*comment ñáéç…— *hide_reuse *advertisement *temp hooded false *temp imposter false *temp beale false *gosub_scene util combat_value *gosub_scene util combat_value_ss *if joined_kkk *goto forrest_calls *elseif shepherd_credentials > 45 *if ((ethnicity != "african") and (ethnicity != "choctaw")) and (((memphis_reception_planner = "Olivia") or (feeding_style = "socialites")) or (feeding_style = "merchants")) As is your custom, you are spending some leisure time at the townhouse of Olivia Polk Hill and her father, Napoleon Hill, when the seemingly omnipresent subject of bonds rises again. Napoleon Hill had managed to remain somewhat above the fray during the War, and considering his role as a grocer and cotton-merchant, he prospered under the occupation. Yet, he foresaw a time when the Union troops would depart and managed to profit from the Union without angering his Confederate neighbors. This approach meant that—even now—his drawing room was open to discussions between individuals who would not otherwise have given each other the time of day. In this particular instance, there is an argument about the bonds being issued by counties to finance railroad subscriptions. The people of Tipton County, just north of Memphis, are up in arms over bonds that were issued in their name. They argue that they were disenfranchised from the decision process and that they are now the ones who bear the financial burden. The wife of a Pennsylvannian missionary is arguing in favor of the court decision. "…it does not matter if they didn't get to vote in the elections for the county judges. They made their choice when they took up arms and fought against the Union. They lost. And when they lost, they lost their right to vote. The Mississippi River Railroad is a project of which this state is sorely in need. Here, again, these former Confederates try to stand in the way of progress. And just as they lost at Gettysburg and Appomattox, they lost in the courts." "You are saying they should swallow these injustices without protest?" says Olivia. "As a matter of fact, yes," Mrs. Motter replies. Jeremiah Koonce—something of a local dandy—offers a third opinion. "Reconstruction is over. The fact that there are still some offices which have yet to be reclaimed are simply a symptom of the election cycles. We should not be beholden to individuals who have no chance at reëlection." "And what do you propose should be done, Mr. Koonce?" Motter retorts. "Why, everything in our power. If a crime is being committed, it is our civic duty to stop it." "What are you saying? That if something like the Tipton fiasco were to occur again, you would accost the county judges? Expel the railroad men? Destroy the duly issued bonds?" "All three, I would think. In fact, this very evening, something similar is transpiring." There is a sharp intake of breath by the women in the room. After pausing for effect, he continues. "It came to my attention through my brother that the county court of Fayette issued bonds this very day, with the purpose of raising capital for a Memphis to Somerville railroad. The perpetrators of this scheme should be, at this very moment, arriving in town with the intention of boarding a train for Louisville. And let me tell you, we will not let this crime go unchallenged," he says with a sniff. "I think we have the next Jesse James in our midst…" Olivia titters. "I can just imagine you leaping from your horse to a rushing train, Mr. Koonce!" The room breaks into a confused babble of voices, with questions being posed from very side. Koonce waves these off, however, and excuses himself, saying that he must go defend the honor of his people. *choice #I excuse myself to follow Koonce. Koonce seems oblivious to your presence as he heads to the north end of town on his horse. Just outside of town, he merges with a group of Klansmen, some wearing sackcloth and others unadorned. *if observing_kkk or joined_kkk Though the Klan was officially disbanded under pressure from the Federal government, its members did not put aside their beliefs. On occasions such as this, they are ready to mount their horses and exact their revenge—President Grant be damned. *gosub observe_klan #I excuse myself and head to the train station. *goto train_station #I remain put. I came to the home of Napoleon Hill to enjoy the evening, not to get involved in bond fraud. *set discretion %-10 *set shepherd_credentials %-5 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "lynched" The women of the salon are certainly in a state, and Mrs. Motter is forced to excuse herself, overwhelmed by the idea of the violence which is about to be perpetrated. You take the opportunity to feed from one of the other guests, and soon enough retire home without further incident. You later hear that the Klan stopped the train, pulled off the judge, assessor, and railroad representative and hanged them. The bonds were returned to the county and destroyed. