“And your duty led you into correspondence with Miss Butler?5’ “I regret to be compelled to answer, but it did.” “She has aided in your work?” “Yes. I reported to her by order of the Chief on arrival, and have been in constant communication with her at every step since.” “Up to the hour of John Graham’s arrest?” Susie asked breathlessly. “Yes.” “Oh, the little fiend! I could strangle her!” the girl cried. “I’m sorry to have to betray this confidence. But you have forced me.” “And you are pressing the charge of murder against John Graham?” “On the other hand, I am not. If my plans succeed, I’ll explode a bombshell in the court room the day he faces the jury.” Susie extended her hand. “I beg your pardon for my rudeness. Alfred will put your trunk back immediately, if you will stay.” Ackerman mounted to his room and unpacked his trunk, humming a love song while Susie put on her hat and left with swift firm step to find Stella Butler. CHAPTER VI--THROUGH DEEP WATERS STELLA had hurried to the jail with a bouquet of flowers earlier than usual, accompanied by Maggie who carried a dainty breakfast. She wished to be the first to tell John Graham of the blow which had fallen on his people. She had forgotten that the jail in which he lay had been jammed with prisoners during the night. Four of his friends were crowded into the cell in which he was confined. Her heart sank at the sight of the pitiful crowds of weeping women who stood at the jail door, some of them with sick babies in their arms. A little tow-headed boy sat on the steps, with his lips quivering and the big tears slowly rolling down his cheeks. She recognised him as the one she saw in front of her house the night of the Klan’s first parade. She bent over him and took his hand: “What’s the matter?” The boy’s breast heaved and he choked, unable to answer, bent his sunburnt head on Stella’s hand and burst into strangling tears. She stroked his hair, and at length he sobbed: “They’ve got my big brother in here--locked--up--in--a--cage! They’re going to kill him, and he ain’t got nobody but me to help him. I ain’t nothing but a little boy. I can’t get no money, and I can’t do nothing. Oh, me! oh, me!” He bowed again and sobbed as though his heart would break. Stella slipped her arm around his neck and placed a rose in his hand. “Hush dear, I’ll be your friend and his. I’ve got money. I’ll help you--give the rose to your brother and come to see me.” “Will you, Miss?” he cried, leaping up with joy. “Make’em let me go in with you and I’ll tell him!” Stella took him by the hand and led him into the jail. When the jailor frowned at the boy, she said with a smile: “He’s a little friend of mine. He’ll go in with me.” The boy nestled close to her side and gripped her hand tightly. When they reached the first corridor, he sprang to a grated door and seized his brother’s hand. As she passed on Stella heard him say joyously: