“An’ I can’t do that same!” said Lawler, with some regret in his voice, “for I am too deeply in somethin’ of which the clergy disapprove! I’m fixed about as high in that, however as they make them in the county! I suppose that Dormer has given ye that information already?” “Yes! I have heard as much!” “By the same token!” here interrupted Dormer, “I sint a bit o’ letther to ye, Mike, by McKenna, an’ now that he’s met you, sure, the line will be of no use!” “That’s so!” said Lawler. “It’ll be all the same! Any friend of yours—any old head especially—will be sure to meet a warm welcome at my house!” Here one of the men forming the company directed Lawler’s attention to an article in the daily _Standard_, stating that the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company was about to bring five thousand raw men into the county to work their mines. Lawler was very much interested in this, and read the entire extract aloud, commenting upon the same: “I’m a man of learning, I am, have some small sense, and know a little of what’s going on in this region of country, and I can tell you all that, if Mr. Gowen, President of the Philadelphia and Reading Company, undertakes to do anything like what this piece in the paper sets forth, in place of having the State Militia here to protect his men in the mines, and keep his breakers, shafts, and depot buildings from the torch, it’ll take all that force and all his time and skill to protect his own life!” “That’s so! That’s so!” was the hearty response. “I look a person in the eye, myself, an’ I know in wan single moment whether I spake to a true man or not!” “I admire your courage an’ ability, Mr. Lawler,” said McKenna, “an’ I’m of the opinion that Mr. Gowen—if that be his name—will think over it a long while afore he’ll trust a force of raw men in his mines! At any rate, he’ll soon see, if he tries it, that such a thing will not work in this country.” This agreement with the boys gave McKenna standing with them at once. The subject was discussed at length by all hands, and the universal opinion was, if the Company tried to butt against the society, the society would soon show the management of the railway, and the coal organization, of what kind of metal it was composed. During the ensuing day Lawler was more sober, and, saying that he had already been too long from home, made preparations for an immediate return to Shenandoah. Before leaving, however, he very cordially invited McKenna to call when he reached his locality, saying: “I’ll make you as safe and secure as you can be anywhere!”