go?"

Calhoun's face flamed with anger, but controlling himself, he replied:
"When you receive some mail from the South, you may find some dispatches
from General Forrest which will cause you to treat me differently. If such
dispatches come, be here in your office at nine o'clock to-night."

When Calhoun mentioned "mail from the South," and "General Forrest," the
Judge turned pale, and Calhoun fancied he made a motion as if to stop him;
but the young man paid no attention to the signal, and strode indignantly
from the office.

No sooner was he gone than the Judge turned eagerly to a pile of mail
which he had just received, and which the coming of Calhoun had
interrupted him in reading. Hurriedly running over the letters, he picked
out one, and opened it with nervous fingers. It was written in cipher.
Opening a secret drawer in his desk, he took out the key to the cipher,
and began the translation of the dispatch. As he did so, he gave vent to
his surprise in various exclamations.

"Lieutenant Calhoun Pennington of Morgan's staff ... will go by name of W.
B. Harrison ... comes North to fully investigate conditions.... If
favorable will invade North.... Pennington is member of K. G. C."

The Judge laid down the letter and seemed to be gazing into vacancy. He
was thinking--thinking hard. At last he picked up the letter and read it
through to the end. Then he made preparations to go out.

"I shall not be back again this afternoon," he said to his clerk, as he
passed out. "You can lock up the office when you leave. I shall not need
you this evening."

When Calhoun called that evening, he was met at the door by the Judge, and
given a reception much different from that he received in the afternoon.

"I am glad to see you, Lieutenant," said the Judge, and he raised his hand
as if in military salute, but was careful not to touch his forehead.

"And I am rejoiced to make the acquaintance of Judge Worley," replied
Calhoun, raising his hand as if to shade his eyes from the light.

They then advanced and grasped each other by the hand, the fore-finger of
each resting on the pulse of the other.

"Nu," said Calhoun.

"Oh," responded the Judge.

"Lac," answered Calhoun.

"Nu-oh-lac," they then both said together.

Thus were they introduced to each other as members of the Knights of the
Golden Circle.

The Judge was now profuse in his apologies for his treatment of Calhoun at
their first meeting.

"The fact is," sa