“Just forty men, mark you--picked men, not a boy or a fool among them.” “I understand,” said Dan, turning on his heel toward the door. “And see to it”--called John--“I want them mounted on the best horses in the county and every man armed to the teeth.” Dan nodded and disappeared. By eight o’clock the town was in a ferment of excitement and the streets were crowded with feverish groups discussing a rumour which late in the afternoon had spread like wild-fire. From some mysterious source had come the announcement that a great Ku Klux parade was to take place in Independence at midnight for the purpose of overawing if not attacking the regiment of soldiers, which had just been quartered in the town. By eleven o’clock the entire white population, men, women and children, were crowding the sidewalks of the main street. Billy Graham passed John’s office with Susie Wilson leaning on his arm. Billy was in high feather and Susie silent and depressed. “Great Scott, Miss Susie, what’s the matter? This isn’t a funeral. It’s a triumphant demonstration of power to our oppressors.” “I wish they wouldn’t do it with all these troops in town,” answered the girl, anxiously glancing at the dark window of John’s office. “Bah! The Ku Klux have been getting pusillanimous of late--haven’t been on a raid in six months. They need a leader. Give me a hundred of those white mounted men and I’d be the master of this county in ten days!” “It’s a dangerous job, Billy.” “That’s the only kind of a job that interests me. A dozen wholesome raids would put these scalawags and carpetbaggers out of business. There ought to be five thousand men in line tonight. I’ll bet they don’t muster a thousand. It wouldn’t surprise me if they backed out altogether.” “I wish they would,” sighed Susie. “Of course you do, little girl,” said Billy with sudden patronising tenderness. “I know what you need.” Susie smiled and asked demurely: “What?” Billy seized both her hands and drew her under the shadow of a tree. “A strong manly breast on which to lean--Susie, my Darling, I love you! Will you be my wife?” Susie burst into a fit of laughter and Billy dropped her hands in rage. “You treat the offer of my heart as a senseless joke, young woman?” “No, Billy dear, I don’t. I appreciate it more than words can express. You have paid me the highest tribute a girl can receive, but the idea of marrying a boy of your age is ridiculous!” “Ridiculous! Ridiculous! How dare you insult me? I’m as old as you are!” thundered Billy. “Yes, we are each eighteen.” “And your mother married at sixteen.” “And she’s still only sixteen,” said the girl with a sigh. “Wait a few days and I’ll show you whether I’m a man or not,” said Billy, with insulted dignity. “Come, your mother is waiting for us at the corner.”