an' looks putty as an angel her voice jes' like her Ma's, low an' sweet- 99

"Tell her I'm here and wish to see her," he interrupted with impatience.

Aunt Laura shook her head again.

"You better not, honey-"

"I must see her. Try."

He stood at the foot of the stairs nervously fumbling his hat while she climbed to the second floor and knocked on her door.

He listened for the answer. The key clicked in the lock and Claudia opened it wide enough to be distinctly heard. "Tell Mr. Craig to leave the house and never enter it again!"

The door closed and the bolt flashed into its place. His face flushed, the color slowly fading as his strong jaws snapped with new determination.

He sat down beside the table, seized a sheet of paper and wrote:

"My dear Claudia :

"I ask your pardon for my lack of faith. Your pride was right. Give me another chance to prove my love. I await your answer in an agony of longing.

"JOHN CRAIG."

He folded the note and handed it to Aunt Laura.

"Give it to her the moment you see her."

He walked home with dread in his heart wondering what answer she would give.

L

CHAPTER XXXI

THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE

AURA looked at the love message and softly laughed. She would let her fiery young mistress sleep off her anger. It would be better to give her the letter when she called her.

Besides, she wished to face the mystery of man's love on her own account. Henry was calling in a few minutes to demand her final decision. Should she take him back and trust his strength to defend her from Julius or had she better wait?

He stood in the doorway of the kitchen, his ebony face wreathed in smiles. He bowed and she laughed.

"Pears lak we gwine ter have some weather, m’am—” he remarked.

Laura smiled.

"Yassah, it's de humility dat's in de air!"

And they both laughed.

"Well," Henry began briskly. "I done make de inquiries fur an' wide an' dey ain't no doubt about hit, ole Julius has left fur parts unknown-"

"Yer sho er dat?"

"Sho!"

Henry opened his arms and sighed:

"Come on, my true love!"

Laura slowly shook her head.

"Better wait er while, man. Julius 'll come back an' beat de life out'n you-an' me too-"

Henry frowned, walked to the stove and shook the grate. His face cleared and he returned to the attack.

"Ye ain't gwine ter have me till I beat old Julius?” "Dat I ain't," was the short answer.

He smiled confidentially.

"Den I got ter tell ye de truth-"

He put his lips close to her ear and whispered: "I done killed de ole scoundrel!"

Laura's face beamed.

"No you don't tell me, man?"

"Des lak I tells ye—”

She stared in wonder as he went on rapidly:

"Quick ez he comes out o' de cotehouse dat day, I lay fer him along de road by de ribber. I seed him goin' down dar. I hide behin' a bush an' when he come along I jumps out an' knocks him flat-"

"Knocks him flat widout a word?" she asked incredulously.

"Nebber cheeped. Des knock him flat an' stan' over him. He wall his eyes up at me an' say: "Ye kin have ole Laura. She ain't no count nohow-"

"He say dat 'bout me?" Laura panted.

"Yassam. An' dat make me so mad I picks him up by de heels, swing him over my head an' bust him open on de ground. I didn't spec ter kill him de fust crack. But dar he lay 'fore my eyes. So I picks up de fragments and fling 'em in de ribber—”

"My, my!" Laura marveled.

"Yessam, hit's des lak I tells ye. I brush de dus' from my close, an' walk on. I meets another nigger an' knock him down des fur luck. By an' by I gets skeered o' myself, goes ter de calaboose an' axes 'em ter lock me up"Well, don't dat beat ye!" Laura sighed.

99

"Yassam. An' nobody ain't seed de ole nigger fum

dat day ter dis an' dey ain't nebber gwine ter see him

no mo

He smiled, opened his arms and moved toward Laura just as he saw over her shoulder the figure of Julius fill the doorway, carrying a hatchet in his right hand and a headless chicken in his left.

Julius saw his enemy, dropped the chicken and lifted the hatchet. Henry moved without delay. As Julius circled to get him, he leaped the table and plunged through the door. Laura followed and watched him run, her figure shaking with laughter.

"He ain't got no wings," she cried. "But he gits dar all de same!"

Julius handed her the chicken without comment and sternly ordered:

"Cook 'im fer me quick. I'se most starved!"

Laura glared.

"Miss Claudy say fer you ter stay out o' dis kitchen, sah!"

He deliberately sat down, rolled his eyes heavenward and said:

"De Good Book say, 'Blessed is dem dat's pussecuted fer righteousness' sake.'"

Laura made a grimace at his pious whine, but hurried to cook the chicken.

W

CHAPTER XXXII

THE RENDEZVOUS

HEN Claudia read Craig's note she rose, calm, alert, her cheeks flushed with brilliant color, her eyes sparkling with courage.

She sent Maggie with a summons to Wilkes. She dressed carefully and met him half an hour later.

"He has confessed that he is Chief?" he asked eagerly. "He will to-day," the girl answered.

"The fame of your love affair has set the town agog!" he laughed.

"Doubtless," she agreed moodily. "I've sent for you, George, to ask a few pointed questions. And I want straight answers

99

Wilkes rubbed his fat hands and smiled.

"Fire away!"

"I want the truth," she continued with increasing emphasis.

"I'll give it to you if it's within my power-"

"You haven't done it always," was the firm retort. "Who are the men on whom you rely to execute justice?" "Members of the Klan."

"You are sure they are members?"

"Certainly."

"They will arrest and try him, dressed in the same costumes the men wore the night my father was killed?” "Yes."

"What will they do?"