take them in and
get it over."
There is little more to tell.
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