Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/68

 the draped horse and rider appearing of gigantic size in the shimmering moonlight.

"Now we'll have some fun!" exclaimed Suggs with a triumphant smile.

Stella trembled with excitement, two bright red spots appearing on her dimpled cheeks, her eyes sparkling.

Amid constant cheers from the crowds the line of white figures slowly approached the cordon of police without apparently noticing their existence.

"Now for the climax of the drama!" cried Suggs, watching with eager interest the rapidly closing space between the Clansmen and his police.

The officer in command, noting an uneasy tension along his lines, crossed the street in front of his men exhorting them.

"Stand your ground, boys!" he said firmly.

"Better save your hides, you scalawag skunks!" yelled an urchin from the crowd.

The leader of the Klan was now but ten feet away, towering tall, white and terrible, with an apparently interminable procession of mounted ghosts behind him.

The line of police swayed in the centre.

The Clansman leader lifted his hand, and the shrill scream of his whistle rang three times, and