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200 THE KLAN UNMASKED branch of the National Bank. It was the top half, and was for the account of the " Death Benefit Association" of the KKK. If I could just lay hands on the other half of that statement, I would have something concrete to lay before the U.S. Treasury Department in demanding that it pounce on the Klan's assets to satisfy that unpaid tax lien! Examining the other papers, I found bits of letters addressed to the treasurers of various Klaverns, referring to their financial status. That, too, I thought, should certainly interest the T-men. If they knew who handled the pursestrings of the local groups, and had these letters to prove it, they should be able to pin down the records and accounts ofa lot of Klaverns! I knew then that I had to go through with the salvage operation. Going back to the basket, I listened once more. Roper was still at it. Taking a double breath, I picked up the basket and holding it in front of me walked casually but quickly towards the toilet. When I was still some twenty feet away, a man popped out of the real estate office. I could see by his air that he worked there, and was not a customer. Seeing me with the basket, he stopped and stared. " Ain't no corncobs nor paper in the toilet," I snickered in my best Georgia boy accent. " That's funny," he said, with a puzzled look. "There was plenty ofpaper in there this morning. Somebody must have swiped it to wipe their noses with." But he disappeared down the stairs, and I disappeared into the toilet and hurriedly locked the door behind me. Without taking time to inspect anything, I began stuffing the paper into my pockets. My overcoat pockets were soon filled. Next, I stuffed the pockets of my suit coat underneath . This only half emptied the basket. I filled my trouser pockets. Still more to go! Taking the larger flat sheets, I loosened my belt and shoved them inside my undershorts. Just as I was scraping the last few papers from the bottom of the basket, I heard footsteps coming down the hall. I had heard that ponderous tread many times before in Klan initiations-the Wizard was coming! TRI-K ROUND-UP 201 Had he noticed that his waste-basket was missing? Was I trapped? The tread came to a halt in front of the door, and the knob turned. Then he shook the door to make sure it was locked. The next few seconds would tell, and I held my breath-thinking how appropriate it was to be trapped in a toilet. But then I heard the Wizard's steps retreating down the hall. If he had not already missed his basket, would he not miss it on the way back to his office? If so, he might either return, or simply lie in wait to see who came out.... I waited a few more minutes. Nothing happened. Should I try to put the basket back in its place? If I didn't, the Wizard would in a matter ofminutes find it in the toilet and plunge into hot pursuit. On the other hand, if he were -already lying in wait and caught me with it, my chances of getting away would be very slim indeed. I looked down at myself. The bulging papers made me look pregnant in all directions-like" Mr. Five-by-Five," as the song says. I decided to leave the basket and make a dash for it. Turning the lock silently, I cracked the door and peered down the hallway. It was deserted, and the door to the Wizard's office was closed. I opened the door and started for the stairway. I decided that if the Wizard came out I would let his face tell me whether to continue walking or start running. Just as I reached the head of the stairs, the Wizard's door did open suddenly. But instead of the Wizard, out came a good-looking blonde, at least six feet tall. I had thrust both my hands into my overcoat pockets and was holding the coat out like a tent to hide the bulges. The big blonde stared at me so curiously she failed to notice the waste-basket was missing. I could hear her footsteps continuing down the hall toward the toilet. The moment the stair hid me from her sight...

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