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath You later learn that three white Republicans were pulled from a train headed to Louisville and hanged beside the tracks. *elseif (memphis_haven = "beale") or ((ethnicity = "african") or observing_kkk) *set beale true Word races through the Beale district that the Klan are assembling outside of town bearing torches and muskets. This can mean only one thing: someone will die tonight. *choice #I head to the assembly-point, the better to understand their purpose. *gosub observe_klan #I try to organize a group of men to defend the district. *label organize_defense *set shepherd_credentials %+10 *if charm >= 3 With the help of about twenty men, you organize a rudimentary defense of the district…or, at least, a killing zone. Should the Klan be foolish enough to prance down Beale Street proper, the hastily-organized militia will be well-placed to kill scores of Klansmen. For better or worse, however, the opportunity never comes. When dawn approaches, you return to your haven to sleep. *else The residents of the district look at you in surprise and amazement. The idea of organizing a militia to defend themselves seems like an invitation to suicide, and they repudiate your offers of organization. Instead, they head indoors and pray. You too wait anxiously for the arrival of the Klansmen, and when dawn approaches with no sign of them, you eventually retire to your resting-place. #I spread the word to make sure that everyone is indoors. *label people_indoors *set shepherd_credentials %+10 *set compassion %-10 You make your way through the district, urging, cajoling, and commanding the residents to get themselves indoors. When dawn approaches, you realize that the Klan has yet to show itself. It seems that, this evening, the object of their ire was someone else. #As long as they don't bother me, what do I care what the Klan intends to do? *set observing_kkk false *set shepherd_credentials %-10 It seems that, this evening, the object of the Klan's ire was someone else. You later learn that three white Republicans were pulled from a train headed to Louisville and hanged beside the tracks. *else Throughout the winter of 1873, the city holds its breath. The very idea of civilization seems precarious, as the citizenry is caught between the fever on one hand and political strife on the other. Amid this chaos, the former officers of the Confederacy continue to test the limits of their power. For example, in the early spring of 1874, you learn that three white Republicans were pulled from a train headed to Louisville and hanged beside the tracks. Two of them were from neighboring Fayette County, yet the Sheriff of Shelby County refuses to investigate, citing a lack of witnesses. When the Sheriff of Fayette County is replaced in the next election, the matter is forgotten entirely. *finish Next *goto_scene memphis_first_intermission_continued *label observe_klan *if stealth > 2 You approach the gathering of Klansmen without fear of being seen. Some are hooded in sackcloth, others are not. *label klans_plan @{met_nbf Nathan Bedford Forrest addresses the crowd,|One addresses the crowd,} haranguing his fellows about the crimes of Republicans in neighboring Fayette county. It soon becomes clear that the men intend to board a train and reclaim some bonds that three men—a county judge, a tax assessor, and a railroad man—are leaving the state with. The Klansmen intend to regroup in an hour at a culvert outside of town, where they will board the train to Louisville. *choice #I return to the Beale district to let my neighbors know that they have nothing to fear this evening. *set shepherd_credentials %+15 Returning to the district, you relate the intelligence that you have discovered. The residents there are grateful to know that tonight the Klan's ire is directed elsewhere. #I head to the train station. *goto train_station #I dress in sackcloth and join up with the Klan at the culvert. *set imposter true *set hooded true *goto rejoin_klan *elseif (stealth > 0) and (perception > 1) Due to your supernatural hearing, you are able to hide at a significant distance from the Klansmen and still make out their words. *goto klans_plan *elseif (beale = false) Picking out Koonce from the crowd, you follow him back to his home. He emerges a few moments later, dressed in sackcloth and bearing a revolver and an unlit torch. *choice #I subdue Koonce and take his place. *set hooded true *set imposter true It is a small thing to overpower Koonce and extract the details of the plan from him. The Klansmen intend to stop the train with the fleeing Republicans on its way out of town and recover the bonds. You truss Koonce, take his revolver and torch, and don his robes of sackcloth. Once outfitted, you head to the culvert to join up with the rest of the Klan. *goto rejoin_klan_1 #I head to the train station. *goto train_station #I head home. *set discretion %-10 You later learn that the three Republicans were pulled from a train headed to Louisville and hanged beside the tracks. Two of them were from neighboring Fayette County, yet the Sheriff of Shelby County refuses to investigate, citing a lack of witnesses. When the Sheriff of Fayette County is replaced in the next election, the matter is forgotten entirely. *finish Next *else Though you find their assembly-point on the north end of town, you cannot get any closer without risking discovery. After some discussion, the lot of them go their separate ways. *if