The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-04

into the big sack I'd drug up to the
door from Mr. Green's office. Wien
the sacks full, the porter takes it
down to the basement"
Cali right, Minnie" McMann in
terrupted. Benny says you over
heard Borden telling him to get tell
out of here Is that right?"
Il didn't pay no attention, I tell
vel" Minnie repeated stubbornly.
The boy left while I was here -
that's all'I'll swear to, Tommy Nc
Manu-"
20. K. Minnie" McMann chuck
led. II don't blame you for being
sorry for the kid - after hearing
Borden bawl him out and fire him.
Did he fire the boy now?" Min
ME asked, with bland innocence, so
that the trap, if such it was, which
McMann had laid for her, failed to
spring.
McMann did not answer, but
opened up a new line with.his next
question. You say you wiped off
the window Sills, Minnie? And
closed the windows, I suppose, as
your duty requires you to do?"
Sure I wiped off the window
sills, inside and out, and the win
dow frames, too. I amt Stacker,
even if I am gettin' old and rheu-
matte. But I didn't shut the win
dows. The two front ones, looking
out on the street, was already
closed, or the draft would have
blowed the poor man away.
THAT with the window open on
the airshaft, like it was. I did pull
it down to wipe it clean, but Mr..
Gordon told me to push it up again.
He said he'd shut it when he left at
| two"
The last vestige of hope Ruth had
unreasoningly nourished that the
window had not been closed until
after Borden had been killed died
then.
OF course she had known all
along that it was foolish to enter
tain that hope, in view of the in
controvertible evidence of the
pigeons footprints in blood both in
side and outside the airshaft win
dow.
But weak though it was, it had
been hope, and the girl stared with
unconcealed misery at the garrulouS
old woman, who had slain it.
you pushed up the window after
you had wiped it clean, / Suppose?'
McMana asked, and Ruth knew he
had in mind the fact that Ferber,
the fingerprint expert, had found
no prints at all upon the window
| frame.
"Of course I did!" Minnie re-
| torted.
do you wear rubber gloves while
cleaning?''McMann suggested.
MINNIE cackied her derision.
N1 What does an old woman like
me care about her hands? Not that
some of the girls amt finicky-
scared furniture polish and yellow
| soap will rough up their precious
hands, but not Minnie Cassidy" and
she spread her pitiful old hands on
her lap, regarding them with curl
GUS satisfaction, even the hand with
the mutilated forefinger, whose
Stubby print was now part of Fer
ber'S sinister collection.
"That's the spirit, Minnie!" Nc
Mann grinned. "Now, did anything
else happen when you were clean
ing in here Saturday afternoon?
Any visitors or telephone calIs?"
well, there was a phone call
while Mr.. Borden-peace to his soul,
poor man!-waS out
"Out? He left the office while
you were here?" McMann de-
manded.
THAT he did" Minnie answered,
unperturbed. Stepped down the
hall to the lavatory. He asked me
to stay till he got back, as he didn't
have a key and didn't want the
door left unlocked.
He'd scarcely closed the door be-
hind him before the telephone rung,
and I answered it, SOS I could tell
the party he'd be right back. Which
I did, and the lady said she'd hold
the line"
so it was a woman calling, was
it?" McMann interrupted sharply.
did you ask her name?"
Nov, Tommy McMann, I'm sur
prised at vel" Minnie reproved him
severely. ''As if it was any of my
business! 7 jiSt said it was Mr..
Borden's Office, and No, ma'am, he
amt in right now, but he's jist
stepped down the hall and will be
back in a minute and she said,
Then I'll hold the wire, thank you,'
as sweet and ladylike as you
please
"Wait!" Ruth cried, leaning to-
ward Minnie excitedly. What kind
of voice did she have, Minnie? Oh,
please try to remember! Was it-?"
"Just a minute, Miss Lester!" the
detective reproved her sternly. mo
leading the witness, if you please.
Describe the woman's voice, if you
can, Minnie. Anything at all I'M
usual about it?"
minnie cassidy TeacneQ OUT ana
patted Ruth's hand, as if to con-
sole her for McMann's sharpness.
"As sweet. a voice as ever I heard,
Tommy McMann! Put me in mind
of a singer L heard one time on
my daughters radio-an alto singer,
she was"
THE woman with the contralto
voice!" Ruth cried triulnphantly.
ALTO or contralto, it was pretty
voice, and fair did me good to hear
it" Minnie asserted cheerfully.
And did Borden talk with her
when he returned?" McMann de-
manded.
mo, that he didn't! He done the
same as you've. done-asked me