“Of course, how can you doubt that I was happy! I’ll tell you all my thoughts to-morrow night.” “Shall we go on horseback?” “Yes, but I wish to go alone; I’ll meet you there at dusk,” she replied with another strange laugh, waving her hand as he mounted his horse and galloped away. She closed the door and with quick nervous step, crossed the hall and passed into the library, confronting Ackerman. “John Graham is the Chief of the Ku Klux Klan--he has confessed to me!” she whispered excitedly. “I have arranged everything for his arrest day after to-morrow evening at their secret meeting place.” “Then our work is complete,” he said with a ring of triumph. “And his execution is a certainty?” “I haven’t the remotest idea that Graham himself can ever be convicted of the murder of Judge Butler--but your discovery is of tremendous importance.” “He--cannot--be--convicted!” Stella gasped. “No, but the Invisible Empire will be in ruins in forty-eight hours,” he replied, seizing his hat. “Excuse me now, I have work of the gravest importance to-night. Thanks for the promptness with which you have kept your promise.” Before Stella could speak he was gone. With a scowl on her beautiful brow, she called Maggie: “Tell Mr. Steve Hoyle I wish to see him here immediately.” CHAPTER XIII--FOR LOVE’S SAKE STEVE’S response to Stella’s call was prompt. He entered the library with heavy, firm step, a flush of triumph on his sleek handsome animal face. “He has betrayed the Klan to you?” he asked with eagerness. “Sit down,” she responded coolly, an accent of resentment rising in her voice. “Before I answer that important question, I’ve something I wish to ask you.” “Anything you like,” he answered suavely. “And I want the truth,” she continued, with increasing emphasis. “I’ll give it to you if it’s in my power.” “You haven’t done it always,” was the firm retort. “You wish to know about the men on whom I rely to execute justice on John Graham?” “Yes, who are they?” “Members of the Klan from the hills--innocent men on whom he wreaked his vengeance in the most brutal and inhuman manner without a trial.” “You are sure they are members of the Klan?” “Certainly.” “They will come to arrest and try him, dressed in the same costumes the men wore the night my father was killed?” “Yes.” “Have you hired these men to assassinate him?” she suddenly asked, piercing Steve with her great eyes. “My God, no!” he protested. “What will they do?” “Why, try him by his own laws, of course,” Steve answered vaguely. “What laws?” “The law of the Order which forbids an officer to abuse his power by using it for personal ends as he did in the murder of the Judge.” “Why have they not tried him before?” “The feeling against him was not strong enough.” “And now?” “If he has betrayed the Klan, by his own laws he can be torn limb from limb, so long as a shred of its power remains.”