Before him was the long, low, dark dining-room, only a small portion of which, at one extremity, was illuminated by a single tallow candle, trussed to the wall with an old, 114rusty, bone-handled fork, and the flaring lamp held over his own head. On a line with, and at one end of the deal table, which extended nearly from one side of the apartment to the other, and at a place properly described as the head of the board, were grouped in deep shadow, only broken by fitful flashes from McKenna's light, a number of men, all sporting revolvers, rapidly lng and firing, without regard to order or regularity, at the target—a rough, white hat, loosely nailed to the partition not far from the candle. Every member of the reckless gang was more or less intoxicated. Among them the spectator saw several of Dougherty's friends, but the leader himself had been put in bed—otherwise under the dresser—about an hour earlier, and there he reposed, his uncovered head—rough, long-haired, and pallid as to face—supported on the bent right arm, as helpless as an infant and almost as still as a stone model of the spirit that he evidently worshipped—Bacchus.
"And there he reposed, his uncovered head,——rough, long-haired and pallid as to face,——supported on his bent right arm."
"Halloo! here's the docther!" exclaimed a short, ruffianly fellow, wearing a huge fur cap, thrown backward from his forehead, showing his front hair, black, short, and stiff, and holding in his hand a revolver full half a yard long, which he had just discharged a dozen times at the mark without once coming within the length of his weapon of hitting it. "Halloo! Give the docther a chance!"
"Yes! Give us a taste of your marksmanship!" said the frightened publican, who had remained with his gentle and lamb-like patrons to protect his furniture as well as he could and prevent the wild madcaps from firing the building in the course of their innocent gambols. As it was, the thin barrier of plank, separating the dining-room from the kitchen, was thickly perforated with black apertures, ranging from the size of a pea to that of a musket bullet. Luckily, at that hour of the morning, no person was employed, or chanced to be in, the culinary department of the house, and hence injury to life and limb had not resulted from the careless 115use of fire-arms. The wall only was shattered, and it, while made of wood and neatly covered with light paper, bore the appearance of having been irregularly pierced with innumerable circular openings for purposes of ventilation.
Promptly accepting the invitation, as he was certainly in for it by reason of his appearance on the spot, the detective deliberately raised his pistol, and, in rapid succession, fired two shots, both of which struck the target near its centre.
"Bedad! He's as good at firing bullets as he is cuttin' them out of wounds!" shouted the individual with the fur cap, putting away his pistol. "He's bate the best shot; an' now I move that we quit, before the policeman comes an' interferes wid our little divarsions!"
The suggestion was taken advantage of by Marks, the guttered candle extinguished, and, headed by the operative, all made their devious way to the bar-room, where, from the reason of his close firing, McKenna was informed he would be expected to stand treat. This he willingly did, and the men—excepting such as were found physically unable—soon began to disperse. The few remaining were disposed of as expeditiously as possible, some in bed-rooms, and others in seats beside the fire, where they would be in no danger of freezing to death. Then the disgusted landlord and the worn-out detective retired to their respective apartments. McKenna gained his bed, prepared for a nap, while the sun was ushering in another day.
As a natural consequence of passing such a horrible night, the agent slept late, and it was near dinner-time when he arose greatly refreshed. The same day he received a line from John Deenan, alias "Bushy," in response to one he had previously sent the tavern-keeper. As Deenan's epistle forms a portion of this eventful history—although its author has long since been gathered to his fathers—it is printed in full, as follows:
116
Pottsville, Jan. 19, 1874.
Dear Sir:—I received your welcome letter, which gave me a great deal of pleasure. I was glad to hear from you. I have written to Alex. Campbell to inform you of what is going on there, so you can go to him and he will tell you all about it. He lives at the upper part of Tamaqua. He keeps a tavern. We are all well at present.
Yours truly,
John Deenan.
