Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-08
THE BREAKING POINT
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

Also that I can keep my mouth shut, walk out
of here, and have you in quod in the next
hour, if decide to-" g"
but you won't" Bassett said smoothly.
"You won't any more than you did last spring,
when you sent that little letter of yoursoto
David Livingstone" fni'
'No You're right I won't. But if I tell
you what / came here to say, Bassett getthis
straight: It's not because I'm afraid of you,
or of him. Donaldson's dead What value
would Melis testimony have after ten years,
if you put him on the stand? It's not that.
It's because you'll put your laundering foot
into it and ruin her career, unless l tell you
the truth" -
1t was to Bassett then that he told his
story he and Bassett sitting, Dick standing
with his elbow on the mantelpiece, tall and
weary, and almost detached -.
I've got to make my own position plain
in this" he said. 81 don't like Clark, and
kept her from marrying him. There was one
time, before she met Lucas, when she almost
did it, was away when she decided on that
fool trip to the Clark ranch. We couldn't get
New York theater until November, and she
had some time, so they went there. 2c: c.
check it up with what you know"
He turned to Dick for moment
"You were drinking pretty hard that night.
but you may remember this: She had quar-
relied with Lucas at dinner that night and
with you. That's true, isn't t."
Yes" ~
"She went to her room and began to pack
her things. Then she thought it over and
decided to try to persuade Lucas to go, too.
Things had begun all right, but they were, get
ting strained and unpleasant. She went down
the stairs, and Melis saw her-the valet The
living room was dark, but there was light
coming through the billiard room door, and
against it she saw the figure of a man insthe
doorway. He had his back to her, and heihad
a revolver in his hand. She ran across the
room. when he heard her and turned, she saw
it was Lucas. Do you remember, Jud, having
a revolver and Lucas taking it from you?,'
| mo Donaldson testified I'd had a re-
volver?" s,n
''Well. that's how we figure he'd gotr the
| gun. She thought at once that Lucas and you
had quarreled, and that he was going to shoot.
She tried to take it from him but he was
drunk and stubborn. 1t went off and Killed
| him. -.
'Bassett leaned forward
That's straight isn't it?"
I'm telling you" 7,-.s
"Then why in Gods name didn't she say
that at the inquest?" "7'
"She was afraid it wouldn't be believed.
Look at the facts. She'd quarreled with 'Iu-
cas-. There had been notorious situation
with regard to Clark. And remember this
She had done it. I know her well enough.
however, to say that she would have con-
fessed, eventually, but Clark had beaten ita 1t
was reasonably sure that he was lost in the
blizzard. You've got to allow for that. '+,a
.Bassett said nothing After silence Dick
spoke: -.
| WnaC ABOUT the revolver!
"She had it in her hand. She dropped 1t
and stood still, too stunned to scream. Lucas,
she says, took step or two forward, and fell
through the doorway. Donaldson came~run-
ming in, and you know the rest"
Basse+t was the first to break the silence.
"She will be willing to testify to that now,
of course?"
"And stand trial?"
"Not necessarily. Clark would be on trial.
He's been indicted. He has to be tried "a
| why does he have to be tried? He's free
now. He's been free for ten years. And
tell you as an honest opinion that the thing
would kill her. Accident and all, she did it.
And there would be some who'd never believe
she hadn't tired of Lucas, and wanted the
Clark money"
That's chance she'll have to take. Bas-
sett said doggedly. -.
1.-THE only living witness who could IL be
called would be the valet. And remember
this: for ten years he has believed that she
did it. He'll have built up story by. this
time, perhaps unconsclously, that might
damn her" 80.
Dick moved.
There's only one thing to do. You're
| right, Gregory. I'll never expose her to that"
you're crazy" Bassett said angrily.asl.
He went home that night, leaving word to
have any letter for L % forwarded, but with
out much hope. His last clutch of Dicks
hand had a sort of desperate fnality in it.
and he carried with him most of the way home
the tall grave and patiently courageous figure
that saw him off with smile. =. ~.
Continued Thursday. Renew your subscrip-