Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-20

Vt WAS an hour before the sheriff returned,
4 and he came in Sowing.
Il III see you now" he said briefly and
led the way back to tie hotel office behind
the desk Bassett,s heart sank when he saw
sitting there, pale but composed, the elderly
maid. The sheriff lost no time.
NOW I'll tell you what we know about your
connection with this case, Bassett," he said.
You engaged a car to take you both to the
main line tonight, You paid Off Clark's room
as we'll as your own this afternoon When
you found he was sick you cancelled your go
ing. That's true, isn't it?"
lit is. I've told you l knew him at home,
but not as Clark
"I'n let that go. You intended to take the
midnight train on the main line, but you or
dered a car, instead of using the branch
road"
Livingstone was sick. I thought it would
be easier. That's all" His voice sharpened.
"You can't drag me into this, sheriff. In the
first place. 1 don't believe it was Clark, or he
wouldn't have come here, of all places on the
earth | didn't even know he was here, I'M
til he came into my room this morning..
"Why did he come into your room?"
He had seen that l was registered. He
said he felt sick. I took him back and put
him to bed. Tonight I got a doctor"
The sheriff felt in his pocket and produced
a piece of paper Bassett's self-COntrOl al
most went when he saw that it was Forsyth's
letter to David.
"TH ask you to explain this, 1t was on
Bassett took it and read it slowly. He was
thinking hard.
II see he said "Weil, that explains why
he came He was too sick to talk when | saw
him. You see, this is not addressed to him.
but to his uncle, David Livingstone. David
LIVINGSTONE is a brother of Henry Living
stone, who died some years ago at Dry Riv-
ers This refers to a personal matter con-
nected with the Livingstone estate"
The sheriff took the letter and reread it. He
was puzzled.
'You're a good talker," he acknowledged
grudgingly. He turned to the maid.
"AlI right Hattie" he said. "We'll have
that story again But just minute" He
turned to the reporter This woman hasn't
seen Lizzie Lazarus, the sQuaw. Lizzie has
been sitting in my office ever since noon.
Now, Hattie
Hattie moistened her dry lips.
at was Jud Clark, all right she said. I
knew him all his life, off and on. But I wish
hadn't screamed. 1 don't believe he killed
Lucas, and 1 never will. 1 hope he gets
away"
She eyed the sheriff vindictively, but he
only grinned.
what did tell you?" he said to Bassett.
"HeIl with the women-that was Jud Clark.
And we'll get him, Hattie. Don't worry. Go
on
She looked at Bassett.
when you left me, 1 sat outside the door,
as you said Then I heard him moving, and
went in. The room was not very light, and
didn't know him at first. He sat up In bed
and looked at me, and he said, Why, hello,
Hattie Thorwald.' That's my name. I married
a Swede. Then he looked again, and he said,
Excuse me, ! thought you were Hattie Thor
valid, but l see now you're older. l knew
him then, and I thought I was going to faint.
l knew he'd be arrested the moment it was
known he was here. | said, Lie down, Mr..
Jud. You're not very we'll And | closed
! the door and locked it. l was scarced."
/ She paused, evidently on the verge of hys-
terra. The sheriff glanced at Bassett.
"Now, where's your Livingstone story?" he
demanded. "All right, Hattie?"
Il said, For Gods sake, Mr.. Jud, be still,
until l think what to do. The sheriffs likely
downstairs this very minute And then he
went queer and wild. He jumped off the bed
and stood listening and staring, and shaking
all over. I've got to get away he said very
loud. I won't let them take me. I'll kill
myself first.' When put my hand on his arm
he threw it off, and he made for the door. l
saw then that he was delirous with fever,
and I stood in front of the door and begged
him not to go out. But he threw me away Sc
hard that / FELL and | screamed"
"And then What?"
"That's all. If / hadn't been almost out of
my mind I'd never have told that it was Jud
Clark. Thatll hang on me to my dying day"
An hour or so later BaSsett went back to
his room in a state of mental and nervous
exhaustion. He knew that from that time
on he would be under suspicion and probably
under espionage and he proceeded methodI-
cally, his door locked, to go over his papers.
His notebook and the cuttings from old files
relative to the Clark case he burned in his
wash basin, and then carefully washed the
| basin. That done, his attendance on a sick
man, and the letter found on the bed was
all the positive evidence they had to connect
him with the case. He had had some thought
of slipping out by the fire escape and MAX
ing search for Dick on his own account, but