“Are you posted as to the standing in the community of the man with whom I just saw you at the depot—I mean the one carrying the bundle on his arm?” “An’ why not?” answered the detective, still maintaining more of the brogue than was natural for him. “Why not? Do I know Dan Kelly? Sure an’ I lately made meself a companion of his, at Pat Dormer’s place, in the borough of Pottsville. An’ didn’t he back Fighting Frazer agin me fur the first bit of a scrimmage I ever enjoyed in Schuylkill County? That he did! An’ he war gentleman enough not to harbor malice agin me! On the conthrary, I flatter meself that he an’ I are rather warrum friends at the prisent moment! What should I be inquarin’ as to his char_ac_ter for? He’s all correct, isn’t he?” “Manus has been very unfortunate.” “Manus who?” “Manus Kull, sure!” “Manus Kull? Is that the name ye give the person I saw off on the train, beyant?” “Certainly! That’s his name!” “Well, Mr. Gillespie, I hev regard for ye, but must say that ye labor under a mistaken idea! It war Dan Kelly, a miner—an’ he has work not so far from this town—that I saw to the train the day!” “Oh, I know what I am talking about!” said Gillespie, a little nettled by McKenna’s unbelief. “He is Manus Kull! I insist upon that, say what you may! Haven’t I known him since he was knee high to a rabbit? and, sorry I am to say it, since he came to the age of maturity it is very little I’ve learned to his credit.” “Kelly’s the name I’ve always heard him called—Dan Kelly, at that—an’ sure I didn’t take him for wan of those havin’ occasion to dale in double names an’ deceptions!” “He is none other than Manus Kull; tho’ since his troubles he may have adopted some other man’s name, having doubly dishonored his own. And, what is more to the purpose in my speaking with you, to put you on your guard, lest you make an intimate associate of him, to my certain knowledge he has served a term of three years in Luzerne County jail for biting off a man’s ear, in the course of a rough-and-tumble fight, at the town of Wilkesbarre. And upon one court-day there were not less than eight or nine warrants out and in the hands of officers for his arrest, for offenses ranging all the way from assault and battery to burglary and highway robbery. He has broken his poor mother’s heart, has Manus Kull!” The talk continued in this strain for some moments, during which the detective learned—as before he had more than half suspected—that Kull, _alias_ Kelly, was only one among many hard cases usually congregating at the Sheridan House. Expressing some surprise, however, that he should be thus misled, he continued his meal in silence.