intelligence > 2 If these men mean the people of the Beale district harm, this is a strange place for them to gather to plan their crimes. Any element of surprise would be lost as they traversed the town to Beale Street, far to the south. *choice #I return to the Beale district to warn everyone to go inside. *goto people_indoors #I return to the Beale district to organize a defense. *goto organize_defense *if (intelligence > 2) #I go home. I doubt these men intend the people of the Beale district any harm. *set discretion %-10 It seems that your analysis of the situation was correct. *return *label forrest_calls Though Nathan Bedford Forrest has testified before Congress that the Ku Klux Klan has been disbanded, that has not ended its activities. Thus, when a note arrives at your door requesting your presence at a meeting, you dress yourself and head for his home. Arriving there, you find yourself in the company of several individuals known to you, including Forrest and Minor Merriwether. Altogether, there are some twenty men at the meeting. Once you arrive, the chaplain calls the meeting to order: "The Cyclops will speak. He who sees all, guards all, defends all. You who have ears to hear, listen!" "We who have ears to listen, hear!" the room responds. "Brothers! We have all heard of the corruption that is the Republican party!" The room rumbles with agreement. "Tonight, however, we have an opportunity to right a great injustice. An injustice that has just been committed, but which can still be undone." Doing your best to disguise your voice, you call out: "What is the nature of this injustice?" Forrest beams. "As you all know, the courts have repeatedly affirmed the duty to honor bonds issued in our name—even if we had no say in the issuance of those bonds." The room rumbles its disapproval. "The carpet-baggers in Fayette County have this very day convened a county court and issued bonds on behalf of the county at the direction of the Memphis-Boliver Railroad Company. These officials—elected by Republicans and negroes—will become the responsibility of our cousins who live there. The Republicans will leave next year when the next round of elections boots them out, and the negroes have no money to pay. By this logic, it is clear to me that it will fall on our cousins to shoulder this burden." The rumbles raise to cries of outrage. "In fact, the most corrupt of the county judges—whose brother owns the railroad—and the county tax assessor are even now at the Memphis terminal, waiting to board a train to Louisville, where they will sell these bonds. If we can catch them, we can recover the bonds and return them to the people of Fayette County. It is the sworn duty of this band of brothers to defend our neighbors against aggression. Will you join me now and put an end to this Republican conspiracy?" The gathered men break into cheers. Forrest continues. "The train to Louisville will leave in an hour. Go now. Arm yourselves, gather your brothers and sons, and don your hoods. We will board the train at the culvert north of the city and take back what is ours." "Have you heard?" The chaplain intones. "We who have ears to hear, have listened," the crowd responds in unison. And with that, they let out a final cheer and disperse to their horses, disappearing into the night. *choice #This is madness; I want no part of it. *set discretion %-10 *goto skip #What do I care about the tax obligations of the citizens of a neighboring county? *set compassion %+10 *set shepherd_credentials %-5 *label skip *set joined_kkk false When you do not join the Klan for their ride on the train, they conclude that you have abandoned them and their cause. They do not solicit your presence again. @{literate You later read in the papers that the Klan stopped the train outside of town, murdered the fleeing county judge and tax assessor, and destroyed the bonds.|Franklin later informs you that the Klan stopped the train outside of town, murdered the fleeing county judge and tax assessor, and destroyed the bonds.} The Sheriff of Shelby County refuses to investigate the matter—you seem to remember seeing him at the Forrests' soirée several years back—despite the protestations of the Sheriff of Fayette County. A month later, a marshal is sent to investigate from Nashville, but absent any witnesses willing to testify, the matter is left unresolved. *finish Next *selectable_if (discretion > 35) #Blood will be spilt tonight; I intend to be in the thick of it. *goto rejoin_klan #I will meet up with the Klan at the culvert; I must stop this before anyone gets hurt. *goto rejoin_klan #I will meet up with the Klan at the culvert; these Republican thieves must be stopped! *goto rejoin_klan #I go to the train station; I must warn the county judge and tax assessor! *set discretion %-5 *goto train_station #I go to the train station; I want those bonds for myself! *set compassion %+10 *set discretion %+5 *goto train_station *label rejoin_klan Before meeting up with the rest of the Klan, do you don a hood of sackcloth? *fake_choice #Yes. *set hooded true #No. *label rejoin_klan_1 Riding in the direction of the culvert outside of town, it is easy to locate the gathered Klansmen. They sport torches and muskets, @{hooded and while your arrival is welcomed, they do not overly remark upon your approach.