The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-25
CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIII
INEFFECTIVE Sergeant McMann
- made quick work of his pre-
liminary questioning of Rita Du-
bois.
Her replies as to name, age, pro-
fession and place of employment
were given coolly, even nonchalant-
ly, but Ruth, seated near the dancer,
so that both of the girls faced the
detective across the dead mans
desk, saw that Rita's hands were
tightly locked.
"And so you and Borden, after
your first meeting about three weeks
ago, became lovers?" McNTann
pounced suddenly. I.
That's a lie " Rita denied We
hemently, her black eyes blazing.
''Then-" McMann grinned crook
edly-"I take it that your weekend
at Winter Haven with Handsome
Harry was to have been in the ma
ture of honeymoon? Let's not
waste time, Miss Dubois! I know
that you and Borden had planned
to go to Winter Haven on the 2:15
Saturday afternoon, that Borden
had bought a drawing room for the
trip and that he had reserved a
suite for you and himself at the
Winter Haven hotel.
Nov what I want you to tell me
is--why didn't Borden meet you at
the station as he had planned?"
The dancer laughed, but it was
not a gay sound. "That was what
I wanted to know, too--and I found
out when I saw the headlines about
the murder at noon today"
For two hours Ruth Lester had
been praying that Rita Dubois
would furnish Jack Hayward an
alibi, by admitting that Borden was
alive when she had visited him
after 2:15. The collapse of that
hope now was so unnerving that the
girl feared she would faint.
$50 it was news to you that Bor-
den was dead, was it, Rita?" Nc
Mann grinned.
"I'll say it was!" Rita assured him,
nonchalant again. st was knocked
out. Tainted right on the street.
My girl friend, Willette Wilbur, who
was downtown with me, had to call
a cab and take me TO her home. She
can tell you. And then find dick
waiting to grab me-"
Were you in love with Harry
Borden, Rita?" MclMann interrupt
ed suddenly.
Color swept over the thin, exotic
face. That's my business!
Well, all right, them wasn't But
God knows I didn't wish him any
harm"
MeMann studied the girl Tor a
long minute through narrowed,
glinting eyes. Then: We'll, Rita,
let's have your story. Did you go to
the Station?"
ID TIA flung up her head defantly.
N Sure I did! I'd promised to
go away with him for the week
end, and I was ready to keep my
bargain. I got to tl.0 station at
two, and went to the information
desk, where he'd said he would
meet me.
"At five minutes after two I be-
gan 10 get nervous for fear we'd
miss the train and decided to phone
him. There's a telephone booth
near the information desk, and I
called from there, where I could
see Harry if he came while I was
phoning.
His line was busy, so I knew he'd
not left the Office. I waited for
about five, minutes more and called
again, and his line was still busy
"Jus6 minutet' NIcNann inter-
rupted. Can you fix the time of
that second call exactly?"
Sure! Ten minutes after two"
Rita asserted confidently. 81 had
my eye on the big clock"
Ruth did not need the flick of
McMann's narrowed eyes in her di-
rection to remind her that the
dancer had partially corroborated
Bill CoWan'S damaging testimony
against Jack Hayward-that, when
he had called Jacks number at
2:l0, he had been plugged in on
busy line and had heard Harry
Borden's voice raised in violent
anger.
With a Tremendous effort CT will
she controlled the waves of lizzi-
ness that were pouring over her
brain and braced herself to listen
to McMann's next question:
did you call his number AGAIN."
"Of counsel" Rita answered.
promptly. Il knew he was in his
Office or his line wouldn't be ouay
waited about a minute.and then
! got him, and he told me to come
over to the Office"
"Wait!" McMann interrupted