Monaghan seemed about four years past his majority, was of fair complexion, hair of the color denominated sandy, full, florid face, light blue eyes, and wore no beard or mustache. In fact, he was a middle-sized, boyish-looking man, a little above medium height and weight. He was at that period a miner, but subsequently attended college about a year and finally settled down in Shenandoah as a staid and sober green-groceryman, in which place and position he yet remained at last advices. He is not to be confounded with Ned Monaghan. Ferguson, _alias_ Fergus, was also a miner, but a personage whose figure and face were a contrast to those just described. Of dark complexion, wearing a black, full beard and mustache, of which he was so proud that he constantly stroked and petted them with his rough hand; a foxy little face, red nose, that turned ever upward; large, broad, and capacious mouth, which was seemingly filled with long, wide, shovel-shaped teeth; staring, hazel eyes, ready to wink comically at the faintest possible chance; his shoulders tending to form part and portion of a human interrogation point, he was neither large nor small, heavy nor light, but about a medium in both; a person to be remarked upon the street, and as full of genuine wit as he well could be. While Fergus was wild and frolicsome, Monaghan was quiet and good-natured. McNulty was a compact fellow, of swarthy complexion, black hair, dark gray eyes, round face, pug nose, and would steal like a born thief. Work and he had evidently early fallen out and never become reconciled. A fearful consumer of drink, he was never trusted by the Mollies, and there were few who knew him that would leave sixpence in his reach if they cared ever to see it again. These were some of the every-day companions of the operative.