The long table of unplaned boards—covered with a coarse oil-cloth, which had once been of a variegated mahogany color, but had faded with much rubbing and use to a dark dirt hue—was flanked on either side by equally rough wooden benches of the same length, on which the boarders sat when they partook of their food. There were no chairs in that house; those too proud to occupy the benches while at dinner could stand up and welcome. Furnishing the table were broad tin plates, common horn-handled iron knives and forks, which the landlady had not for months found time to give the polishing rub of “brick-dust and a split potato;” pewter table and tea spoons; a can for vinegar; salt-cellar, and pepper-box of japanned tinware; pint cups, also of tin, for the coffee; a quart measure for the milk; another for molasses—sugar was not permitted on that table. There was fresh bread in plenty, and meat and vegetables, especially white, mealy potatoes, cooked to a turn, with their jackets on, in absolute profusion. Butter appeared in bountiful supply, but it was too vigorous, some of the boarders said, for any other use than to harness to a carriage to draw grist to mill. In other words, its flavor was rank and taste abominable. McKenna felt that such food was not good for him the moment he entered for his breakfast, and, using everything beside that was nourishing, he quietly gave the butter a deservedly wide berth. After the morning meal, and having given some attention to his boots, which were drawn on with difficulty—first having to soak them well with melted tallow—McKenna took a short stroll to the railway work, where he had a talk with the boss, and with some of the hands who were fellow-boarders. He gleaned from the former that employment for him, just then and there, must be counted as out of the question. Labor was to be done, but the price was low, while workingmen were more plentiful than whortleberries on the mountain. There were too many German miners and laborers in the vicinity for the prosperity of the Mollie Maguires, he could easily see, without asking. After making a few other calls, the traveler returned to Timmins’, where, in his triple-bedded apartment, he managed to indite a hurried report to Mr. Franklin, informing him of his whereabouts and movements. This he succeeded in depositing in the post-office. The address upon the envelope was such as to disarm and thwart suspicion. It had been prepared for his use before leaving Philadelphia.