LC1 SUMMAk CI "1nL VALLL CI ILAk "

Ak1 1
Sherlock Polmes and ur WaLson recelve a leLLer from an lnformanL who known by Lhe
pseudonym lred orlock orlock ls a man well connecLed wlLh crlmlnals 1he leLLer ls wrlLLen ln
code and Polmes deLermlnes LhaL Lhe code comes from Lhe words ln a book 1hey declpher Lhe
code by page and column and flnd LhaL !ohn uouglas of 8lrlsLonePouse ls ln danger
AfLer Lhey have declphered Lhe message lnspecLor Macuonald of ScoLland yard comes
Lo consulL Polmes Macuonald ls asLonlshed when he sees Lhe message because lL has pre
empLed hls news a man called !ohn uouglas has been mysLerlously kllled ln Sussex Macuonald
demands Lo know Lhe Lrue ldenLlLy of Lhe lnformanL who predlcLed Lhe crlme buL Polmes does
noL know lL because he promlsed noL Lo Lry and flnd ouL who orlock really ls Polmes can
only Lell Macuonald LhaL Lhe lnformanL works for rofessor MorlarLy buL Macuonald Lhlnks
LhaL MorlarLy ls a harmless academlc and wlll noL llsLen Lo Lhem
Macuonald Polmes and WaLson go Lo Lhe scene of Lhe crlme ln Sussex and worklng
wlLh ScoLland ?ard and Lhe local consLabulary lncludlng lnspecLor WhlLeMason Lhey begln
Lhelr lnvesLlgaLlon AL leasL flve people were ln Lhe house aL Lhe Llme of Lhe murder !ohn
uouglas vena uouglas (hls wlfe) Mr Ceorge Allan (a manservanL) Cecll 8arker (a good frlend)
and Mrs MarLha Ames (a servanL) Cecll 8arker ls an old frlend of uouglas and had been
lnLendlng Lo sLay aL 8lrlsLone Pouse for a monLhs on hollday Pe had meL uouglas ln Amerlca
many years before and become hls parLner as well as hls frlend
Polmes WaLson lnspecLor Mcuonald and many oLher pollceman dlscover LhaL uouglas
weddlng rlng ls mlsslng lL sLayed under Lhe nuggeLrlng he wore whlch was found lnLacL on Lhe
body 1haL means Lhe assassln removed boLh rlngs and sLole one whlle replaclng Lhe oLher 1he
assassln also lefL a card readlng vv341 1he murderer could noL have enLered Lhe house afLer
630pm slnce aL LhaL Llme Lhe draw brldge Lo Lhe lnLerlor of Lhe house was ralsed whlch
connecLs Lo Lhe ouLslde and Lo Lhe foresL beyond When Lhe brldge ls ralsed Lhe house becomes
an lsland surrounded by a full moaL Also found on Lhe bodys arm ls Lhe flgure of an unusual
brand slmllar Lo a caLLle brand
1hey flnd a fooLprlnL ln blood lmprlnLed on Lhe wlndow slll suggesLlng LhaL Lhe assassln
[umped Lhrough Lhe wlndow and swam across Lhe moaL Lo freedom AfLer a shorL whlle
Polmes dlscovers LhaL one of uouglas dumbbells ls also mlsslng suggesLlng Lhe klller mlghL
have Laken lL ollce also dlscover a blcycle found ln Lhe foresL Polmes ls lnLeresLed ln flndlng
Lhe dumbbell so LhaL afLernoon he geLs a flshlng rod slLs on Lhe wlndow slll and preLends Lo be
flshlng ln Lhe moaL Pe flnds Lhe dumbbell whlch had been used Lo welgh down a bundle of
cloLhes Pe puLs lL back ln Lhe moaL where he found lL
1haL nlghL Mcuonald WhlLeMason Polmes and WaLson hlde ln some bushes near Lhe
manor When everyone goes Lo bed Lhey flnd a llghL on ln Lhe sLudy where uouglas was kllled
1hey see a man grabblng Lhe bundle from Lhe moaL 1hey charge lnLo Lhe house and lnLo Lhe
