"Play? You couldn't play in a hundred years," broke in Nat Anderson, Jack's best chum. "But make a noise like music." "Play yourself, if you're so smart!" retorted Fred. "Simultaneous Smithereens!" cried Nat, using one of his characteristic expressions. "Don't get mad. Go ahead and play." "Yes, liven things up a bit," went on Jack. "Give us a good marching tune. We're far enough off now so none at the Hall can hear us." Fred blew a lively air and the score of boys behind him began to march in step. "What is it this time?" asked Sam in a low tone, of Jack. "You haven't let on a word." "We're going to administer a deserved rebuke to a certain character in this town," Jack answered. "You've heard of Old Smelts, haven't you?" "That fellow who's always beating his wife and hitting his little girl?" "That's the old chap. Well, I heard he just got out of the lock-up for being too free with his fists on the little girl. Now if there's anything that makes me mad it's to see a kid hurt, girl or boy, it doesn't matter. I've got a surprise in store for Mr. Smelts." "What is it?" "You've heard of the Klu-Klux-Klan, I suppose?" "You mean that southern society that made such a stir during the Civil War?" "That's the one. We're going to be Klu-Klux-Klaners to-night." "But we haven't got any uniforms." "You'll find them in yonder wood!" exclaimed Jack in tragic tones, and he pointed to a clump of trees just ahead. "What's this, amateur theatricals?" asked Nat, catching the last words. "Maybe," replied Jack. "Now Fred you can pay off your orchestra," he added. "I want to do a little monologue." The boys crowded around Jack, and he told them what he had related to Sam. "I have provided the necessary uniforms to enable us to take the part of Klu-Klux-Klaners," he said. "Old Smelts is a southerner and knows the significance of the thing. We'll throw a good scare into him, and maybe he'll let his wife and daughter alone. Now we're to put on the sheets and the tall white helmets, and you leave the rest to me. Do just as I do when we get to Smelts's house." "Hemispheres and hot handkerchiefs!" exclaimed Nat. "This is going some!" Jack went to the foot of a big hollow tree, from which he pulled a large bundle. This he opened and showed a number of ghostly uniforms. He distributed these among the boys, who at once donned them, making a weird looking band in the little glade. "Every one stand still until I put the finishing touches on," commanded Jack. With a bottle of phosphorous he outlined waving flame lines around the holes cut for eyes, nose, and mouth on each white-shrouded figure, "Now we're ready," announced the leader. "Smelts's house is just beyond this wood. Follow me, and, Fred, when you see me put my hand on my head that means I want slow tremulous music, like they have in the theater when, the heroine is dying." "Your wishes shall be obeyed," spoke Fred, in hollow tones, whereat the others laughed. "Silence!" commanded Jack.