“Fur that matther, this identical charge would hould good agin almost any kind of combination, sacret or not sacret! Do ye think, now, spakin’ out honest an’ thrue, we should lay aside a good implement, jist fur the simple an’ only raison we are in fear of its employment, by accident or otherwise, fur unlawful ends?” “Well, I see you are friendly wid the boys,” at last said Donahue, “an’ I’ll urge no further objection to them! Sure, I don’t belave it will be fur the safety of my life an’ me house an’ property I should, but I can’t help thinkin’ I have had plenty an’ to spare of ’em! Don’t let on what I’ve been afther talkin’ to ye! It might do me harum! If you wants to hear more about the fellows, I’ll refer ye to me paple at Mahanoy City—I hev father, mother, an’ brothers there—an’ in fact, if ye same to want it, I can send a letther by ye to the ould gintleman, who’ll recave ye kindly, widout doubt. I hev an idea ye’ll do much better beyant than here, an’ perhaps get work right off. Things is mighty dull an’ quare hereabouts; there, they may not be quite so bad!” At this time the clergyman of the town entered the saloon—he was a quaint, little, jolly fat man, with long, fair hair, small, blue eyes, and wore his gold-bowed spectacles as naturally as though nature had handily framed his turn-up nose to properly support them. Of course the remarks on the particular topic, so interesting to McKenna, were at once suspended. The priest was engaged in disposing of admission checks to a church fair, to transpire the following Saturday, and hoping the sooner to get rid of him, and despite the utter impossibility that he would be present at the diversion, McKenna purchased a ticket. Donahue did the same, and the reverend gentleman was quite happy when he made his exit. Then Donahue, unfortunately, had work to perform, but promised to prepare the letter to his father in season for McKenna’s return from Tower City, where he knew he had arranged to go that afternoon, and the detective set out upon the expedition. At Tower City the operative had his first experience in a coal-shaft of any great depth. Having previously descended some steep slopes, and examined the machinery for withdrawing the anthracite at other collieries, the interior of an extensive mine he had not yet inspected. While at the Upper Mine of Messrs. Rappalie & Co., in the vicinity, an outside boss, about looking after some business below, invited McKenna to descend in his company. [Illustration: “_They were met on every side by a succession of heavy supports and gaping caverns._”]