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who required my presence here； and I am acting in her interests。 Young
McCarthy must be got off； however。〃
〃I am a dying man；〃 said old Turner。 〃I have had diabetes for years。
My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a month。 Yet I
would rather die under my own roof than in a jail。〃
Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand and a
bundle of paper before him。 〃Just tell us the truth；〃 he said。 〃I
shall jot down the facts。 You will sign it； and Watson here can
witness it。 Then I could produce your confession at the last extremity
to save young McCarthy。 I promise you that I shall not use it unless
it is absolutely needed。〃
〃It's as well；〃 said the old man； 〃it's a question whether I shall
live to the Assizes； so it matters little to me； but I should wish
to spare Alice the shock。 And now I will make the thing clear to
you； it has been a long time in the acting； but will not take me
long to tell。〃
〃You didn't know this dead man； McCarthy。 He was a devil
incarnate。 I tell you that。 God keep you out of the clutches of such a
man as he。 His grip has been upon me these twenty years； and he has
blasted my life。 I'll tell you first how I came to be in his power。
〃It was in the early '60's at the diggings。 I was a young chap then；
hot…blooded and reckless； ready to turn my hand at anything； I got
among bad companions； took to drink； had no luck with my claim； took
to the bush； and in a word became what you would call over here a
highway robber。 There were six of us； and we had a wild； free life
of it； sticking up a station from time to time； or stopping the wagons
on the road to the diggings。 Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I
went under； and our party is still remembered in the colony as the
Ballarat Gang。
〃One day a gold convoy came down from Ballust to Melbourne； and we
lay in wait for it and attacked it。 There were six troopers and six of
us； so it was a close thing； but we emptied four of their saddles at
the first volley。 Three of our boys were killed； however； before we
got the swag。 I put my pistol to the head of the wagon…driver； who was
this very man McCarthy。 I wish to the Lord that I had though him
shot him then； but I spared him； though I saw his wicked little eyes
fixed on my face； as though to remember every feature。 We got away
with the gold； became wealthy men； and made our way over to England
without being suspected。 There I parted from my old pals and
determined to settle down to a quiet and respectable life。 I bought
this estate； which chanced to be in the market； and I set myself to do
a little with my money； to make up for the way in which I had earned
it。 I married； too； and though my wife died young she left me my
dear little Alice。 Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed
to lead me down the right path as nothing else had ever done。 In a
word； I turned over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the
past。 All was going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me。
〃I had gone up to town about an investment； and I met him in
Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his foot。
〃'Here we are； Jack；' says he； touching me on the arm； 'we'll be
as good as a family to you。 There's two of us； me and my son； and
you can have the keeping of us。 If you don't…it's a fine；
law…abiding country is England； and there's always a policeman
within hail。'
〃Well； down they came to the west country； there was no shaking them
off； and there they have lived rent free on my best land ever since。
There was no rest for me； no peace； no forgetfulness； turn where I
would； there was his cunning； grinning face at my elbow。 It grew worse
as Alice grew up； for he soon saw I was more afraid of her knowing my
past than of the police。 Whatever he wanted he must have； and whatever
it was I gave him without question； land； money； houses； until at last
he asked a thing which I could not give。 He asked for Alice。
〃His son； you see； had grown up； and so had my girl； and as I was
known to be in weak health； it seemed a fine stroke to him that his
lad should step into the whole property。 But there I was firm。 I would
not have his cursed stock mixed with mine； not that I had any
dislike to the lad； but his blood was in him； and that was enough。 I
stood firm。 McCarthy threatened。 I braved him to do his worst。 We were
to meet at the pool midway between our houses to talk it over。
〃When I went down there I found him talking with his son； so I
smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone。
But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in me
seemed； to come uppermost。 He was urging his son to marry my
daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she were
a slut from off the streets。 It drove me mad to think that I and all
that I held most dear should be in the power of such a man as this。
Could I not snap the bond？ I was already a dying and a desperate
man。 Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb； I knew that my
own fate was sealed。 But my memory and my girl！ Both could be saved if
I could but silence that foul tongue。 I did it； Mr。 Holmes。
〃I would do it again。 Deeply as I have sinned； I have led a life
of martyrdom to atone for it。 But that my girl should be entangled
in the same meshes which held me was more than I could suffer。 I
struck him down with no more compunction than if he had been some foul
and venomous beast。 His cry brought back his son； but I had gained the
cover of the wood； though I was forced to go back to fetch the cloak
which I had dropped in my flight。 That is the true story； gentlemen；
of all that occurred。〃
Well； it is not for me to judge you；〃 said Holmes as the old man
signed the statement which had been drawn out。 〃I pray that we may
never be exposed to such a temptation。〃
〃I pray not； sir。 And what do you intend to do？〃
〃In view of your health； nothing。 You are yourself aware that you
will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the
Assizes。 I will keep your confession； and if McCarthy is condemned I
shall be forced to use it。 If not； it shall never be seen by mortal
eye； and your secret； whether you be alive or dead； shall be safe with
us。〃
〃Farewell； then；〃 said the old man solemnly。 〃Your own deathbeds；
when they come； will be the easier for the thought of the peace
which you have given to mine。〃 Tottering and shaking in all his
giant frame； he stumbled slowly from the room。
〃God help us！〃 said Holmes after a long silence。 〃Why does fate play
such tricks with poor； helpless worms？ I never hear of such a case
as this that I do not think of Baxter's words； and say； 'There； but
for the grace of God； goes Sherlock Holmes。'〃
James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a
number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and
submitted to the defending counsel。 Old Turner lived for seven
months after our interview； but he is now dead； and there is every
prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily together
in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their past。
…THE END…
。