The costume of the visitors consisted of a long, effuse garment which
fell almost to the feet, and was topped by a cape, so arranged as to
cover the back and breast while leaving the arms free. It was surmounted
by a round helmet-like hood. A flap, which fell like the chain-mail of
the knights of the Middle Ages from under the hood, and in which oblong
horizontal apertures were cut for the eyes, effectively concealed the
entire head and face. The sinister blackness of the habit was relieved
by just one thing—the even more sinister red “J” on the right breast of
each rider!
One of the visitors, distinguished by his height, his powerful
shoulders, and the slightly larger “J” on his arm, advanced into the
saloon. The men gave way before him, and he stood alone before the bar.
“Keep quiet,” he said in a clear, emotionless voice, “and there will be
no trouble.”
Nevertheless, from the back of the crowd, a voice spoke. “I know you,”
it snarled. “Tryin’ to work the Ku Klux Klan again, eh? Well, that old
game won’t go in this town!”
Very quietly half a dozen revolvers focused themselves on the
unprepossessing face of “Wasp” Williams, rising above the heads of his
companions. He did not speak again.
The black-robed figure in the center eyed the silent assembly keenly for
a moment, then beckoned toward the door. Another figure entered,
carrying several articles. It climbed nimbly upon the bar, straddled the
space between it and the wide shelf where the array of bottled liquor
stood, and, with leisurely attention to symmetry and design, pasted two
posters upon the mirror behind. Then it coming down again. It stood for
a moment beside the other, and seemed to be dwarfed by comparison. Its
eyes could be seen traveling slowly over the speechless crowd. Finally,
with a gesture plainly expressive of contempt and disappointment, it
turned and passed out as silently as it had come.
The posters were printed in large, black letters, and at the bottom of
each was the now familiar red “J.”
The tall man before the bar again addressed the crowd. His voice was
quiet; but there was a quality in it which conveyed a stern warning.
“Just a word or two before we leave. This organization has been formed
in the interests of decency and justice. It will exist just as long as
it is necessary—and no longer. No man who is decent and straight has
anything to fear from us.
“One of these posters announces an election three days from now. It is
time this town had a mayor, a sheriff, and tome sort of governing body
and authority. We propose to give it a chance to select those. The
notice explains all that is necessary. Every man is welcome to vote, and
vote as he pleases. Nobody will be molested, no matter how he votes,
provided he is peaceable. But you are warned against attempting
lawlessness of any kind. It will be put down without mercy!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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