|and give you curious looks when you join them unhooded. Of course, there is no commandment that you should don one, and they mark it as another one of your many eccentricities.} Despite their hoods, it is easy to pick Forrest and Meriwether out from the crowd; the gathered men clearly defer to them. Within a few minutes, the train whistle echoes down the tracks. The moment has arrived. *choice *if shapeshifting > 0 *selectable_if (shapeshifting > 1) #I will use my powers of Shapeshifting to command Forrest and Meriwether's horses to stand fast. *set discretion %-15 *set compassion %-15 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "shapeshifting" The train slows as it comes around the bend and begins to pick up speed again as it approaches the culvert. With a great "Yah!" Forrest orders his horse and men forward. Unfortunately, his horse—and Meriwether's—stand fast, while the rest of the crowd surges forward. Within moments, the rest of the band of men are swirling around in circles, wondering why their leaders have not moved. Forrest crops his horse repeatedly, and she cries out in pain but refuses to move. A few men even leap aboard the train, but lose their nerve once they realize they are nearly alone. And then the train is past, and the window of opportunity lost. *page_break The matter becomes a great mystery among members of the Klan, one which cannot be attributed to you. The bonds are sold in Louisville, and the railroad built. Many citizens of the county join a lawsuit opposing the taxes levied to pay for the line, but the case is decided in favor of the railroad companies. *finish Next #I try to persuade them to halt this nonsense. *set discretion %+10 *set compassion %-10 *if charm >= 4 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "dissuaded" Seizing the moment, you address the gathered men. Your words both appeal to their better natures and chastise them for their failings. You have to shout to be heard as the train rumbles past, but by that point you have already won. They extinguish their torches and retire to their homes. *page_break The bonds are sold in Louisville and the railroad built. Many citizens of the county join a lawsuit opposing the taxes levied to pay for the line, but the case is decided in favor of the railroad companies. *finish Next *else Your words fall on deaf ears. Thankfully, too, as they might have sought to lynch you had they fully comprehended the intent of your words. With a mighty "Yah!" Forrest spurs his mount to action, and the band of men lurch into motion alongside the train. Almost a dozen of them leap aboard the train and enter the cars. *choice #I board the train as well. *goto aboard_train #I simply observe. *label observe *set fayette_railroad_bonds "lynched" The train grinds to a halt. The Klan members on the train emerge from the passanger cars, pushing three men out before them. The Klan searches their effects until the bonds are discovered, and then hangs the men from a tree beside the railroad. on unmolsted, the train resumes its journey. The Klan reconvenes, celebrating their victory, and lights a great fire in which to burn the bonds. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath #I return home. *set discretion %-10 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "lynched" You later hear that the Klan stopped the train, pulled off the judge, assessor, and railroad representative and hanged them. The bonds were returned to the county and destroyed. *label bonds_recovered_aftermath Because two of the lynched men were from Fayette County, the Republican Sheriff there tries to open an investigation into the matter. Unfortunately for him, the Sheriff of Shelby County is completely unwilling to cooperate in the investigation, and when the Sheriff of Fayette is replaced by a Democrat in the next election, any further inquiry into the matter is dropped. *finish Next *selectable_if (discretion > 35) #I intend to be first aboard that train! *set discretion %+10 *goto aboard_train *selectable_if (discretion < 70) #I try to stay in the middle of the pack. *set discretion %-10 *goto aboard_train #I watch. *goto observe *label aboard_train Your horse works up a lather as it brings you alongside the train. Leaping into the air, *if agility >= 3 you land neatly onto the train. Throwing open the door, you begin pushing your way through the passenger car. *else you stumble and fall to the traincar's rear platform. It only takes you a moment to recover, and soon you are throwing the door open and pushing your way through the passenger car. You feel the train slowing down under your feet, and the passengers are looking at you with terror in their eyes. *if (compassion >= 60) and (perception > 1) You revel in the smells of fear that fill the cars as you make your way through them, doing your best to not let yourself get distracted. *elseif watching_james and speaks_english Sensing some potential danger, you announce to the crowd, "I may not be Jesse James, but I like the way he does business. Only the unjust and the criminal need fear me. The rest of you may take