Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/247

 her great eyes dilated wide and sparkling with courage.

The knocker struck sharply and she remembered with a start that Steve Hoyle had returned on the midnight train and would call this morning. She heard Maggie show Steve into the library.

Without waiting for her breakfast she hastened to meet him, and he plunged at once into the purpose of his call:

"Has John Graham yet confessed his leadership?"

"He will to-day," was the quiet answer.

"The fame of your desperate love affair has set the town agog," Steve laughed triumphantly.

"Doubtless," she replied moodily.

"I've everything arranged—the men are only waiting for the word."

"I prefer that the law take its course. I'm not ready to commit murder," she said emphatically.

"Nonsense! The law's a farce—Deliver him to his own men to be judged by the Klan which has set itself above the State. If he is the leader of the Invisible Empire he holds his own High Court. Let his men decide his fate. It's justice!"

Stella hesitated a moment and slowly said:

"When I learn from his own lips that he is the Chief of the Klan and find that there is no other