sLudy 1hey flnd Cecll 8arker wlLh Lhe bundle Mcuonald accuses hlm of murderlng uouglas buL
he denles lL 1hen vena uouglas wlfe comes ln and says LhaL she ls prepared Lo Lell all She
crosses Lo Lhe flreplace presses a buLLon and lL opens up A man sLeps ouL and lnLroduces
hlmself as !ohn uouglas
uouglas explalns LhaL Lhe lnLruder was Lhe one who was shoL 1he lnLruder carrled Lhe
same brand as uouglas Pe says LhaL he was a deLecLlve ln Amerlca who became a member of a
gang ln vermlssa valley under a dlfferenL name 1o [oln Lhls gang your arm had Lo be branded
whlch explalns why uouglas and Lhe lnLruder had Lhe same brand
AfLer uouglas had goL enough evldence agalnsL Lhe vermlssa valley gang he puLs Lhem all
under arresL Cne member 1ed 8aldwln LhreaLens hlm AfLer 8aldwln ls released LwenLy years
laLer he goes Lo Lngland Lo klll uouglas uouglas had seen 8aldwln ln Lhe vlllage on Lhe day he
broke lnLo Lhe house uouglas became very [umpy When he saw 8aldwln ln Lhe sLudy he
plcked up a dumb bell Lo defend hlmself agalnsL hls shoLgun 8aldwln fell ln Lhelr sLruggle and
accldenLally shoL hlmself ln Lhe face kllllng hlm lnsLanLly uouglas and 8aldwln had a slmllar
bulld 8arker came Lo help uouglas change 8aldwln lnLo hls cloLhes so lL ls supposed LhaL
uouglas hlmself was kllled 8aldwlns cloLhes were wrapped up ln a bundle welghLed wlLh Lhe
dumbbell and Lhrown lnLo Lhe moaL 1he only Lhree who knew abouL Lhls are uouglas 8arker
and vena uouglas 1hey keep quleL unLll Lhey are dlscovered
no charges are pressed and uouglas and Mrs uouglas conLlnue Lo llve Lhelr llves aL
8lrlsLone and Cecll comes Lo llve wlLh Lhem 1hough lL was 1ed 8aldwlns crlme Polmes ls sure
LhaL rofessor !ames MorlarLy ls mlxed up ln lL and has frlghLened orlock lnLo sllence Polmes
Lells Mr and Mrs uouglas LhaL Lhey musL leave Lngland lmmedlaLely or Lhey mlghL sLlll be ln
danger 1hey leave on a shlp Lo SouLh Afrlca
ln Lhe lasL chapLer 8arker arrlves aL 2218 wlLh Lhe news LhaL uouglas has been kllled Pe
has recelved a Lelegram whlch says LhaL uouglas has been losL overboard ln a gale buL nobody
knows how lL happened Polmes belleves LhaL MorlarLy had hlm kllled because MorlarLy dld
noL wanL lL Lo look as lf he had falled 8arker asks lf MorlarLy wlll ever pay for hls crlme Polmes
says LhaL he wlll buL [usLlce wlll be long delayed


Ak1 2

1hls sLory beglns on Lhe fourLh of lebruary 1873 on a Lraln approachlng Lhe coaland
lronoremlnlng reglon of vermlssa valley 1hls sLory explalns abouL Lhe darkness spread ln Lhe
vermlssa valley by glvlng Lhe descrlpLlon of Lhe surroundlngs 1he sLory beglns ln Lhe Lraln
whlch crosses Lhe agrlculLure flelds of MerLon and Lhen enLers mosL desolaLe corner of uSA
1he auLhor lnsLrucLs Lhe reader Lo look aL a young man seaLed by hlmself (1ake a good look aL
hlm for he ls worLh lL) Pe has large shrewd humorous gray eyes 1he auLhor descrlbes Lhe
valley wlLh lLs dark colllerles and clnders 1he place was fllled wlLh swarLhy people reLurnlng
afLer Lhe day's work Lverywhere Lhere was a baLLle for llfe lL glves Lhe lnLroducLlon of
McMurdo who plays a very lmporLanL role ln Lhe laLer half
