Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-28

Z u a
w sort of awkwardness developed. To
Dick, Bassett had been a more or
less shadowy memory, clouded over with
the details and mfseries of the flight. And
Bassett found Dick greatly altered. He
was older than he remembered him. The
sort of boyishness which had come with the
resurrection of his early identity had gone,
and the man who sat before him
grave, weary and much older. But his
gaze was clear and direct.
well, good bit of water has gone over
the dam since we met Bassett said. 81
nearly broke leg going down that Internal
mountain again. And I don't mind telling
you that I came within ace of landing
in the Norada Jail. They knew I'd helped
you get away. But they couldn't prove it. F"
II got out, because I didn't see any need
OF dragging you down with me. I was
good bit of mess just then, but I could
reason that out anyhow. 1t wasn't entirely
unselfish, either. I had better chance
without you. Or I thought I did,
Bassett was watching him intently.
HAS it all come back?'' he inquired
practically all. Not much between the
thing that happened at the ranch and David
Livingstone's picking me up at the cabin"
did 1t ever occur to you to wonder just
how 1 got in on your secret?"
'I suppose you read Maggie Donaldson's
confession"
81 came to see you before that came
out"
"Then I don't know, I'm afraid"
F'I suppose you would stake your life on
the fact that Beverly CarysIe knows moth
ing of what happened that night at the
ranch?"
Dicks face twitched, but he returned Bas-
sets gaze steadily.
"she has no criminal knowledge, If that
Is what you mean"
I'm not so sure of it"
II think you'd better explain that"
At the cold anger in Dicks voice Bassett
stared at him. SO that was how the wind
lay. Poor devil! And out of the SNUG
compIacence of his bachelor peace, Bassett
thanked his stars for no women in his life.
I'm afraid you misunderstood me, Liv
ingstone" he said easily. 81 don't think
that she shot Lucas. But I don't think she
has ever told all she knows. I've got the
coroner's inquest here, and we'll go over 1t
later. I'll tell you how I got onto your
trail Do you remember taking Elizabeth
Wheeler to see The Valley?'
IT had forgotten it. I remember now"
"WelI, Gregory, the brother, saw you and
recognized you. I was with him. He tried
to deny you later, but I was on OF course
he told her, and I think she sent him to
warn David Livingstone. They knew I
was on the trail of a big story. Then I
think Gregory stayed here to watch me when
the company made its next jump. He knew
I'd started, for he sent David Livingstone
the letter you got. By the way, that letter
was what got me in wrong in NOrada."
I'm no hiding behind her SKIRTS" Dick
said shortly. and there's nothing incrim-
mating in what you say. She saw as
fugitive, and she sent me a warning. That's
ALL
easy, easy, old man. I'm not pinning
anything on her. But I want, If you don't
mind to carry this through. / have every
reason to believe that, some time before
you got to Norada, the Thornwold woman
was on my trail. I know that she got
sad~ g horse from her son that night, her
son by Thorwald, either for herself or some
one else"
"All right I accept that tentatively"
THAT means that she knew I was coming
to Norada. Think minute, I'd kept my
movements quiet, but Beverly Carlysle
knew, and her brother. When they warned
David they warned her.
II don't believe It,"
IF you had killed Lucas" Bassett as
serted positively, "the Thorwald woman
would have let the sheriff get you, and be
damned to you. She had no reason to love
you. You'd kept her son out of what she
felt was his birthright."
He got up and opened a table drawer
i've got copy of the coroner's inquest