Brennan, who had been so forward in the inception of the job, hearing, early in the day, from a voluntary emissary of McKenna, that Shenandoah Division was greatly opposed to the joint movement, did not make his appearance at Number Three on that particular evening, nor did any of the non-Mollies, who had been promised, assemble at the spot. The following persons were there: John Thompson, John Dean, Pat Butler, John Gibbons, Frank McAndrew, Fenton Cooney, Mike Doyle, Ed Sweeney, Mike Casey, Chas. Hayes, Mike Murphy, Pat Whalen, and James McKenna. Not a pipe was smoked in that silent conclave. Men spoke in whispers, and moved with stealthy tread, for fear that a spark of fire or loud word might disclose the whereabouts of the conspirators. McKenna stood among the rest, leaning against the trunk of a tree, expecting every moment to hear the sound of approaching footsteps, announcing the arrival of the allies of the Mollies; but in this way an hour passed and nobody came; then, as silently as they had come together, the crowd dispersed, and the enterprise was a pronounced failure. At McHale’s saloon, in Shenandoah, an hour later, the principal Mollies reconvened, in a convivial way, when, no others being present, drinks were procured and all pledged themselves never to have anything to do with business of a serious character when any outsider was to be interested. Especially were they to refuse co-operation where they themselves were not the persons to plan an entire movement. The same night Gibbons informed McKenna that he had been several days trying to induce Thompson, of Number Three Hill, to aid him in a plan by which the company—the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company—would be greatly injured. The idea was to go, in the dark, and run a loaded truck, then standing at Grover’s Breaker, down the railroad track, when a train would be coming from an opposite direction. It must then occur that the train, locomotive and cars, would come in collision with the coal car and all be smashed in pieces. Thompson had thus far refused, as he was sure that the engineer, fireman, and brakemen, and possibly others, would be killed. Beside he thought the engine might naturally be crowded with workmen, returning to their homes, and he was not favorable to killing innocent persons merely in order to spite one corporation. Gibbons argued that the train would not be thrown off, only the truck smashed, track torn up, and consequent delay in shipping coal insured. Here was another thing that the detective must have an eye upon. It added to the now constant pressure upon his mind. The elements were around. Violence was in the air. McKenna should have a care for himself, and for the great purpose of all his thoughts and acts. He knew not what the morrow might bring forth.