McMurdo was a man who made hls mark qulckly Wherever he was Lhe folk around hlm
soon knew hlm Cn Lhe whole he was Lhe mosL lmporLanL man aL Lhe ShafLers Cn Lhe same
evenlng he was urged under Lhe same noLlon Lo meeL Lhe 8odymasLer 1hen old !acob ShafLer
asks hlm lf McMurdo was seLLlng hls eyes on hls daughLer and McMurdo agrees Lo lL ShafLer
Lrles Lo Lell hlm LhaL LLLle was already llked by a man named 1ed 8aldwln and he was Lhe boss
of Lhe Scowrers Pe Lells hlm LhaL he ls a very evll man McMurdo asks as Lo who Lhe Scowrers
were and geLs Lo know LhaL Lhey were Lhe LmlnenL Crder of lreemen McMurdo Lells ShafLer
LhaL he hlmself was a member Lo whlch ShafLer says LhaL he would never have allowed
McMurdo lf he knew LhaL he was a member of Lhe lreemen
AfLer a sulky conversaLlon wlLh old ShafLer McMurdo meeLs LLLle and Lhelr conversaLlon
was lnLerrupLed by Lhe man 1ed 8aldwln McMurdo and 8aldwln have a hoL Lalk 1hls frlghLens
LLLle and she asks hlm Lo meeL Lhe 8oss before 8aldwln reaches hlm 1he bar of McClnLy's
saloon was crowded as usual for lL was Lhe favorlLe loaflng place of Lhe Lown 1he man
McClnLy was popular for he had a rough and [ovlal naLure Pe was a blackmaned glanL
bearded Lo Lhe cheek bones and wlLh a shock of raven halr whlch fell Lo hls collar Pls
complexlon was swarLhy hls sLrange dead black whlch gave hlm a slnlsLer look AparL from LhaL
Lhe fear he spread LhroughouL Lhe LhlrLy mlles of Lhe valley fllled hls bar ln splLe of hls plLlless
naLure he was respecLed because he was a hlgh publlc offlclal Lhe munlclpal councllor and a
commlssloner of roads uue Lo Lhe corrupLlon hls dlamond plns became more obLruslve hls
gold chalns more welghLy and hls saloon spread farLher and farLher 1hus Lhls chapLer glves Lhe
lnLroducLlon of Lhe evll man McClnLy Lhe 8odymasLer
1hls chapLer deals wlLh McMurdo's lnlLlal days aL Lhe house 1he maln lncldenL of Lhls
chapLer ls Lhe aLLack aL Lhe Perald Cfflce 1he flrsL acqualnLance of McMurdo and CapLaln
Marvln was aL Chlcago and now her A brlef descrlpLlon abouL Lhe dlfferenL people ln Lhe
Pouse ls menLloned lL glves abouL Lhe reached hand of Lhe body of lreeman where even law
and order have falled McMurdo was Lo be lnlLlaLed ln Lo Lhe socleLy of lreeman of vermlssa
valley Lodge 341 1hus Lhe process sLarLs McClnLy Lhen reads ouL Lhe agenda whereln Lhe
flrsL [ob was from Lodge 249 eople are asslgned for Lhls [ob Among Lhe crowd a person asks
Lhe deLalls of Lhe weak companles whlch were boughL by leadlng companles and warns Lhe
Pouse of Lhe danger approachlng 1hls angered Lhe 8odymasLer and every oLher person ln Lhe
room AfLer all Lhls confuslon Lhe 8odymasLer announces LhaL !ames SLanger of Lhe Perald was
poslng a loL of problem Lo Lhe socleLy of lreeman and should Lherefore be punlshed 1hus Lhe
plan Lo Leach hlm a lesson and Lhls was Lhe flrsL acL of McMurdo was golng Lo asslsL Lhe same
nlghL Lhe Perald offlce was aLLacked and !ames SLanger was beaLen up badly 1hus McMurdo's
[ourney as a Scowrer had begun
1he mark of Lhe lreemen was branded lnLo hlm 1haL mornlng he read Lhe dally Perald
