were other disturbing elements at work in the community, one being the strike of the miners, which had just been inaugurated. A basis for the settlement of differences existing between the proprietors and the employés of collieries, had only recently found the miners prepared with a prompt negative, and, without some agreement—and that seemed far away—not a man among the laborers would dare begin operations. Hence idleness prevailed—“an idle brain is the devil’s own workshop,” in the coal regions as elsewhere—and bad habits, bad deeds, were among the results accompanying this unsatisfactory state of affairs. While some of the miners had gone elsewhere, seeking jobs for the winter—a portion to Luzerne, and others to Columbia County—there were many who, having families and homes thereabouts demanding attention, yet remained, waiting for some change to better their condition. Tamaqua was filled with excited men and exciting whisky. Not long after reaching the city, who should present himself to McKenna’s notice but the identical Dan Kelly, left, not so long before, in Pottsville; the man who became his friend, and who, somewhat earlier, had backed Fighting Frazer in his contest in Dormer’s house. Of course they expressed themselves as mutually glad to see each other. The operative explained to Kelly that the party for whom he was to have worked in the mountains, on the mythical water basin, was found to be a first-class deception; and, leaving him in disgust, he had visited the adjacent country in search of work. All of this Kelly received with perfect faith in its truth, however untruthful; and that personage told the detective, in turn, that he was more fortunate, having obtained a paying job at Boston Run Colliery, less than two miles from the borough of Tamaqua. In fact, the reason of his visit to town that day was to buy a suit of shifting clothes. Kelly at once insisted that the operative should accompany him to a saloon and partake of something warm and stimulative. This constituted an invitation not easily refusable under the circumstances. It was accepted, and the drinkables enjoyed. After this, and following some talk about mining and acquaintances in Pottsville, the detective went with Kelly to the train, and saw him safely off for home. Kelly had remarked that Tamaqua was no place for men like himself and companion, as there were no friends in the town, the nearest being at Old Mines, some five miles distant. Occasionally a few straggling brothers accidentally convened at some tavern in Tamaqua, but no regular organization had ever commenced or been maintained in the city; several times, however, the thing had been started, and as often fallen through. Upon returning to the Columbia House, and while partaking of supper, McKenna was accosted, in a friendly way, by a man who had been introduced to him as Gillespie: