At eight-fifteen, "There they come," "there they come," was passed along the front ranks of those who lined the street pavements. Around the corner at the intersection of Market and Broadway came a white robed figure carrying the stars and stripes. Just behind him came two others carrying a fiery cross. Behind these came others marching eight abreast--all wore white robes and were masked. There were thousands of them. There was no interference by the police. The first five hundred marched through the crowds on the street without any demonstration from the onlookers. Finally a banner carried by the marchers bearing the words, "The Klan Stands for 100 Per Cent Americanism," brought forth an applause from the crowd. Another banner which read, "Mr. Bootlegger, Your Days Are Numbered," was lustily cheered. A float representing a school house had a banner on each side with the inscription: "The Hope of America. We Want Protestant Teachers in Our Schools." This float was roundly cheered by the Protestants, who composed ninety per cent of the crowd. The banner which provoked the most mirth was the one carried at the rear of the procession. It read: "Someone page Governor Slydell." "Pat McBryan needs the smelling salts." The crowd went wild. Hennesy had stood in the door of his place of business and watched the entire parade. When the last of the white robed marchers had passed he took out his handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his face. Two negroes who had watched the parade from the alley walked farther down the alley from the lights and engaged in earnest conversation. They were bootleggers and for years had been doing a thriving business, carrying their goods on their hips. "Mose," said Pete, "what you all think of these damn Kluxers?" "Pete," replied Mose, in a suppressed tone, "you's mighty ca'less of that isthmus of youse." "Niggah, what youse mean by 'isthmus'?" "Ma go'graphy sa'd that an isthmus is a narrow neck connectin' two la'ger bodies." "Well, what you mean 'bout me bein' ca'less of my isthmus?" "I means dat youse stands a mighty good chance of gettin youah isthmus stretched when youse refers to dem gente'mens as 'damn Kluxers.' When I speaks of dem gente'mens I's gwine to say Mistah Kluxers. You get me, Pete?" "Yes, I duz, and I 'spects it's goin' to be pow'ful unhealthy round heah for gente'men of ouah profession. If them damn--I means 'Mistah' Kluxers would jest take them masks off we'd know who to keep away from." "Youse right, Pete. The legislater an govenah shuah ought to make 'em take them masks off, and then we'd know who to stay way from when we's transactin' ouah bizness." "Youse right, but Govenah Slydell's man wa'n't elected, so we can't count on that." "Well, Pete, what's you gwine to do?" "What's I gwine to do? Well, suh, I'se gwine to leave on that twelve o'clock train tonight." "And I'se gwine with you less--less----" "Less what?" "Less thar's a train goin' fo' that time." Chapter XXIII