This presented an opportunity for forming the acquaintance of Campbell, which the sojourner in the land of the Mollies was not slow to embrace, immediately calling at the locality indicated. He was cordially received by the landlord, who was a tall, bony, angular-shaped personage, dark of hair, moustache and imperial, sharp of eye, the forehead being rather low and straight, the nose long, sharp, high-bridged, and with a curved indenture either side of the arch. His age might have been forty years. His wife and several children formed the entire family. All united to make the honored guest welcome during the remainder of that day. Campbell was found a sharp, shrewd man, and fully aware of his consequence in the order. He said that Bushy Deenan had advised him of McKenna's intended arrival, but, under the circumstances, he could not see how he would be able to accomplish his wishes in securing employment. Should work be resumed, he would gladly do all in his power to find a place for him, or say or do anything where his influence would be for his visitor's advantage. As concerned any other business toward which Deenan might have hinted, he could only refer him to Muff Lawler, who had all such matters in charge. After a pleasant season, and carrying with him rather more liquor than he felt absolute need of, McKenna returned to the Columbia House in time for supper. There he met, for the first time, one 117Christopher Donnelly, fated subsequently to be associated with some of the chief actors in my narrative, a leading Mollie, and at the time ostensibly engaged in preparing banners and regalia for the Brotherhood, to employ in the approaching celebration of St. Patrick's day, when the Mollies proposed publicly appearing in the procession with the Benevolent and other Catholic societies. Donnelly was a man of ordinary appearance, above thirty in years, having lightish brown hair, with mustache of the same color, light eyes, and, as he stood, the detective estimated, about five feet seven inches in height. His features were thin and small, but not unhandsome, the face having disfiguring marks of coal and powder, showing that he had followed the business of mining. He was married, and the father of a family. After four years' service in the army, he came out, at the end of the war, with a fair record for bravery and good conduct. McKenna was of the opinion that Donnelly was in some way connected with the treasurership of the society's funds. He was soon on intimate terms with the stranger, and the friendly feeling was strengthened when McKenna informed him of his service in the United States Navy. Not too communicative, crafty, calculating, and fairly educated in the common English branches, Donnelly was somewhat above the average, in the way of intelligence, among miners. He departed by the early train for his home at Mt. Laffee.
The detective now thought it time that he turned toward Shenandoah. He therefore took his baggage to the depot and procured a ticket for that place. Bidding the few friends he had made at Tamaqua farewell for the present, he mounted the smoking-car and soon afterward found himself in the then hot-bed and grand centre of the Mollies for Schuylkill County. Framing the usual excuse, that he was looking for a job in some colliery, he managed to extract the information, without exactly making inquiries, that Lawler was still absent in Pottsville and not likely to return for 118several days. He at once determined to go there and make the gentleman's acquaintance, if possible, in Dormer's saloon, where he knew he would be surrounded by true and faithful friends. The weather was freezing cold and he would have a good reason to urge for the short journey, in that his wardrobe sadly needed replenishing. An overcoat and some other articles of comfort were in pressing demand. Consequently he remained in Shenandoah but a few hours, going by the next train to Pottsville. It was not long before he was again at the Sheridan House, in company with his former companion and fellow Mollie, big, smiling, ugly Pat Dormer. The innkeeper was so highly elated to once more behold McKenna, that he quickly entered upon a grand spree, that bid fair to last him a week, during which time he would do little more than guzzle whisky and beer and sound high the praises of the "d——st best Irishman in the whole of Schuylkill County," as he frequently designated his particular friend from Denver. Without appearing too deeply interested, the detective discovered that Lawler was yet in Pottsville and habitually frequenting certain bar-rooms more industriously than seemed exactly incumbent upon a perfectly sober citizen. Hence he waited the time when he should arrive at Dormer's house.
It was Wednesday, the twenty-first of January, that the detective encountered the object of his secret search, Michael Lawler, upon entering the Sheridan House, after breakfast. Lawler was deeply in his cups thus early in the day, yet sufficiently sober to walk erect and know exactly what he was about. It was cloudy, rough, and stormy outside, and the sort of day well calculated to tempt men to seek comfortable corners. A number of prominent and active Mollies were in Dormer's place, with Lawler, when McKenna made his appearance there. He recognized, in the man he had been looking for, a rather prepossessing personage, something past forty in years, above medium height, heavily but 119not clumsily built—yet more fleshy than the generality of miners—with black hair and heavy side whiskers of the same dark color, the chin being shaven; eyes a deep hazel, and withal, "Muff" was slightly bald at the crown of the head. His cheeks wore a ruddy and healthful look, and the skin was fair and clear. As McKenna subsequently learned, Lawler claimed a wife and six children, the oldest of the offspring a girl of eighteen, and the youngest a boy past three years of age. He was quite pleasant in manner, free-spoken, and used a noticeable shade of Irish accent. He bore the reputation of being a steadfast friend, as well as a relentless but not subtle enemy. His absorbing passion was cock-fighting, and a rare breed of game chickens, which he raised and bet upon, called mufflers, gave him the sobriquet, among his intimates, of "Muff" Lawler. A practiced miner, strong, able-bodied and industrious, he usually obtained work at some of the collieries if such a thing was to be had in the vicinity.
Upon the introduction of the detective to Lawler, by Dormer, which ceremony was performed in the grim giant's most fascinating style, the Shenandoah man remarked:
"I'm plazed to meet you, Mr. McKenna! Through your friend, and mine, Pat Dormer, I've heard about you, and begun to wonder where you were taking yoursel' to—had expected to see you at my house in Shenandoah!"
