Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/183

 There's a price on the head of the man who committed that crime."

"My men didn't do it!"

"Granted. But one of these fine days a white-livered traitor may crawl from your Klan and claim his reward of gold or office. You will be convicted in ten minutes."

Billy turned pale, and straightened his boyish figure.

"Well, I'll tell my men to go. I'll not run."

"You can serve your men best by going. The bravest general always knows when to retreat."

"I'll stand my ground."

"You must go. I can fight for you better with a thousand miles between us. I'll play a trick on my Yankee friends this time. I'm going to send you North into the enemy's country—to college."

Billy was trembling now with a new excitement. His heart was set on a college career and he hadn't as yet hoped to find the way.

"How will you do it?" he asked eagerly.

"Old Nickaroshinski will take my note. I'll borrow the money."

The boy smiled for the first time in a month.

"Oh! John, you've taken a load off my soul."

John's hand crushed the letter from Stella, which he was unconsciously grasping in his pocket.