“By order of the G. D. of Realm No. 4.
“By the Grand Scribe.”
The white people of Piedmont read this notice with a thrill of exultant joy. Men walked the streets with an erect bearing which said without words:
“Stand out of the way.”
For the first time since the dawn of Black Rule negroes began to yield to white men and women the right of way on the streets.
On the day following, the old Commoner sent for Phil.
“What is the latest news?” he asked.
“The town is in a fever of excitement—not over the discovery in Lynch’s yard—but over the blacker rumour that Marion and her mother committed suicide to conceal an assault by this fiend.”
“A trumped-up lie,” said the old man emphatically.
“It’s true, sir. I’ll take Doctor Cameron’s word for it.”