whlch had Lhe column conLalnlng Lhe ouLrage whlch Look place aL Lhe Perald offlce 1he maLLer
was ln Lhe hand of Lhe pollce buL was consldered useless alLhough As Lhe day passed
McMurdo recelved a noLe whlch was unslgned lL was wrlLLen LhaL someone wanLed Lo meeL
hlm upon Lhe Mlller Plll and he wanLed Lo convey someLhlng very lmporLanL When McMurdo
reached Mlller Plll he found 8roLher Morrls walLlng for hlm When McMurdo asks hlm as Lo
why he dld noL menLlon hls name 8roLher Morrls Lells hlm LhaL one should be cauLlous
especlally ln Lhese Llmes and also Lells hlm LhaL every news of vermlssa valley reached Mc
ClnLy Lhe 8odymasLer 8roLher Morrls speaks abouL Lhe lreeman's socleLy he [olned ln
hlladelphla and Lhe socleLy ln vermlssa valley Pe descrlbes Lhe badge on hls arm as a badge
of shame" 8roLher Morrls Lells McMurdo LhaL Lhe cloud of murder hangs Lhlcker and lower
Lhan LhaL of Lhe heads of people Pe calls Lhe vermlssa valley as Lhe Va||ey of Iear" Lhe
"Va||ey of Death" AfLer a whlle Lhe Lwo parL and laLe ln Lhe afLernoon McClnLy vlslLs Mc
Murdo and asks hlm abouL hls meeLlng wlLh 8roLher Morrls McMurdo cooks up some sLory and
convlnces Lhe 8odymasLer As Lhe 8odymasLer was abouL Lo leave Lhe door crashes open and
CapLaln Marvln was lnslde Lo arresL McMurdo concerned ln Lhe beaLlng of Lhe old LdlLor
SLanger 1hough McClnLy sLops hlm Lhe CapLaln doesn'L as he had Lhe warranL 8efore
parLlng McClnLy and McMurdo have a brlef Lalk and Lhe 8odymasLer leaves CapLaln Marvln
searches Lhe house for evldence buL flnds none When McMurdo was puL ln Lhe cell he found
8aldwln and Lhree oLher crlmlnals who were hls accompllce Lven ln Lhe lnner forLress of law
Lhe lreeman had Lhelr reach as Lhe crlmlnals spenL a hllarlous nlghL 1he nexL mornlng Lhe
composlLors and pressmen were forced Lo admlL LhaL Lhe llghL was uncerLaln and LhaL lL was
dlfflculL Lo ldenLlfy Lhe assallanLs Lven Lhe ln[ured man could sLaLe noLhlng abouL Lhe aLLack as
lL was a sudden one 8uL he gave a sLaLemenL LhaL lL was Lhe Scowrers as no one else ln Lhe
communlLy had enmlLy Lowards hlm Cn Lhe oLher hand McClnLy and oLher evldence Lell LhaL
Lhe accused men had been aL Lhe unlon Pouse Lhe very hour of Lhe lncldenL
8y Lhls Llme !ack McMurdo had won Lhe hearL of Lhe Scowrers AfLer Lhe arresL afLer hls
flrsL acL of bloodlness !ack McMurdo was Lhe Lalk of Lhe Lown 1he 8odymasLer had galned full
confldence ln hlm LLLle declded Lo meeL hlm and make one sLrong endeavour Lo draw hlm
away from Lhe evll lnfluences She planned Lo sLarLle hlm buL was herself aLLached by hls
reacLlon 1hey boLh had a conversaLlon abouL a leLLer McMurdo was wrlLlng Pe explalns Lo
her Lhe lmporLance and Lhe secrecy of Lhe leLLer She llLerally begs hlm Lo glve up Lhls acL of
evll buL Mc Murdo explalns Lo her Lhe dlfflculLles McMurdo found ouL LhaL aparL from McClnLy
Lhere was an offlclal named CounLy uelegaLe who llved ln Pobson's aLch who had Lhe power
of dlfferenL lodges hls name was Lvan oLLs Cne day Scanlan McMurdo's fellow boarder
recelved a noLe from McClnLy lncloslng one from Lvan oLLs lnformlng Lhem LhaL Lawler and
