It was a large apartment,
with a long deal table in the centre, and the big stove at one
side. At each of the other sides were windows. There were no
shutters on these: only light curtains which drew across.
McMurdo examined these attentively. No doubt it must have struck
him that the apartment was very exposed for so secret a meeting.
Yet its distance from the road made it of less consequence.
Finally he discussed the matter with his fellow lodger. Scanlan,
though a Scowrer, was an inoffensive little man who was too weak
to stand against the opinion of his comrades, but was secretly
horrified by the deeds of blood at which he had sometimes been
forced to assist. McMurdo told him shortly what was intended.
"And if I were you, Mike Scanlan, I would take a night off and
keep clear of it. There will be bloody work here before
morning."
"Well, indeed then, Mac," Scanlan answered. "It's not the will
but the nerve that is wanting in me. When I saw Manager Dunn go
down at the colliery yonder it was just more than I could stand.
I'm not made for it, same as you or McGinty. If the lodge will
think none the worse of me, I'll just do as you advise and leave
you to yourselves for the evening.
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