Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/155

 a chair and sank with a groan to a sitting posture. His long awkward arms drooped and his head sank slowly on his breast.

The leader, who had quickly replaced his helmet, bent over him a moment, sheathed his knife and said:

"A good stroke—all right—quick now—open the doors and follow me."

The guard at the door leading into the ballroom opened it gently and the sweet strains of the music rang through the hall with startling distinctness, as the white-masked figures slowly disappeared through the panel under the stairs.

Aunt Julie Ann who had heard the Judge's cry and the sudden noise entered trembling.

"Name er God what's dis!" she cried. "De light gone out! De ghost done dat!"

She turned up the lamp and saw the Judge sitting dead in the chair, the scarlet stain on his clean ruffled shirt holding her for a moment in speechless horror.

Screaming at last, she rushed to the ballroom door and shouted:

"De Lawd hab mussy! De ghost done kill de Judge—Stab 'im fro de heart!"

The music stopped with a crash and the crowd rushed into the hall.

Stella stared at the lifeless form, her beautiful