solace that you will leave here today unmolested." The passengers—who previously seemed on the verge of a panicked response—seem to calm down at your words; you proceed on unmolested. It does not take you long to find the private cabins, and from there the three men whom you seek. *choice #I kill them now, while I am still alone. *set compassion %+20 *set discretion %+15 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "murdered" Without blinking, you point your revolver at the chest of the largest of the three men and pull the trigger. The other two have barely moved when your drawn blade slices another's throat. You struggle with the third for a moment, but he is not prepared to fight, and you sink your blade into his chest. Turning back to the one with the slit throat, you latch your lips around the wound and suck as mightily as you can, drinking deeply before you are discovered. Hearing the Klansmen coming down the hall, you quickly wipe your mouth and emerge from the cabin, motioning for them to join you. They look at the three cooling bodies in surprise. You offer some half-hearted excuse which they do not believe for a minute. Thankfully, they assume your hatred for the Union and Republicans generally motivated you, rather than anything akin to the fact that you are a bloodsucking demon taken human form. It only takes a few moments for Meriwether to find the bonds. Other Klansmen drag the bodies from the traincar and hang them upside down from a nearby tree. Once their point has been made, they let the train continue on unmolsted. The Klansmen reconvene outside of Memphis and build a bonfire. The bonds are destroyed with great ceremony by the triumphant Cyclops. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath #I call for the Klansmen to come. *set compassion %+10 *set discretion %-10 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "lynched" It is only a few minutes before a sufficent contingent of the Klan arrives; the three men have not moved from under your watchful gaze. Meriwether soon locates the bonds in a satchel. The prize now recovered, the Klansmen take the Republicans from their cabin and hang them from a tree just outside. Once their point has been made, they allow the train to continue on on unmolsted. The Klansmen reconvene outside of Memphis and build a bonfire. The bonds are destroyed with great ceremony by the triumphant Cyclops. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath #I try to persuade them to surrender the bonds—for their lives may yet be spared. *set compassion %-20 When you have pled your case, the three men look at each other for only a moment before the assessor stands and fetches a satchel. He hands it to you, and when you open it, you find the bonds inside. You promise to do your best to persuade the Klan to let them live. Emerging from the car, you call to the Klansmen. When they have gathered around you, you surrender the bonds to Forrest, and then point out that you have accomplished what you came here to accomplish. *if charm >= 3 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "recovered" The men cheer their victory and turn back towards Memphis. The Klansmen reconvene outside of the town and build a bonfire. The bonds are destroyed with great ceremony by the triumphant Cyclops. *finish *else *set fayette_railroad_bonds "lynched" The men look at you in confusion, then break into laughter, thinking you must be joking. They drag the judge, assessor, and railroad man from their cabin and string them up in a tree beside the railroad. Once their point has been made, they allow the train to continue on unmolested. The Klansmen reconvene outside of the town and build a bonfire. The bonds are destroyed with great ceremony by the triumphant Cyclops. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath *label train_station You arrive at the train station, a simple frame building astride a platform on the north end of town. There are several individuals waiting for the train. It doesn't take much to pick out the three middle-aged men in suits who are doing their best not to look guilty. *if perception > 2 One of them clutches a satchel a little too closely; it must contain the bonds. You contemplate how to proceed. *choice #I warn the men about the impending ambush. *set compassion %-10 They thank you effusively for the intelligence. Instead of the train that they had intended to board, they head to the riverfront to find a boat or some other watery passage from the city. *label end_klan_baffled You later learn that the Klansmen stopped the train, and when they discovered that the Republicans were not aboard they let everyone else go. The Republicans eventually make it to Louisville, where the bonds are sold. The railroad company builds the railroad, and taxes are levied to pay for the bonds. Many citizens of the county join a lawsuit opposing the tax, but the case is decided in favor of the railroad companies. *finish Next *if compassion > 35 #I urge the men to give me the bonds. *if charm > 3 Entranced by your supernatural charm, they see the logic in your argument. The smallest of the three men, the tax assessor, hands over a satchel containing the bonds. *goto bonds_acquired *elseif (willpower < 3) and (discretion > 50) They laugh in your face. *if (combat > 7) and (shapeshifting > 2) *set fayette_railroad_bonds "dismembered" That is their last mistake. Your hands turn to claws of steel, and before the other two can blink, the third—and largest—of the men's throats has been torn out. His eyes go wide as blood sprays into the air and he crumples to the ground. In a final futile gesture, he reaches up, trying to staunch the bleeding. Possessed by a primal fear—the fear of the hunted—the other two finally stir enough to attempt to flee. Bringing them down, one after the other, is no challenge. Once you have regained your senses, you search the bodies until you find a satchel holding the bonds. Though some are a tad bloodied, you do not think that will overly impact their value. *goto dismembered_aftermath *elseif (combat > 7) *set fayette_railroad_bonds "frenzied" That is their last mistake. Throwing caution to the wind—and in total disregard of the other people on the platform—you draw a revolver and shoot the largest of the three men in the chest. A blade to the throat finishes off the second. The screams of the other waiting passengers echo through the night. Your fangs extended, you leap upon the last of the three men, fleeing down the tracks with a satchel clutched in his arms. He does his best to push you off, but you bite into his neck and the fight soon goes out of him. Once you have regained your senses, you look inside the satchel and find the bonds there. Satisfied—and well-fed—you leave the bodies and return to your home. *label dismembered_aftermath When the train comes, it does not even stop; the sight of the dead bodies on the platform convinces the conductor to continue on without a pause. Though it arrives at the culvert earlier than expected, enough Klansmen have arrived that they are still capable of stopping the train—only to find that the three Republicans are not on it. Once they have assured themselves that their quarry is not aboard, they let the train continue on unmolsted. The violent death of the three Republicans at the train station elicits an uproar in the city. Some connection with former Confederates and the bond fraud of Fayette County is assumed, but conflicting testimonies cloud the matter. Moreover, when the Sheriff of Fayette County is replaced in the next election by a Democrat, the death of a few carpetbaggers soon fades in importance. *finish Next *else *set fayette_railroad_bonds "lynched" When you lose control, they stop laughing. Fortunately for them, however, there are three of them, and they are able to overwhelm you before you do more than bloody the nose of one of them and muss the waistcoat of another. With the help of the stationmaster, you are trussed and left on a bench for the Sheriff to deal with. When the train comes, the three Republicans straighten their hair and waistcoats and board it. Thankfully, you manage to free yourself before the Sheriff or anyone else arrives to deal with you. Ashamed, you make your way home. You later hear that the Klan stopped the train, pulled off the judge, assessor, and railroad representative and hanged them. The bonds were returned to the county and destroyed. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath *else *set fayette_railroad_bonds "lynched" They laugh in your face. "Your mistake," you say when they have finished. You saunter away, well aware that their bewilderment will soon turn to fear. You later hear that the Klan stopped the train, pulled off the judge, assessor, and railroad representative and hanged them. The bonds were returned to the county and destroyed. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath *if perception > 2 *if (stealth > 3) and (charm > 2) #I wait for the man with the satchel to separate from the others to use the privy; I then disguise myself as one of the others and convince him to hand over the satchel while he does his business. *set discretion %-15 The assessor hands the bonds over to you and continues on to relieve himself. *label bonds_acquired *set fayette_railroad_bonds "stolen" You saunter away, the satchel under you arm. The men board the train anyway, all the more anxious to leave town. Little do they realize what is yet in store for them. The Klan stops the train outside of town, pulls the men off and interrogates them. The Klan is mystified by the missing bonds but hang the Republicans anyway. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath *if (stealth > 0) and (combat > 5) #I wait for the man with the satchel to separate from the others to use the privy and I knock him unconscious. *set discretion %+10 *set compassion %+10 *set fayette_railroad_bonds "stolen" On his way to the privy, you strike him across the back of his head. He crumples to the ground. You take the satchel and—after confirming the presence of the bonds—disappear into the night. The men board the train anyway, all the more anxious to leave town. Little do they realize what is yet in store for them. The Klan stops the train outside of town, pulls the men off and interrogates them. The Klan is mystified by the missing bonds but hang the Republicans anyway. *goto bonds_recovered_aftermath