The Lamar register., 1923-02-28
The /, (,owazGiy
El2cIkal ttis.-
BY NORRIS SCHULTZ
ta. ZEE. we.trrn Nsw.pap.r rnLonl

ear.
lie listened aghast. For thirty years
his name had stood for Integrity and
good citizenship, and here the secret
of his boyhoOd stood naked at bIst.
revealed 10 this cowardly blackmair,r.
The young man Was fluent. He
sneered and smiled. at means the
end OF your political aspirations. Mr..
Jeffreys." he said boldly. at will cost
you fifty thousand dollars, or"
"Orf"
The newspapers"
Jetfreys laid suave but trembling
hand on his shoulder. "My boy" he
said. you're commencing criminal
career young. That sort Of thing leads
to states prison. No newspaper
would print 1t, among the decent ones.
The other kind wouldn't dare. IT'S
not criminal offense."
NO, II isn't; it's II moral offense.
and | guess your tower of respecta-
bility will come tumblIng down"
'As sure as you dare to commit
yourself I'll have you arrested" an
swered Jeffreys sternly. There's no
Huh INhhs Gun Dlhchlnhl me.
"Oh. don't have to commit my
self" sneered the other. "A word
whispered In Boss Higgins ear and
It's all over with you and your candi-
dacy. Come, Is It fifty thousand?"
Jeffreys stared at him in speechless
rage. Then suddenly he leaped for
ward. despite his five and fifty years.
grasped the fellow by the collar. and.
the front door being open. propelled
him down the steps into the street, ad-
ministering II vigorous kick at each.
"Do what you please and be
damned" he shouted.
The young man picked himself out
OF the gutter and shook 4 tist at JEFF
freys.
"Oh, don't you worryi" he shouted.
81 guess this means the end of you
and your candidacy"
Jeffreys went in and shut the door.
And, alone la his study, he began
to wonder whether he had acted wise
ly.
He might have bought the fellow
on until nfter his election. at any rate
And the election was u foregone con-
clusion. Public opinion had been
thoroughly aroused against the cor
rupt administration OF Boss Higgins
creature.
lie pictured the JOY with which the
old Boss would receive the news at
his headquarters. The blackmailer
would not have to walt long for his
fifty thousand.
And himself. disgraced and ruined
Ills wlfe-his son at Yale-his daugh-
ter at yassar.
1t had all happened years ago
that affair with the girl. He had acted
US many young men acted. He had
never dreamed that II would return
to oyerwhelm him now.
What should he do? Sue to Boss
Higgins, offer to withdraw on grounds
Of iii health" If the black mailer
could be hushed upr
Boss Higgins was all-pOwerful A
word from him would muzzle every
newspaper In the city and state. He
would have TO go to him. then, 20
down on his kness, crawl before him.
lie had never met the Boss. but he
had seen his pictures In the papers
ii Misunderstanding old man. He had
heard stories of his revenge upon men
who had sold him out.
For his wlfe's and chlldren's sake
he would have to go and crawl before
this creature. If necessary he would
pay-any amount
He stretched out his hand for the
telephone He must ask for a private
OF course he could not
he seen going into Boss Higgins head
quarters.
But as he put his hand on the re-
celver the bell RING
SIS this MIR. Jefrreys? This is Mr..
Higgins headquarters. He wants to
speak to you-privately."
IAN right" said Jefrreys. SO the
had lost no time.
lie waited. and now a voice like a
street laborer's broke in:
"Is this Mr. Jeffreys? This Is Mr..
Higgins spaking Are you'se alone.
sorr? Did youse receive visit from
n crater-Oi can't call him man
who wanted fifty thousand? Yes,
"He told me yOuse had kicked him
out OF your house. SO OF kicked him
out OF headquarters. Sure, one good
turn deserves another. He knows It's
the pen for him II that story gets out
So 20 ahead and bate us II youse can,