"Bad scran to me, but I'm glad that I've come up wid ye!" replied McKenna, "an' I'm just from your town, where I stopped only a few hours. As work war dull there an' I had no frien's, you bein' away, I jist rode over here to take another glass wid Dormer, an' who should I run right forninst but the very person I have wanted to see! I shall only buy myself some warmer clothes an' then go straight back to Shenandoah, where, if I can get work, an' a dacent, comfortable boardin'-place, I propose stopping most of the winter—that is, providin' some swate friends of mine, who are mighty 120pressin' in their attentions, but that I don't crave to see jist at this present moment, may not come afther me sooner. Av coorse I shall attind church while I'm here, as it may be me last chance for some length of time!"
"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!"
121"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!"
From this significant remark the detective inferred that, as he had all along intended he should, Dormer had given a hint to Lawler that the stranger was a hard case generally, and engaged in concealing himself from certain officials in Western New York, who were in search of him for having killed a man in Buffalo a year or so before. It was more than probable that his reputation as a dealer in counterfeit money had also been discussed by the same worthies.
"I'll accept your offer wid pleasure," answered McKenna, "an' I think it'll not be many days before you'll see me face in Shenandoah! I believe it'll be just the place for me!"
The detective and Dormer attended Lawler to the cars and bid him good luck on his journey.
After Lawler's departure time hung rather heavily upon the agent's hands. He had nothing particular to attend to 122that was of importance in his calling, excepting to make the acquaintance of as many Mollies as possible, impress on the mind of Dormer the necessity of covering his tracks from the New York detectives, and secure the names of such persons as would be likely to listen to propositions connected with his counterfeit currency schemes. He pretended that he might soon have a supply to be disposed of. Dormer would sit for hours in his chair, when customers were not plentiful, and drink in, with open eyes and gaping mouth, the wonderful tales the detective related of his strange adventures in foreign lands, the different people seen, and the narrow escapes he had made from capture and drowning while in the naval service. The little trouble experienced with another man in Buffalo, in which his antagonist chanced to be killed, was often repeated, with such embellishments as his inventive genius supplied. Once in a while he would exhibit a genuine bank-bill and tax Dormer's acuteness of vision to the utmost in finding out the difference between it and those he knew to be genuine issues of the same bank. He was hardly able to distinguish the peculiar secret mark which, McKenna sagely told him, "spotted the 'flimsy' as of the sort called 'queer.'" That it was spurious, however, was evident, from the fact that the exhibitor said he could "sell any needed quantity of similar banknotes at the exceedingly low rate of forty cents on the dollar." His word was not to be doubted.
"For the life of me, I can't see why it is not of the genuine issue!" Dormer would remark, with a puzzled look on his naturally sardonical face. "I'm no bocaun, as you're aware, but may I niver die till I see me own funeral, if the wan bill isn't every bit as good, to me, as t'other!"
"Faith, an' wan is jist as good as the other," McKenna would reply, sotto voce, "for two thirds of all them bills is as false as Sam's masther—the devil—but don't say a word 123about it! As long as the paple don't know the truth, where's the difference?"
Of course the detective never kept a dollar of spurious money in his possession, never intended to, and never permitted himself to be drawn into any sales of that which he had given out as bad. It was sufficient for him if he made his companions believe that he was driving a profitable business selling the stuff, and further, that he was in regular receipt of a pension from the government, to account for getting on in the world without much work, and at the same time appearing to have plenty of funds for his personal wants. This he managed to do, for Dormer told several cronies, and they spread it among the Mollies.
While McKenna was in Pottsville on this occasion—about the 24th of January, 1874—transpired news of the murder, at Miner's Hill Gap, of a man named Bradley. The information reached him through the columns of a newspaper. He at once determined to go to Shenandoah, see Lawler, and find out, if possible, whether the Mollie Maguires were the perpetrators of the deed. He waited until the close of the Mission in the church, and then, on the twenty-ninth of the month, prepared to leave. Dormer, who had recovered from his debauch, with a sober face informed the detective that, hereafter, he would have nothing to do with secret societies, intended faithfully to perform all his church duties, and in fact become a better man than he had ever been before. He advised the trip to Shenandoah, and said, when once there, Lawler would, if he so desired, make him all right in the society. It was Saturday, the 31st of January, that McKenna found himself, for the second time, in the handsome city of Shenandoah. If he should now prove successful, it would not be so long before he would see the inside workings of the Mollie Maguires.
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