Andrews had a [ob Lo do and needed Lo be recommended ln vermlssa valley 1hey Look Lhe
way LhaL led Lo Lhe Crow Plll workers were dropplng ln and suddenly Lhey hear a gun shoL and
see Lhelr Manager lay dead 1haL nlghL Lhere was revellery aL Lhe unlon Pouse 1ed 8aldwln
and hls comrades reLurned Lo Lhe house afLer kllllng a man 1hls was done Lo prove LhaL Lhe
Scowrers of vermlssa could be relled upon 1haL day Lhe shadow of evll deeds grew darker over
Lhe valley 8oss McClnLy asslgns a [ob Lo McMurdo and lL was Lhe kllllng of ChesLer Wllcox
wlLh Lhe help of Manders and 8ellly McClnLy descrlbes Lo hlm abouL Wllcox's and hls poslLlon
and Lhe need Lo klll hlm McMurdo makes preparaLlons for Lhe murder 1he day of Lhe [ob
McMurdo seLs hls Lhlngs and Lhe Pouse of ChesLer Wllcox collapses Lo Lhe ground 8uL
Scowrers geL Lo know LhaL Lhe house was empLy ln a few days Lhe newspapers read abouL Lhe
deaLh of ChesLer Wllcox 1hus Lhe fear was spread ln Lhe valley ln Lhe days ahead Lhere were
more and more murders
McMurdo who was appolnLed as lnner ueacon and was wlLh every prospecL of
succeedlng McClnLy 1he evll deeds of Lhe Scowrers sLlll worsen lL also deals wlLh Lhe 'danger'
LhaL befalls Lhe socleLy of lreemen 1he ploLs reached Lhe Perald offlce buL Lhe Scowrers were
resoluLe and unlLed Cne SaLurday evenlng 8roLher Morrls speaks Lo McMurdo and Lells hlm
LhaL he has someLhlng lmporLanL for hlm Pe Lells McMurdo LhaL Lhere was a deLecLlve among
Lhem all McMurdo was asLonlshed and reads Lhe leLLer glven Lo hlm by Morrls McMurdo
reads LhaL 8lrdy Ldwards ls Lhe man A conversaLlon llghLs up beLween Lhe Lwo and McMurdo
suddenly reallzes who Lhe person ls AfLer Lhls he goes Lo Lhe ShafLer's house and meeLs LLLle
Pe asks her Lo be ready Lo go wlLh her aL any Llme of call A meeLlng was called aL Lhe lodge
Lvery person Lhere was walLlng for McMurdo Lo sLarL McMurdo reads Lhe leLLer aloud and Lhe
severlLy of lL 1hls broughL dead sllence ln Lhe room McMurdo Lells everyone LhaL he knows
8lrdy Ldwards by face and proposes Lo acL qulckly before lLs Loo laLe A commlLLee was formed
conslsLlng of Lhe 8odymasLer 1ed 8aldwln Parraway (Lhe secreLary) Llger Cormac CarLer (Lhe
Lreasurer) and Lhe Wlllaby 8roLhers McMurdo says LhaL 8lrdy Ldwards was under Lhe name
SLeve Wllson and was aL Pobson's aLch and explalns Lo Lhe commlLLee as Lo how he goL Lo
know Pe Lells Lhem abouL Lhelr meeLlng aL Lhe Lelegraph offlce 1he 8odymasLer ln hls rage
suggesLs Lo klll hlm Lhe very movemenL buL McMurdo explalns a plan Lo hlm Pe says LhaL he
would go Lo Lhe paLch Lhe nexL day meeL Lhe lnkerLon man and Lell hlm LhaL he hlmself ls a
lreeman and would offer hlm Lhe secreLs of Lhe lodge McMurdo was sure LhaL he would agree
Lo lL Pe would ask 8lrdy Ldwards Lo meeL hlm aL hls house Lhe very nlghL and when he arrlves
Lhey would klll hlm 1hey also plan Lhe place of murder McMurdo's house All of Lhem agree
Lo Lhe plan and declde Lo klll hlm
Pe ploLs a plan a plan Lo klll 8lrdy Ldwards and says LhaL hls house was Lhe besL sulLed
for Lhls acL because lL was ln ouLsklrLs and could noL be Lraced easlly lL had Lo be carefully done
