covered sticks and signaled to those holding the ends of the ropes to
loosen them.

Tremblingly Tobias crawled into the house.

"Be ye dead, Tobias?" asked his frightened wife, yet she was not a
little gratified that her husband had made the promise the mysterious
visitors exacted.

"Jest about," was the answer. "Oh, this is a terrible night!"

"Hence, my brave men," spoke Jack solemnly. "We have work elsewhere.
But remember, Tobias Smelts, if thou dost so much as raise a finger
to a woman or child we shall hear of it through our ghostly messengers
and will visit thee again."

"I'll be good! Oh, I'll be good!" promised Tobias.

Then at a nod from Jack the white-robed figures filed away into the
darkness, Fred playing a dirge.

"Say, that was the best sport yet," said Sam, when they were at a
safe distance.

"Yes, and it was a good thing," said Jack. "That old codger'll not
beat his wife any more, I reckon."

And it might be said in passing that he did not for a while. The
visit of the masquerading Klu-Klux-Klan was a most effective remedy,
and the whole village wondered what had cured Tobias temporarily at