The Traitor (Dixon, 1907)/Book 1/Chapter 9
WHEN John returned to his desk he found Dan Wiley standing in the middle of the room pulling his long black moustache with unusual energy.
The young lawyer seated himself and motioned the mountaineer to a chair.
"No time ter fool."
"What's up?"
"Hell's afloat and the river's a risin!"
"Well?"
"Steve's gang from up in the hills in my township is on the way ter Independence. They're goin' ter raid old Sam Nickaroshinski, the Jew storekeeper, and rob 'im ter-night."
"Nonsense, Dan, they haven't got that low."
"Hit's jest like I tell ye. They're a gang of fightin' drunken devils. They'll do anything. I got a man to join 'em, an' he gimme the whole plot. Steve Hoyle don't know nothin' about it no more than their township leader does."
"Did you bring your men?" John asked.
"Yes, a half dozen. They ain't but six er them skunks comin'. Our fellers are lyin' out in the woods at the spring where we met you the last time."
John leaped to his feet with a sudden resolution.
I'll join you at eight o'clock to-night and we'll give the gentlemen from the hills an unexpected reception." He seized his hat and closed his office. As Dan turned to go he gave the low quick order:
"Gags and ropes for six. Lay low and don't let anybody know you're in town."
"I understand," said the mountaineer, with a grin.
"John hurried home, and found to his annoyance that Mrs. Wilson had gone buggy riding with Billy and left the entire work of the house to Susie.
"I hate to put more responsibility on your beautiful young shoulders, Miss Susie," John said hurriedly, "but I must beg you to stop your work and make me a regalia for a little parade to-night—you understand—will you do it?"
"With pleasure," was the smiling answer. "I'll forgive Mama her idiotic trip with Billy for this chance to serve you." She looked tenderly into John's eyes.
Before sundown the costume was finished and fitted to the tall figure by Susie's swift and gentle hands and the last scrap of the cloth gathered up and piled in her work-basket before the first boarder arrived. Supper was an hour late, but Susie was singing at her work when Mrs. Wilson and Billy returned after dark.
Nickaroshinski's cottage was situated on the edge of a deep forest two miles out of town. It was a well-known fact that the old Jew walked to and from his store every morning and evening alone. And it was popularly believed that he hoarded his money under the floor of his bedroom.
Had any other man than Dan Wiley reported to John Graham such a projected raid, it would have been beyond his belief. The old Jew was on good terms with everybody. A refugee from Poland, his instinctive sympathies had always been with the oppressed people of the South, and to their cause he had faithfully given what influence he possessed.
The idea of such an atrocity by men wearing the uniform of his Klan roused John to the highest pitch of indignation. He was determined to make an example of these scoundrels that would not be forgotten.
The stars were shining brightly when he started with his men to the old Jew's place.
It was with a queer consciousness of the irony of fate that he galloped through the shadows to strike horsemen who were wearing the uniform of the mysterious order he had helped to create. The wind freshened and grew chill, heavy clouds obscuring the sky. The darkness became intense.
He carefully placed his men in positions to guard every approach to the house, and walked to the door to warn the Jew of his danger and arrange for the capture of the raiders.
A sudden crash and groan within told him only too plainly that the scoundrels were already inside.
Gathering his men John closed in on the house. As he expected they had put out no pickets, never dreaming that they would be molested. They had bound Nickaroshinski, beaten him unmercifully and tortured him until they had secured his money and, not satisfied, had begun to smash things to pieces.
Looking through the window John saw that their costumes were exactly like his own and that the six men had scattered through the house bent on plundering every nook and corner. Knowing that it would be impossible for them to distinguish their own men from his, he made at once his plan to capture the crowd without a struggle. Stationing his own six men at the front door, he took Dan Wiley and boldly entered the room where the leader stood covering the Jew with his revolver. Without a word they walked toward him in the dim light.
Merely glancing at them the leader growled:
"Finish up and let's get away from here!"
"All right," John answered coming closer, "I'm getting in a hurry myself."
Before he knew what they meant, Dan pounced on him and pinioned his arms while John quickly covered his mouth and fixed the gag.
It was but the work of a moment to tie the wretch and pass him out the door to the grim figures waiting. They repeated this performance in each room until all but two had been taken. These two were together. John suddenly blew his whistle giving the Klan signal "Follow me." When they entered the room two revolvers were suddenly thrust under their noses. They surrendered without a struggle.
John quickly released the old man, bound his wounds, restored his money and left with his prisoners.
Each of them were given forty lashes and the next morning when Steve Hoyle woke he found six stripe-marked half-naked men gagged and bleeding dangling by their arms from the limbs of the trees on his lawn. Around the neck of each hung a placard: "A warning to the scoundrels who are disgracing the uniform of the Ku Klux Klan in this county."