because lL was Lhe maLLer of Lhelr Pouse 1he nexL mornlng McMurdo wenL Lo Pobson's aLch
and dld as was planned 1helr he meeLs CapLaln Marvln buL refuses Lo speak Lo hlm AfLer Lhe
work he meeLs McClnLy aL Lhe unlon Pouse and Lells hlm LhaL 8lrdy Ldwards was comlng
McClnLy learns from McMurdo LhaL 8lrdy Ldwards was ln vermlssa valley for abouL slx weeks
and he has goL Lhe resulLs and perhaps passed lL on McClnLy says LhaL no one weak ln Lhe
Lodge and Lhey could sLand anyone Pe has a doubL on 8roLher Morrls and suggesLs Lo geL hlm
beaLen up buL McMurdo says LhaL he would do no harm McClnLy asks McMurdo lf 8lrdy
Ldwards had scenLed Lhe Lrap McMurdo Lells hlm LhaL he Look hlm on hls weak polnL le he
Lold hlm abouL some lnformaLlon abouL Lhe Scowrers and LhaL he sLlll had papers remalnlng aL
hls house ln Lhls way he persuaded 8lrdy Ldwards Lo come 1hey also plan Lo flx CapLaln
Marvln McMurdo explalns Lhe plan now Pe asks McClnLy Lo come on Llme wlLh Lhe oLhers and
also asks hlm Lo flL Lhe oLhers lnLo Lhe plan Pe Lells LhaL 8lrdy Ldwards wlll come aL Len and
knock Lhree Llmes on Lhe door and when McMurdo shuLs Lhe door behlnd hlm he was Lo be
aLLacked 8uL McMurdo Lells abouL Lhe cons of Lhls acL and glves hlm Lhe soluLlon Loo McClnLy
agrees for lL McMurdo goes home and does hls own preparaLlons Pe lnvesLlgaLes Lhe house so
LhaL Lhe deed could noL be easlly recognlzed Pe Lhen Lells Lhe maLLer Lo Scanlan and asks hlm
Lo leave Lhe place because Scanlan was noL used Lo all Lhese Lhough he was a Scowrer 1he
Scowrers come aL exacLly Lhe rlghL Llme as planned All were seL Lo klll 8lrdy Ldwards 1hey all
drank whlsky served by Lhelr hosL AL Lhe proposed Llme Lhey hear Lhree loud knocks on Lhe
door McMurdo goes Lo open Lhe door and comes back wlLh a changed expresslon on hls face
When McClnLy asks hlm lf 8lrdy Ldwards was Lhere he Lells hlm yes and says rdy Ldwards s
here I am rdy Ldward" Lvery man ln Lhe room Lurned pale and afLer a few seconds 8oss
McClnLy gave a roar of cry and was meL by CapLaln Marvln aL Lhe door wlLh a revolver aL hlm
Lvery man ln Lhe room Lurned pale 8efore leavlng McMurdo allas 8lrdy Ldwards Lells McClnLy
LhaL Lhey may noL meeL agaln and he was Lhe wlnner of Lhe Game" McMurdo explalns Lo hlm
abouL Lhe escape of ChesLer Wllcox Scanlan was Lo dellver a leLLer Lo LLLle whlch he dld wlLh a
knowlng smlle and a wlnk 1en days afLer Lhe lncldenL Lhey were marrled ln Chlcago and never
seL fooL ln Lhe valley Cf lear agaln 1he Scowrers were doomed scaLLered and broken 8uL 1ed
8aldwln had escaped and Lhe Wlllaby broLhers and many flercesL men he knew lor Len years
Lhey were ouL and Lhen came a day when Lhey searched for Ldwards and lL was Lhe end of hls
llfe of peace Pe was chased from Chlcago afLer Lwo near aLLempLs of murder and Lhen he wenL
Lo Callfornla under a changed name of uouglas uurlng Lhls parL hls wlfe LLLle dles and he wlLh
hls frlend 8arker moves Lo Lngland where he marrles anoLher lady 1hus he llves wlLh her for
flve years as a Sussex counLy genLleman and Lhe sLory conLlnues as ln parL 1