Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/69

 each white figure answered with a long piercing cry.

The police cordon broke into scurrying fragments and melted into the throngs on the sidewalks, while the procession of white and scarlet horsemen, without a pause, passed slowly on amid shouts of laughter from the people who had witnessed the fiasco.

"Well, I'll be d! excuse me, Miss Stella!" Suggs cried in a stupor of blank amazement, his round little figure suddenly collapsing like a punctured balloon.

"You can't help admiring such men, Captain!" the girl laughed.

Suggs who had lost the power of speech wandered among the crowd in search of his commanding officer.

As the parade passed the Judge's gate, Stella stood wide-eyed, tense with excitement, watching the tall horseman with two scarlet crosses on his breast who led the procession.

"The spirit of some daring knight of the middle ages come back to earth again!" she cried. "Superb! Superb! I could surrender to such a man!"

A lace handkerchief fluttered from her bosom and waved a moment above her head. The tall figure turned in astonishment, bowed, tipped his