The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-07

fled with fear. She runs to his
office, and, finding him out,
looks frantically in his desk for
his gun. It is gone! Jack re-
turns Immediately and accom-
panies her to Borden's office
where he calls the police. Fear
ing Jack shot Borden through
the open window she rushes in.
to Borden's office to close his
window before tie police arrive.
The window is already closed!
The police arrive.
X * X
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER VIII
In the brief instant between the
turning of the knob Of the outer door
and the entrance Of the police, Ruth
had time to get control Of her
nerves. For fear so horrible that she
now wondered how she had been able
to bear it had been lifted from her
mind and heart.
The window Of Borden's private
office. opening upon the airshaft,
and directly opposite to Jack Hay
wards window, was closed. How
could she, even for a moment, have
believed her man was guilty Of muir
der?
Her reasoning was exquisitely
clear and simple: The only way Jack
Hayward could have shot Borden
was through the window. She her
self had left Borden's door locked
because of his deadly fear of holdup
men or the assaults of loss-crazed
investors in his stocks. Borden would
never in the world have unlocked il
for Jack Hayward, for it was his
custom, she knew, to demand to
know who wanted to see him. if he
was alone and unprotected in his Of.
flee.
The only person, probably, whom
he had admitted was his wife, whom
he was expecting, and she undoubt-
eddy had already called before Jacks
return to his office to get the for.
gotten theater tickets.
Henry p. Borden's offices?" an
aggressive voice demanded unneces-
sarily, for the name was painted on
the door. whats happened here ?"
Ruth Lester was still standing in
the protective circle of Jack Hay.
wards arm. She looked curiously, nc
longer afraid, at the officer in plain.
clothes who was addressing her. Be.
hind him stood two policemen in uni.
form, but Ruth scarcely saw them
The detective lowered over hers
gigantic man, at least six feet three
inches tall and broad in proportion
He looked as if he had grown griz.
lied in the service of justice, but was
still not satiated, getting a savage
JOY out of running criminals tc
earth.
T 81 am John C. Hayward-offices
in this building, and this is Miss
Lester-Ruth Lester, secretary tt
|. Borden. who is-in there. Muir.
dered," Jack answered the detective
quietly.
Pm Detective Sergeant Nc.
Manu." the huge man COMPLETED the
strange introductions CURLY. "Movt
aside, please. Let's see him. Who dis.
covered the body?"
II did," Ruth whispered, horror
Of that thing inside swooping dowr
upon her again. I'll got to the Of
flee this morning at 9:15, and-ane
found him there"
"You've been in there, too?" Nc
Mann jerked his head at Jack.
"Just looked in. / didn't touch
anything" Jack answered.
Except the door knob. No goot
having it photographed for finger
prints since both of you've touched
it," McMann answered as he graspet
the knob in his own hands. Another
jerk of his head indicated that tn.
two uniformed policemen were to en-
ter the room behind him.
i + \ y
| Ruth and Jack stood aside to lc
the three Of them pass, then watche,
from the doorway. The detectiv,
stopped just inside the door an.
gave q keen, searching glance about
apparently less interested in TIL
body on the floor near the windoy
than in what he hoped to find in tn,
room.
! "What are these crumbs and pea
nuts doing on the rug 7" he demand
led, whirling upon Ruth.
"Oh!" she gasped. guilty. "I--
must have dropped them when ga,
Mr.. Borden. II was going t
feed the pigeons the first thing thi
morning because forgot to Satur
day and thoucht-"
"Pigcons!" McMann calculated
"What pigeons :" A
Ruth's tremulous voice explained
This is the top floor Of the build
ling. A flock Of pigeons nest on til
root and I've been feeding them o
noon for several weeks. III was s
startled st seeing Mr.. Borden
when I opened the door that
dropped the little glass bowl full q
crumbs and peanuts. "
"Hmm!" McMann beetled his eyt
brows at her, then strobe about til
room. his eyes searching the flool
THE walls. the desk. Then, at las
latter 50 long = time that Ruth fel
"a ~. ~.ssr