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Read book online ยซThe Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle (ereader manga TXT) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   Arthur Conan Doyle



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Douglas was a reticent man, and there were some chapters in his life of which he never spoke. He had emigrated to America when he was a very young man. He had prospered well, and Barker had first met him in California, where they had become partners in a successful mining claim at a place called Benito Canyon. They had done very well; but Douglas had suddenly sold out and started for England. He was a widower at that time. Barker had afterwards realized his money and come to live in London. Thus they had renewed their friendship.

Douglas had given him the impression that some danger was hanging over his head, and he had always looked upon his sudden departure from California, and also his renting a house in so quiet a place in England, as being connected with this peril. He imagined that some secret society, some implacable organization, was on Douglas's track, which would never rest until it killed him. Some remarks of his had given him this idea; though he had never told him what the society was, nor how he had come to offend it. He could only suppose that the legend upon the placard had some reference to this secret society.

โ€œHow long were you with Douglas in California?โ€ asked Inspector MacDonald.

โ€œFive years altogether.โ€

โ€œHe was a bachelor, you say?โ€

โ€œA widower.โ€

โ€œHave you ever heard where his first wife came from?โ€

โ€œNo, I remember his saying that she was of German extraction, and I have seen her portrait. She was a very beautiful woman. She died of typhoid the year before I met him.โ€

โ€œYou don't associate his past with any particular part of America?โ€

โ€œI have heard him talk of Chicago. He knew that city well and had worked there. I have heard him talk of the coal and iron districts. He had travelled a good deal in his time.โ€

โ€œWas he a politician? Had this secret society to do with politics?โ€

โ€œNo, he cared nothing about politics.โ€

โ€œYou have no reason to think it was criminal?โ€

โ€œOn the contrary, I never met a straighter man in my life.โ€

โ€œWas there anything curious about his life in California?โ€

โ€œHe liked best to stay and to work at our claim in the mountains. He would never go where other men were if he could help it. That's why I first thought that someone was after him. Then when he left so suddenly for Europe I made sure that it was so. I believe that he had a warning of some sort. Within a week of his leaving half a dozen men were inquiring for him.โ€

โ€œWhat sort of men?โ€

โ€œWell, they were a mighty hard-looking crowd. They came up to the claim and wanted to know where he was. I told them that he was gone to Europe and that I did not know where to find him. They meant him no goodโ€”it was easy to see that.โ€

โ€œWere these men Americansโ€”Californians?โ€

โ€œWell, I don't know about Californians. They were Americans, all right. But they were not miners. I don't know what they were, and was very glad to see their backs.โ€

โ€œThat was six years ago?โ€

โ€œNearer seven.โ€

โ€œAnd then you were together five years in California, so that this business dates back not less than eleven years at the least?โ€

โ€œThat is so.โ€

โ€œIt must be a very serious feud that would be kept up with such earnestness for as long as that. It would be no light thing that would give rise to it.โ€

โ€œI think it shadowed his whole life. It was never quite out of his mind.โ€

โ€œBut if a man had a danger hanging over him, and knew what it was, don't you think he would turn to the police for protection?โ€

โ€œMaybe it was some danger that he could not be protected against. There's one thing you should know. He always went about armed. His revolver was never out of his pocket. But, by bad luck, he was in his dressing gown and had left it in the bedroom last night. Once the bridge was up, I guess he thought he was safe.โ€

โ€œI should like these dates a little clearer,โ€ said MacDonald. โ€œIt is quite six years since Douglas left California. You followed him next year, did you not?โ€

โ€œThat is so.โ€

โ€œAnd he had been married five years. You must have returned about the time of his marriage.โ€

โ€œAbout a month before. I was his best man.โ€

โ€œDid you know Mrs. Douglas before her marriage?โ€

โ€œNo, I did not. I had been away from England for ten years.โ€

โ€œBut you have seen a good deal of her since.โ€

Barker looked sternly at the detective. โ€œI have seen a good deal of HIM since,โ€ he answered. โ€œIf I have seen her, it is because you cannot visit a man without knowing his wife. If you imagine there is any connectionโ€”โ€

โ€œI imagine nothing, Mr. Barker. I am bound to make every inquiry which can bear upon the case. But I mean no offense.โ€

โ€œSome inquiries are offensive,โ€ Barker answered angrily.

โ€œIt's only the facts that we want. It is in your interest and everyone's interest that they should be cleared up. Did Mr. Douglas entirely approve your friendship with his wife?โ€

Barker grew paler, and his great, strong hands were clasped convulsively together. โ€œYou have no right to ask such questions!โ€ he cried. โ€œWhat has this to do with the matter you are investigating?โ€

โ€œI must repeat the question.โ€

โ€œWell, I refuse to answer.โ€

โ€œYou can refuse to answer; but you must be aware that your refusal is in itself an answer, for you would not refuse if you had not something to conceal.โ€

Barker stood for a moment with his face set grimly and his strong black eyebrows drawn low in intense thought. Then he looked up with a smile. โ€œWell, I guess you gentlemen are only doing your clear duty after all, and I have no right to stand in the way of it. I'd only ask you not to worry Mrs. Douglas over this matter; for she has enough upon her just now. I may tell you that poor Douglas had just one fault in the world, and that was his jealousy. He was fond of meโ€”no man could be fonder of a friend. And he was devoted to his wife. He loved me to come here, and was forever sending for me. And yet if his wife and I talked together or there seemed any sympathy between us, a kind of wave of jealousy would pass over

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