Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-13


49, he repeated, "look In that grip and
find me some tablets, will you? I'm dizzy"
He made an effort and stretched out on
the bed. Good Lord" he muttered Il
| haven't had such a headache since"
His voice trailed off. Bassett, bending
over the army kit bag in the corner,
Strengthened and looked around. Dick was
suddenly asleep and breathing heavily.
For long time the reporter sat by the
side of the bed, watching him and trying
come by his own responsibility and by the
prospect of tragedy that threatened.
After an hour or so he locked the door
behind him and went down to lunch. He
was not hungry, but he wanted to get out
of the room, to think without that quiet
figure before him. Over the pretense of
food he faced the situation. Lying ready
to his hand was the biggest story of his
career, but he could not carry it through.
1t was characteristic of him that before
abandoning it, he should follow through to
the end the result of it's publication. He
did not believe, for instance, that either
Dicks voluntary surrender or his own dis
closure of the situation necessarily meant
a conviction for murder. To convict a man
Of a crime he did not know he had COM
mitted would be difficult. But, with his
customary thoroughness, he followed that
through also. Livingstone acquitted was
once again Clark, would be known to the
world as Clark. The new place he had so
painfully made for himself would be gone.
The sensation would follow him, never to
be lived down, and in his particular profess
sion confidence and respect were half the
game. All that would be gone
Thus by gradual stages he got back to
David, and he struggled for the motive
which lay behind every decisive human act.
man who followed a course by which
he had nothing to gain and everything to
some profound unselfishness. To save a
life?
1t came to him, then, in a great light
OF comprehension, what David had tried to
do, to take this waster and fugitive, the
slate OF his mind wiped clean by shock and
illness, only his childish memories remain
ing, and on it to lead him to write a new
record. To take the body he had found,
and the always untouched soul, and from
them to make a man.
And with that comprehension came the
conviction, too, that David had succeeded.
He had indeed made man.
He ate absently, consulting his railroad
schedule and formulating the arguments he
meant to use against Dicks determination
to give himself up. He foresaw a struggle
there but he himself held one or two strong
cards-the ruthless undoing of David's
work, the involving of David for conspir-
ing against the law. And Dicks own obli-
cation to the girl at home.
He was more at ease in the practical ar
rangements. An express went through on
the main line at midnight, and there was
a local on the branch line at eight. But
the local train, the railway station, too,
were full of possible dangers After some
thought he decided to get a car drive down
to the main line and send it back.
He went out at once and made arrange
ment for car, and on returning, notified the
clerk that he was going to leave, and asked to
have his bill made out. After some hesita-
ton he said "Ill pay three-twenty, too,
while I'm at it. Friend of mine there, going
with me. Yes, up to tonight
AS he turned away he saw the short, heavy
figure of wilkins coming in. He stood back
and watched The sheriff went to the desk,
pulled the register toward him and ran over
several pages of it. Then he showed it away,
turned and saw him.
Been away, haven't you?" he asked
Eyes, [ took a little horseback trip into
the mountains. My knees are still on speak
ing terms
The sheriff chuckled. Then he sobered.
"Come and sit down. he said. I'm going
to watch who goes in and out of here for
while
Bassett followed him unwillingly to two
chairs that faced the desk and the lobby. He
had the key Of Dicks room in his pocket, but
he knew that if he Weakened he could easily
telephone and have his door unlocked. But
that was not his only anxiety. He had pro-
found conviction that the sheriff's watch was
connected with Dick himself. Wilkins, from
a friendly and gregarious fellow being, had
mind.
And, as the minutes went by, with the sher-
if sitting forward and watching the lobby and