ched fist still uplifted, as it had
been to strike Monk Tooley.

The black muzzle of a revolver promptly presented to his face by the
steady hand of the young man caused him to stagger back with a snarl of
baffled rage. Taking a couple of steps forward, which motion Derrick
followed, and standing in full view of all the Mollies, with the
revolver still held in his hand where it could be plainly seen, the mine
boss said:

"My men, I want you to excuse this interruption to your meeting, and
listen to me for a few minutes. I think I know why you are thus
assembled in secret. It is to decide upon some means of getting rid of
me and of my young friend Derrick Sterling. You have been taught by this
man that we are your enemies, and are working against your interests.
Let me give you a few facts that will serve to show who are your real
enemies, and who are your true friends.

"Job Taskar is, I believe, your Body-master and leader. He had told you
that this lad is a spy, sent into the mine to discover your secrets and
work against you. He hates Derrick Sterling. Why?

"A few years ago Job Taskar was blacksmith to a distant colliery in
another district. This lad's father was engineer in the same mine.
Taskar was paid by the men for sharpening their tools, so much for each
one. They were compelled to go to him by the rules of the colliery. He
so destroyed the temper of the drills and other tools brought to him as
to make them require sharpening much oftener than they would if he had
done his work honestly. He was thus stealing much of the miners'
hard-earned wages. Mr. Sterling found this out, procured Taskar's
discharge from the works, and had an honest man put in his place. When
the same gentleman found the same dishonest blacksmith working in this
mine he warned him that if he caught him at any of his old tricks he
would have him discharged from here. Now Taskar hates that engineer's
son, and wants to have him put out of the way. Do you wonder at it?

"He wants me removed for a much more simple reason. It is that he would
like to be mine boss in my place. This would so increase his influence
in your society that he might in time be made a county delegate, and
live without further labor upon money extorted from hard-working
miners."

At this point the members glanced uneasily at each other. They were
amazed at the knowledge showed by the mine boss of their affairs.

"Now, my men, a few more words and I am through," con