The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-20
Eoening Story
The discriminating Paper.
BY FRANK H. WILLIAMS.

number OF hot-headed young men
who in the heat of their indignation
at what they considered a wrong deal
ing ON the part of the government.
had signed this document pledg1ng
Themselves to overthrow the govern
ment. Since signing the document the
young men had all seen the error OF
their ways. Now they were exceed
ingly 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
younger brother.
The office m 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 and who had lately
shown a strong determination to use
the paper as means of levylng black
mail upon the signers.
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
partments. These shelves and COM
partments were filled full of papers.
Seeing the great quantity of material
he must go thru Jackson impatiently
jerked the papers forth and began ex-
aiming them carefully. At last he
found the paper he was searching for
and caught it up with sigh of relief.
Jackson rose to his feet with the
paper in his hand. Under his flash
light he examined it more carefully.
to see that it really was the document
he had committed burglary for. Then
having satisfied himself on this point,
he moved toward the open window
leading to the fire-escape, thru which
he had entered the room.
AT this instant dim figure r0So
from a crouching position in front of
the window, flashed light full on
Jackson and cried:
Hands up!"
Jackson's hands automatically went
above his head, his right hand still
held his 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-
ninei
Walk over to-~t41at table in the
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
issuing the voice-it was Clara Fer
EuSon, recent newcomer to the city
with whom Jackson had fallen vio-
lently in love and who haId told him
one evening not SO long ago that she
reciprocated her affection.
"Clara!" cried Jackson.
Y-yes. it's me-" came Clara'S voice
"Oh, Sam, I'm so horny it's you. I've
got TOTO arrestp'
ARREST ?" cried Sam. ct don't un-
derstand this at ALL
Don't you see?'' cried Clara. "I'm
in the federal secret service. The
government heard about the conspir-
acy these local young men were mixed
up in and sent me here to find out ali
about it. And. oh. Sam, I'm so dread
fully sorry it's youi"
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 I told you. quicklyi"
sam went. And as he went he was
sorely troubled and fearful
Clara in the secret service? There
had always been some mystery con.
nected with her occupation from tbs
time she arrived in the city. So she
had~ Deen detailed on the case? There
mad been rumors of a. secret service
agent being on the job. That was one
OF the reasons why the young men hat
been so anxious to recover that damn
ing paper and why Sam, in order tc
keep his younger brother out of trou.
Bile, had volunteered to get it.
Slowly Sam took his seat at tn.
table, his face bIanched, his hear
beating rapidly. AS he seated himself
Cara switched on the lights, in tn,
room and then seated herself opposite
him. As she did so. Sam threw the
paper to the center of the table in
front of him.
HYn1I
ON THE TABLET said Clara, in a
business like manner. But keep then
on the table!'
Clara" said Sam, this is a fear
ful mess were in. How can 1 eve,
explain the whole thing to your"
"A heart-broken look crept into
Clara's face. For a moment sh,
glanced at Sam, her whole affectionat,
soul IN her eyes. Then she turned he
glance toward the paper,
m sorry-dreadfully sorry" sht
said. Il had no idea. it was going t.
De you when I got the tip that the
paper was to be taken from the safe
lohight. But Sam, dear, I've got t.
40 my outya 1 love you with all my
heart, but I've got to do the one thins
I've sworn to do. I've got to see to i
Ithat you've taken to the propel
authorities who will punish you in &C
eordance with justice and who will
puhlsn all the others who are in thi
thing with you in the same way"
But, Clara" Sam protested. ,"I,rY
not in this thing myself. I sinapl,
came here to get a paper that m,
younger brother signed in a momen
of foolishness"
81 knew you were all right" erie,
Clara, Il couldn't have kept on. caring
for you if
Il knew you'd still care for me, jus
as I care for you." said Sam.
II do-with all my heartl" criet
Clara. "But--but-"
She got to her feet slowly as tn,
it took every ounce of her strength
Now we'll have to CO." she said
Stand up" she commanded, her vote
strained and husky.
1t was while Sam was slowly risinl
that an amazing interruption occurred
Thru the open window bulk,
woman rushed into the room. San
recognized her at once. She wa