The men present were united in the demand, and so expressed themselves. All wanted Gomer James killed. The detective, much against his will, was forced to appear as bloodthirsty as his companions. He must not only agree to, but assume a part in, the dreadful act. Thoughts flashed through his quickened brain with lightning-like rapidity. Ideas were plenty—in fact, too plentiful—but which way he should turn, and how escape this terrible business, at first he did not clearly see. Finally a suggestion came, like a reflected gleam of sunlight to the prisoner in his rayless cell, and he said: “You are just right, Gibbons! That’s exactly the way to manage; an’ I’ll go, this very day, to Mahanoy Plane, see Callaghan, an’ get two of the men. I’ll take Garvey wid me, an’ Cooney is appointed to go wid you, to Mahanoy City, to mate the Bodymasther and get the others. Then we’ll return here, the morrow, an’ have everything ready for business the next day mornin’!” “All right,” answered Gibbons. Cooney consented to his part in the programme, and the little meeting broke up, its members scattering in various paths, and entering Shenandoah from different directions, to avoid any remarks of the people. This horrid mission the operative was loth to perform. It came of McAndrew stubbornly refusing to stop in Shenandoah without work, and leaving the burden of the division to devolve upon him. He well knew there would be no chance that day to communicate with Mr. Franklin, who alone could notify Gomer James of this new danger, as Garvey was sure to remain close by him, and what he was to do he was quite unable to determine. The assassination must be prevented, at the risk of his own life, if need be; but how he was to reach the much-desired result remained among the problems that he could not explain. Trusting to chance, and an Irishman’s ready wit, he took the cars in Garvey’s company, and went to Mahanoy Plane, as both told inquirers, “to look for employment.” At Mahanoy Plane, in the afternoon, the two Mollies presented themselves before Callaghan, and in Garvey’s hearing, the operative made demand of that Bodymaster’s division for two men who were “capable of doin’ a clane job.” Callaghan said he was quite willing, but the members of his body were nearly all young and inexperienced, and he doubted if he could find two who would serve the purpose. Still, he promised to make the effort.