When they had tied their horses to the posts beside the wide driveway they slowly entered single file into the great hall. Stella, assisted by Susie Wilson, who had become her fast friend, greeted each of them with words of gay welcome. They were dressed in the regulation raider’s costume of the Klan. The white flowing ulsterlike robe came within three inches of the floor. A scarlet belt circled the waist, from either side of which hung heavy revolvers in leather holsters. A dagger was attached to the centre of the belt, and the scarlet-lined white cape thrown back on the shoulders revealed their militant trappings with startling distinctness. On each breast was wrought the emblem of the Invisible Empire, the scarlet circle, and in its centre a white cross. Spiked helmets of white cloth with flowing masks reached to the cape on each shoulder, completely covering the head and face. With red gauntlets to complete their costume, the disguise was absolute. The only visible part of the body was the eye, gleaming with a strange steady supernatural brilliance through the holes cut in the mask. It was a curious fact that all eyes looked alike in the shadows of these trappings at night. They were simply flashing points of living light with all traces of colour lost in the shadows. In spite of the fact that the girls felt they had nothing to fear from the white figures, it was with a tremor of excitement they each greeted the mysterious partners of their dance. Stella left them talking romantic nonsense of knights and tournaments, ghouls and ghosts in the hall and ran up to her father’s room. “Oh! Papa,” she cried with childish glee. “It’s such fun! They’re all here. You will come down and join the party as you promised?” “Yes, yes, dear, I’ll come, presently,” said the Judge with evident dread. Stella slipped her beautiful bare arm around his neck and her cheek rested against his, while the soft little fingers found his hand. “I’m awfully sorry I was so ugly to-day,” she said gently. “But I couldn’t help it. I didn’t know I had such a temper. I must have gotten it from you Dad.” “It’s all right, my darling, if you’ll never say such bitter things to me again--will you?” he asked tenderly, tears filling his eyes. “No, I’ll be good now, if you’ll forgive me?” Her father answered with a kiss. “You see, you’re all I have in the world, my little girlie. I’m not as strong as I used to be. I don’t think I’m going to live long.” “Rubbish! you’ve just got the blues. Shake them off and be young again to-night. Imagine you are a boy here with mother the sweetheart you’re trying to steal from the proud rich people who hate you--come, come!” The Judge smiled in spite of himself. Her mood was contagious. He stroked her hand gently. “I’ll be down right away. Run on and have a good time.” “All right, I’ll start the first dance and you’ll be there by the time it’s over and shake hands with your enemies. It will be so jolly!”