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 light, but he still thought the boys were playing a prank on him.

"Well, gentlemen, have your fun!" he cried with forced gaiety, "Have your way, I'm at your service. What is the penalty I must pay to-night for my many sins against the Klan?"

"The penalty is your life," said the mask with sullen menace in his tones, stepping closer, "unless you agree to leave this state to-morrow and never enter it again—will you go?"

"So bad as that?" The Judge forced a laugh. "What else?"

"You are not fooling with boys now!" sullenly said the towering white form. "Give me your answer, you dd old sneaking coward! Will you go or do you prefer to die?"

Butler, trembling now with mingled terror and rage, cried angrily:

"Gentlemen, your joke is going too far!"

"It'll go farther," was the quick reply, as the white figures closed in threateningly and the foremost man moved as if to raise his hand.

"Enough of this! Get out of my house!" Butler suddenly shouted, snatching the mask from the leader's head by a quick unexpected display of courage. A cry of horror and surprise leaped from his lips. The knife flashed, and was buried in his heart. He reeled, staggered, clutched