The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-24

Excellent. We have already a
clew. There can be no doubt that the
probability-the strong probability
is that the writer was on board of Il
ship. And now let us consider an
other point. In the case of Pondi-
cherry, seven weeks elapsed between
the threat and its fulfilment, in Dun
dee it was only some three or four
days. Does that suggest anything"
"A greater distance to travel
But the letter also had a greater
distance to come"
'Then | do not see the point"
There is at least a presumption
that the vessel in which the man or
men are is a saiing-ship. 1t looks as
if they always sent their singular
warning or token before them when
starting upon their mission You see
how quickly the deed followed the
sign when it came from Dundee. If
they had come from Pondicherry in
q steamer they would have arrived
kalmost as soon as their letter. But
as a matter of fact seven weeks
elapsed. 1 think that those seven
weeks represented the difference be-
tween the mail-boat which brought
the letter, and the sailing-vessel
which brought the writer.
at is possible"
More than that. 1t is probable.
And now you see the deadly urgency
/ of this new case and why / urged
young OpenshaW to caution. The
blow has always fallen at the end of
the time which it would take the
senders to travel the distance. But
+, this one comes from London ana
therefore we cannot count upon de-
lay"
GOOD God!" l cried; what can it
mean. this relentless persecution ?"
'"rhe papers which OpenshaW car
ried are obviously of vital importance
to the person or persons in the sail
ing-ship. | think it is quite clear that
there must be more than one of them.
A single man could not have carried
out two deaths in such way as to
deceive a coroner's jury. There must
have been several in it, and they must
have been men of resource and deter
mination. Their papers they mean to
have, be the holder of them who it
may, In this way you see X. K. *.
ceases to be the initials of an indi-
vidual. and becomes the badge of a
society,"
But of what society?"
"Have you never" said Sherlock
Holmes, bending forward and sinking
his voice-"have you never heard of
II never have"
IeNE nave.
Holmes turned over the leaves of
the book upon his knee. Here it is,
said he presently, 'Ku KluX Khan.
A name derived from the fanciful re-
semblance to the sound pronounced
by cooking a rifle. This terrible Sc
cret society was formed by some
Confederate soldiers in the Southern
States after the Civil War. and it
rapidly formed branches in different
parts of the country, notably in Ten
nessee. Louisiana, the Carolinas,
Georgia., and Florida. It's power was
used for political purposes, principal
ly for terrorizing the negro voters,
and the numbering and driving from
the country of those who We're oppos-
ed to its views. It's outrages were
usually preceded by warning sent
to the marked man in some fantastic
but generally recognized shape-a
sprig of oak leaves in some parts
melon seeds or orange pips in others.
On receiving this the victim might
either openly ALLURE his former ways
or might fly from the country. If he
braved the matter out, death would
unfailingly come upon him, and
usually in some strange end unfore-
seen manner. SO perfect was the or