Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-13
THE BREAKING POINT
BY mary ROBERTS RINEHART

staircase with intent, blinking eyes, bdSSeCCB
anxiety turned to fear He found his heart
1eaping when the room bells rang, and the
clerk with glance at the annunc1ator, sent
boys hurrying off His hands shook, and he
felt them cold and moist. And all the time
Wilkins was holding him with now or I'M
important chatter.
watching for any one in PARTICULAR" no
managed, after five minutes or so.
Eyes. I'll tell you about 1t as soon as
Bill! Is Alex outsider"
RiIl STOPPED in front of them, and nodded.
"All right. Now get this want every
thing decently and in order. No Excitement.
I'll come out behind him and you and Bill
stand by. Outside I'll speak to him, and when
we walk off, just fall in behind. But Keep
close"
Bill wandered off, to take up a stand OF
extreme nonchalance inside the entrance.
When wilkins turned to him again Bassett
had had a moment to adjust himself, and
m%.Se or less to plan his own campaign.
'es@cmebody's out of luck, he commented.
"And speaking of being out of luck, I've got
a sick man on my hands. Friend of mine
from home. We've got to eaten the HAO"
night too"
Hard luck" wilkins commented rather
absently Then, perhaps feeling that he had
not shown proper interest, Tell you what I'll
do. I've got some business on hand now, but
| it'll be cleared up one way or another pretty
soon. I'll bring my car around and take him
to the station. These hacks are the limit to
ride in"
Inc disaster TO MS plans CuuS CuLodt0uou
steaded the reporter, and he managed to
keep his face impressive.
Thanks" he said, "Ill let you know If he's
able to travel Is this-is this business you're
on con1dential?"
"Well, 1t is and it isn't. I've talked some
to you, and as you're leaving anyhow-it's
the Jud Clark case again
Sort of hysteria, suppose. He'll be seen
all over the country for the next six months
eyes But never historical Indian.
oil indian
named Lizzie Lazarus. blew into my office.
She's smart woman Her husband was
breed, dairy hand on the Clark ranch Tor
wears Lizzie was the first Indian woman In
these parts to go to school, and besides being
smart, she's got Indian sight. You know these
Indians When they aren't blind with ira
choma they can see farther and better than
a telescope
Bassett made an effort.
whats that got to do with Jud Clark"
he asked.
"Well she blew in. You know there was
reward out for him. and 1 guess 1t still stands
TIL have to look it up, for if Maggie Donald
son wasn't crazy some one will turn him up
some day, probably WE'LL Lizzie blew in and
she said she'd seen Jud Clark. Saw him
standing at second-story window OF this
hotel. Can you beat that?"
mot for pure invention. Hardly. It's
good story, but I wouldn't wear out any
trouser-seats sitting here watching for him.
If he's living he's taken darn good care Tor
ten years not to put his head in the noose;l
and I'd remember this, too: Wherever he is.
if he is anywhere, he's probably so changed
in his appearance that Telescope Lizzie
wouldn't know him. Or you, either"
"Probably,'' the sheriff said, comfortably.
"StilI I'm not taking any chances. I'm up
for reelection this fall, and that Donaldson
woman's STORY nearly queered me. I've got
fellow at the railroad station, just for luck.
Bassett went up the stairs and along the
corridor, deep in detected thought. The trip,
of his own making, was closing, and his active
mind was busy with schemes for getting Dick
away before it shut entirely.
1t might be better, in one way, to keep Lly-
ingstone there in his room until the alarm
blew over. On the other hand, Livingstone
himself had to be dealt with, and that he
would remain quiescent under the c1rcum-
stances was unlikely. The motor to the main
line seemed to be the best thing. True, ne
would have first to get Livingstone to agree
to 90. That done, and he did not underesti-
mate it's difficulty, there was the question of
getting him out of the hotel, now that the
alarm had been given.
When he found Dick still sleeping, he made
a careful survey of the second foor.' There
was a second staircase, but investigation
showed that it led into the kitchens He de-
cided finally a fire escape from a rear hall
window, which led to courtyard overcrowd-
ed and undetermined hotel, and where now
two or three saddled horses waited while
their riders ate within.
Continued Thursday. Renew your subscrip.
ton now. We cannot supply back issues.