The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-09-15
The Incriminating
Paper
BY FRANK n. WILLIAMS


Sam Jackson opened the door of the |
safe slowly, but thankfully. In the
safe was certain paper. On this
paper appeared the signature OF a
number of hot-headed young men who. |
In the heat of their indignation at |
what they considered wrong dealing !
on the part OF the government, had |
signed this document pledging them |
selves to overthrow the government.
Since signing the document the young
men had all seen the error OF their
ways. Now they were exceedingly
anxious to destroy the evidence of
their foolishness. And Jackson, In
entering this office and In opening this
safe. was acting for the young men of
whom the main leader was his young
er brother.
The Office In which Jackson was
now standing and the safe he was
now opening were those of Claude La
grange, shyster lawyer, who had
been largely Instrumental in working
the young men up to the point of
signing the paper aud who had lately
shown strong determination to use
the paper as means OF levying
backmail upon the slgners.
The minute Jackson had opened the
outer door of the safe and then the
thinner inside door he flashed "A pocket
light on the safes shelves and com
pnrtments. These shelves and com
pnrtments were filled full OF papers.
Seeing the great quantity Of material
he must 20 through. Jackson impa-
tlently jerked the papers forth and be-
gan examining them carefully. AT
last he found the paper he was search
Ing for and caught 1t up with sigh
OF relief.
Jackson rose to his feet with the
paper In his hand. Under his fiashs
light he examined II more carefully
to see that 1t really was the docu-
ment he had committed burglary for.
Then, having satisfied himself on this
point, he moved toward the open win
dow leading to the fre-escape, through
which he had entered the room.
At this instant dim figure rose
from a crouchlng position in front OF
the window, flashed light full on
Jackson and cried:
Hands up"
Jackson's hands automatically went
above his head, his Night hand still
clutching the paper. while his left
held the flashlight And as he did so
a strange thrill came to him. The
voice OF the person issuing the com
mand had been Enthusiastically femi-
nine!
walk over to that table In the
center OF the room, put that paper In
the center OF the table, and then sit
down, but still keep your hands up!'
went on the voice.
And again Jackson thrilled to the
sound OF the voice. There was no
mistaking the identity of the person
owning the volce-lt was Clara Fer
guson, recent newcomer to the city,
with whom Jackson had fallen vlo-
lently In love and who had told him
one evening not so long ago that she
reciprocated his affection.
"Clara !" cried Jackson.
"Y-yes, it's me-" came Clara's voice.
"Oh, Sam, Pm SO sorry It's you. I've
got toto arrest !"
"Arrest?" cried Sam. ~ don't un.
derstand this at all"
Don't you see? cried Clara. "Tm
in the federal secret service. The
government heard about this conspir
acy these local young men were
mixed up I'm and sent me here to find
out all about 1t. And. oh, Sam, I'm
so dreadfully sorry it's you'll"
"But, Clara" cried Sam dropping
his hands and starting toward her.
"Hands up" cried Clara sternly
her pistol flashing in the light from
her electric torch as she extended the
weapon In front of her. "Go to that
table as l told you. quicklyw
Sam went. And as he went he was
sorely troubled and fearful.
Clara In the secret service7 There
had always been some mystery con
nected with her occupation from tn,
time she arrived In the city. SO she
: had been detailed on the case7 There
J had been rumors OF a secret service
agent being on the Job. That was ons
: Of the reasons why the young men hat
been so anxious to recover tina
damnIng paper and why Sam, In or
der to keep his younger brother ou
Of trouble, had volunteered to get II
! Slowly Sam took Ais seat at thu
table. his face blancAed, his hear
beating rapidly. AS ne seated him
self Clara switched on the lights II
, the room and then seated herself op
: poslte him. As she did 50 Sam threw
r the paper to the center Of the table Il
J front Of him.
, "You can put your hands iown--oI
, the table," said Clara. In q busl
! nesslike manner. "But keep them 0l
. the tablet"
"Clara." said Sam. "this Is fear
full mess we're In. How can l ove