Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-03


So it was that David and the reporter met,
for the first time, in David's old-fashioned
chamber, with its walnut bed and the dresser
with the marble top, and Dicks picture in his
uniform on the mantel
Bassett was shocked at the sight OF David.
shocked and alarmed He was uncertain at
first as to the wisdom of telling his startling
story to an obviously sick man, but Dav1dS
first words treasured him.
Come in he said you are the Bassett
who was with Doctor Livingstone at No
rada?"
Eyes. see you know about il"
1--WE know something, not everything"
Suddenly David's pose deserted him. He
got up and stood very straight, searching eyes
on his visitor. "Is he living?" he asked, in a
low voice.
"I think so; I am not certain"
'"Then, you don't know where he Isl" \,
mo. He got away-but you know that.
Sit down, doctor. I've got long story to-
tell"
"IIl get you to call my sister first" David
said. "And tell her to get Harrison Miller!
Mr.. Miller is our neighbor, and he very kindly
went west when when my health did not
allow me to CO."
While they waited David asked only lns
question.
"The report we have had is that he was>in
a stupor in the hotel, and the doctor who saw
him-you got him, think-said he appeared
to have been drinking heavily. Is that truef
He was not drinking man."
81 am quite sure he had not"
There was another question in Davids
mind, but he did not put it. He sat, with the
patience of his age and his new inf1rmitys
waiting for Lucy to bring Harrison Miller.
During the recital that followed somewhat
later, David did not move. He sat silent, his
eyes closed, his face SET
'"That's about ALL" Bassett finished "Hs
had been perfectly clear in his head all day,
and it took head work to get over the pass.
But as 1 say, he had simply dropped ten
years, and was back to the Lucas trouble. /
tried everything knew, used your name and
would have used the young lady's, because
sometimes that sort of thing strikes pretty
deep, but didn't know it. He was convinced
after while, but he was dazed, of course.
He knew it, that is, but he couldn't compre.
bend it,
IT was done up, and I've cursed myself for
it since, but 1 must have slept like the dead.
Weakened once, early in the night, and he
was still sitting by the fire, staring at It, I've
forgotten to say that he had been determined
all day to go back and give himself up, and
the only way prevented it was by telling
him what blow it would be to you and, to
the girl. 1 wakened once and said to him.
Better get some sleep, old man.. He dld not
answer at once, and then he said: All right
I was doing off when he spoke again. He
said, Where is Beverly Carlysle now? Had
she married again?' She revived The Valley.
and she's in New York with it, I told him.
"When I wakened in the morning he was
gone, but left piece of paper in a cleft stick
beside me- with directions for reaching the
railroad, .and-well, here it is"
Bassett took from his pocketbook note,
and passed it over to David, who got out, MS
spectacles with shaking hands and read it. 1t
was on Dicks prescription paper, with his
name at the top and the familiar R-X below
it. David read it aloud, his voice husky.
"Many thanks for everything, Bassett, ne
read "I don't like to leave you, but you'll
get out all right if you follow the map on the
back of this I've had all night to think
things out, and I'm leaving you because you
are safer without me. 1 realize now what
you've known all day and kept from me. That
woman at the hotel recognized me, and they
are after me.
st can't make up my mind what to do.
Ultimately think I'll go back and give N.Y.
self up 1 am dead man, anyhow, to- all
Who might have cared, but I've got to do one
or two things first and 1 want to think things
over One thing you've got right to know.
I hated Lucas, but 1t never entered my head
to kill him. How it happened God only
knows, I don't" ;e;'t
It was signed J. G.
Bassett broke the silence that followed the
reading. ,4
II made every effort to find him. had to
work alone you understand, and from the
west side of the range, not to arouse suspl-
cion They were after me, too, you know.
His horse, I heard worked its way back few
DAYS ago It's God-forsaken country, and
if he lost his horse he was in it on foot, and
without food OF course there's a chance
Continued Thursday. Renew your
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