Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-28
THE BREAKING POINT
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

here. 1T will bear going over. And 1t may
help you to remember too. We needn't
read it all. There's lot that isn't per-
tinent.
He got out long envelope, and took
from it number of typed pages, packed
with base of heavy paper -
"'Inquest in the Coroner's office on the
body of Howard Lucas" he read. = Oc-
tober 10th, 1910 That was the second
day after. Examination of witnesses by
Coroner Samuel J. Burkhardt. Mrs. Lucas
called and sworn He glanced at Dick
and hesitated 81 don't know about this
tonight, Livin gstone. You look pretty well
shot to pieces 900
''I didn't sleep last night I'm all right.
go on" fs~
During the reading that followed he sat
back in his deep chair, his eyes closed: f1x-
cept that once or twice he clenched his
hands he made no movement Whatever
@. What is your manner" ~
A. Anne Elizabeth Lucas. My stage
name is Beverly Carlysle.'
O. where do you live, Mrs. LucasWr
A. cat 26 East Fifty-sixth street. New
York CITY"
@. 81 shall have to ask you some ques-
tions that are necessarily painful at this
time. L shall be as brief as possible. Per-
haps 1t will be easier for you to tell so
much as you know of what happened the
night before last at the Clark ranch
A. 81 cannot tell very much. I am con-
fused, too. I was given slaeping powder
last night. 1 can only say that I heard a
shot, and thought at first that 1t was fired
from outside. I ran down the stairs,n and
back to the billiard room. AS 1 entered
the room Mr.. Donaldson came in through
a window. My husband was lying on the
floor That is ALL" ''"'
@. where Judson Clarke?
A. "He was leaning on the roulette table,
staring at the---at my husband" -.
@. did you see him leave the room?"
A. emo. l was on my knees beside Mr..
Lucas. think when | got up he was gone.
| didn't notice ~
Q. did you see a revolver" o
A. NO I didn't look for one" o
@. Now I shall ask you one more ques"
ton. and that is all Had there been any
quarrel between Mr.. Lucas and Mr. Clark
that evening in your presence?'
A. mo. But I had quarreled with them
both. They were drinking too much. had
gone to my room to pack and go back.
was packing when I heard the shot"
Witness excused and Mr.. John Donaldson
called.
@. What is your name?"
A. John Donaldson"
@. where do you live?"
A. "At the Clark ranch ~
@. What is your business?"
A. you know all about me- I'm fore"
man of the ranch" ~e
@. II want you to tell what you know.
Jack, about night before last Begin with
where you were when you heard the shot'
A. 81 was on the side porch The bill
lizard room opens on it. I'd been told by
the corral boss earlier in the evening that
he'd seen a man skulking around the house.
There'd been report like that once or twice
before, and I set watch. I put Ben Hag-
gerty at the kitchen wing with gun, and
I took up stand on the porch. Before
did that I told Judson, but I don't think
he took it in. He'd been lit up like
house afire all evening. 1 asked for his
gun, but he said he didn't know where it
was, and went back to my horse ard got
my own. Along about o'clock I thought
I saw some one in the shrubbery, and
went out as quietly as I could. But 1T
was a woman, Hattie Thorwald, who was
working at the ranch.
when l left the men were playing rou'
lette. / looked in as L went back, and judi
son had a gun in his hand. He said, I
found it, Jack 1 saw he was very drunk,
and I told him to put 1t up, I'd got mine.
1t had occurred to me that I'd better warn
Haggerty to be careful, and / started along
the veranda to tell him not to shoot except
to scare | had only gone few steps when
I heard a shot, and run back. Mr.. Lucas
was on the floor dead, and Judson was as
the lady said. He must have gone out while
l was bending over the body" 4.o,
Ito Be Continued. Renew your subscrip.
ton nOw.)