The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-26


seemed to choose her words care
fully.
HE didn't give any explanation
Just apologized, and promised to
make it up to me. He-he seemed
to be in hurry to get me out of
the Office, as if he were expecting
someone.
81 thought he'd been having a
row with Cleo Gilman over the
phone and that he was afraid she'd
come while I was there. Harry ano
Cleo had been-friends for about
year before I met him. He had told
me about her, said he was through
with her"
did he mention Miss Gilman
Saturday afternoon?" McMann in
terrupted.
mo, he didn't mention anyone's
name, except Jake Bailey, who was
always hanging arounde like a body
guard or something.
81 jokingly asked him if Jake was
going to Winter Haven with us, and
he said no, that Jake had left Fri
day night for a weekend visit with
his people somewhere upstate-he
didn't say just where" Rita
answered, still in that careful, hest
tating manner which was branding
her as a liar in McMann'S eyes, as
Ruth could clearly see.
Her fear was confirmed when Nc
Mann asked, smiling twistedly:
you're sure he told you that Satur-
day afternoon, Rita? Wasn't it Sat-
urday morning or Friday EVENING""
'It was Saturday afternoon" Rita
replied stubbornly.
Borden was in hurry to get rid
of you but you took time to joke
with him about Jake Bailey, eh?"
McMann grinned. "All right, Rita,
all right! Go on with your story.
How did he happen to give you the
other half of the $500 bill? Why
didn't he wait until you were in
Winter Haven? He wouldn't give
it to you Saturday morning, re-
member!"
4 N ugly splotch of red suddenly
1 n gloWed on the slim throat of
the dancer. 81 asked him for it. I
was pretty sore, because he'd missed
the train, and he wanted to make
up with me, so he gave me the other
half of the bill. I told him I might
miss the 5:32 if he didn't-so he
gave it to me-"
McNann chuckled. Gust like
that, Ell? You make an awfully
poor liar, Rita. Here! Keep
your shirt on!" he commanded, as
the dancer Sprang toward him, her
teeth barred, her slim, long fingers
curved into talons. $50 you went
to the station to make the 5:32, did
you, and he stood you up again?"
Rita hesitated again, then an
swered, desperately, angrily, eyes, I
did"
McMann leaned back in his chair,
grinning and nodding with what
seemed, to Ruth, like ghoulish salts
faction.
What do you think the police de-
partment has been doing all day,
Rita? Ill tell you one little job
they've cleaned up; you beat it from
here, after stopping in the lobby 70
telephone someone, straight to the
station, got the bags you'd checked
there, and took them to your hotel.
And you didn't take them out again
Saturday afternoon!
"You did take out a small over
night bag about midnight Saturday,
on your way, to spend the night
with your girl friend, Willett Wilbur.
Now how about it, Rita?"
ST was only going away with him
to get the 500. II needed it, and
I won't tell you why, if you kill me!
After he'd given it to me, I didn't
care what happened between him
and me later. was just happy that
I didn't have Toto pay for it, by
by" She choked, and suddenly
began to cry, horribly, without hid
ing her convulsed face.
Listen Rita" McMann urged, al
most gently. you've admitted you
need $500 in a whale of a. hurry,
that you were willing to do almost
anything to get it: Now admit just
a little bit more and tell me the
whole truth.
"I'll put it up to you straight:
either Borden was alive when you
came and you killed hir1-wait till
I'm ttrougil!-killed him to get the
money that would come too late if
he waited until night to give 1t to
you, or he was dead when you got
here.
mo, waitI Isn't this what hap
pened?-you came, got no answer
to your knock, used Borden's pass
key, found him dead On the floor
yes! just where you're looking" he
interrupted himself, as the dancers
eyes involuntarily shot a glance of
horror toward the spot where Bor-
den had lain in deatfl--"you re-
membered that he had the other
half of the $500 bill he had given
you; you looked for it, found it, and
more than $500 more in smaller
bills, took it all-over a thousand
dollars counting your half of the
bill
mo, mol" Rita screamed, beating
the air with frantic, clinched fists.
IT didn't rob dead mani I'd die
first! He was a live, I tell you
alivel He gave me his half of the
bill, and not a cent more; Not a
cent?"
BirdwelTs weary, bored voice from
the doorway interrupted Rita's pas
sionate ayowal. "Ferber's here with
pictures of the f1ngerprints, sir. And
Borden's man-servant, ASae. Mrs.
Bo-den's come back, too, sir"
Ito Be Continued