Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-14
THE BREAKING POINT
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

cion, which was not unusual, and later with
amazement.
Captain Livingstone" he said, and check
ed his hand as it was about to rise to the
salute His face broke into a smile, and he
whipped off his cap. you've forgotten me,
SIR" he said. But I've got your visiting
card on the top of my head, all right Can
you see it,"
He bent his head and waited, but on no
immediate reply being forthcoming, for Dick
was hastily determining on course of ac-
ton, he looked up. 1t was then he saw
Dicks cheap and shabby clothes, and his grin
faded
81 say" he said, "you are Livingstone.
aren't you? I'd have known
''I think you've made mistake, old man."
Dick said, feeling his words carefully. That's
not my name, anyhow. 1 thought when I
saw you staring in at that window--How
about it?"
Then, one day, he met Mrs. sayre, and
saw that she knew him.
Wallie stared at his mother In an in
slant he had accepted the recognition, and
was busy with what it meant to him. There
was perceptible pause before he spoke He
stood, if anything, somewhat straighter, but
that was all.
Are you sure it was Livingstone?"
Positive. I talked to him. 1 wasn't sure
myself, at first. He looked shabby and thin,
as though he'd been i'll, and he had the au-
dacity to pretend at first he didn't know me.
ne CLOSED the door ON me
wait minute, mother. What door,"
He was driving taXicab."
He looked at her incredulously. |
II don't believe it, he said slowly: II
think you've made mistake, that's ALL -
Nonsense. I know him as we'll as r know
you -
Did he acknowledge his identity?" iw
mot in so many Words she admitted.
"He said had made mistake, and stuck to
it. Then he shut the door and drove me to
he no 9TH oh had
at the station, and there was line of cabs
behind us, so / had only a second. Il saw he
didn't intend to admit anything, so said. II
can see you don't mean to recognize me- Doc
tor Livingstone, but I must know whether I
am to say at home that I've seen you.
"He was making change for me at the
time-Id have known his hands, think, If
hadn't seen anything else-and when he
looked up his face was shocking. He. said,
Are they all right? David is very ILL.," I
said The cars behind were waiting and
making terrific din, and a traffic man ran
up then and made him move on. He gave me
the strangest look as he went I stood and
waited, thinking he would turn and. come
back again at the end of the line, but he
didn't I almost missed my train" e. ST
Wallies first reaction to the news was one
of burning anger, anger that took the form or
scornful condemnation.
.'The biackguard," he said. / "The insult
ferable cad! TO have run away as he did,
and then to let IT, m believe him dead! For
that's what they do believe. 1t is kllllnS
David Livingstone, and as for Elizabeth!
She'll have to be told, mother. He's alive.
He'll well. And he has deliberately deserted
them all. He ought to be shot" -.
"You didn't see him, Wallie did. He's
been through something. l don't know what.
didn't sleep last night for thinking of his
face 1t had despair in it,
Cali right" he said, angrily, pausing before
her. What do you intend to do? Let them
go on as they are, hoping and waiting; laud-
ing him to the skies as sort of superman?
The thing to do is to tell the truth?"
"But we don't know the truth, Wallie.
There's something behind it all"
Nothing very creditable, be sure of. that
he pronounced. "Do you think 1t is fair to
Elizabeth to let her waste her life on the
memory of a man who's deserted herr"
'It would be cruel to tell her."
you've got to be cruel to be kind, some
times" he said oracularly. "Why, the man
may be married. May be anything A5itaM
driver! Good God mother, he's probably hid
ing from something" "a.
She sat, a small obese figure, made larger
by her furs, and stared at him with troubled
eyes. 80,
ST don't know, Wallie," she said, helplessly.4
'In way, 1t might be better to tell her. She
could put him out of her mind, then. But l
hate to do it. It's like stabbing baby" e
Continued Tuesday. Renew your subserip-
ton now so as not to miss an installment.