Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-21
THE BREAKING POINT
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

statement at the inquest that some one mao
been seen on the place, and that he notlneo
you that night after supper. HE'D put guards
around the place" >,
1T gives me a fighting chance, anyhow"
Dick got up and threw back his shoulders.
That's all / want. A chance to hght.
know this. may have hated Lucas-he was
a poor thing and you know what he did TO
me. But | never thougnt OF KlIlIng + nIn Ill
That wouldn't have helped matters. 1t was
too late" -
looking at him. When Dick did not imme-
diately reply David glanced at him. 10 ma
his face set and panied.
Perhaps we'd better not go into that
now" David said hastily Its natural that
the establishments will take time
Well have to go into it. It's the hardest
thing have to face"
Its not dead, then, then?'
mo" Dick said slowly. tits not dead,
David And I'd better bring it into the open.
I've fought it to the limit, by myself. lts
the one thing that seems to nave survived
the shipwreck. 1 cant argue IL uo"h VI
think it down.
Maybe if you see Elizabeth"
"'pd break her heart, that's all.
He tried to make David understand. He
told in it's sordid details his failure to XIII IT,
his attempts to sink memory and conscience
in Chicago and their failure, the continued
remoteness of Elizabeth and what seemed 10
him the flesh and blood reality of the other
woman. That she was yesterday, and ELIZA
beth was long ago,
''I can't argue it down." he finished i've
tried to- desperately. It's al think it's
wicked thing, in way. And God knows
all she ever got out of it was suffering. she
must loathe the thought of me-"
David was compelled to let it rest there.
He found that Dick was doggedly deter
mined to see Beverly Carlysle After tnar
he didn't know. No man wanted to surrender
himself whether he was innocent or guilty.
If there was a reasonable doubtful Wnat
did il matter, one way or the other? His
place was gone, as he'd made it; gone II ne
was cleared, gone if he was convicted
IT couldn't come back, DAVID Ihey
wouldn't have me-"
After silence he asked:
'How much is known here? What does
Elizabeth know"
''The town knows nothing. She knows a
part of it. She cares a great deal, DICK. It's
a tragedy for her."
Shall you tell her I've been here!
"Not unless you intend to see her."
| But Dick shook his head.
Even if other things were the same, l
| haven't right to see her, until I've got
| clean slate"
THAT'S sheer evasion" David said, al
most with irritation.
.What about the police?" he inquired.
after a silence. 81 was registered at Norada.
| I suppose they traced me here fnally?"
Eyes. The house was watched for
while; I understand they've given 1t up
now"
! In response to questions about his own
| condition, David was almost querulous He
was all right. He would get we'll If they'd let
him, and stop coddling him. He would get
up now, in spite of them. He was good for
| one more fight before he died, and he in
tended to make it, in court if necessary.
+, "They can't prove it, Dick he said tri-
umphantly. I've been over it every day for
months. There is no case. There never was
a case. for that matter. They're lot of PIN
headed fools, and we'll show them up, boy.
Well show them up"
But for all his excitement, fatigue was
telling on him. Lucy tapped on the door
pand came in -
YOU'D better have your supper before it
spoils," she said And David needs rest.
Doctor Reynolds is in the Office 1 haven't
told him yet"
! The, two men exchanged glances.
/ Time for that later" David said. Il
can't keep him out of my office, but | can
out of my famlys affairs, for an hour or so.
Continued Tuesday. Renew your sub !
scriptiOn now, so as not to miss an inf !
stalIment.