New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-02-12
THIS HAS HAPPENED

THIS HAS HAPPEHED
When Ruth Lester. secretary, goes
to the office on . Monday morning
in January. she finds the dead body
Of her employer, Handsome Harry"
Borden. sprawled on the door be-
meath the window Of his private Of
fee. Ruth 10 engaged to Jack Hay
ward, whose office 10 just across the
narrow airshaft from Borden's.
Ruth recalls that Jack had
threatened Borden. She also re-
calls that when she met lack at noon
Saturday with bruised lip he be-
ieved Borden had hurt her though
she insisted he was wrong.
Ruth runs to Jacks private office
and, finding him out, searches for his
pistol which he had purchased ut the
same time he bought an identical
weapon for her to keep IN her desk.
His gun 10 gone!
McNann. . detective, questions
Ruth. She confesses her engagement
to Jack and also tells him Of Bor-
den's two Saturday morning visitors:
Rita Dubois. night club dancer. with
whom Borden was planning . week.
end trip: and Mrs Borden. his wife
and mother Of his two children, who
called for her monthly alimony. Mrs.
Borden comes into the office during
the questioning and McMann merci-
l,ssly accuses her Of the murder.
She insists she left Borden alive and
that the only person she saw near
his Office was Minnie Cassidy, scrub
woman. Nelson, medical examiner
arrives. When search IL started for
the weapon that might have been
used. Ruth tells Of the pistol In her
desk. McMann goes to get 1t. It is
gone. too!
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XII
Detective McMann's eyes were like
glinting bits Of steel ~ he turned on
Ruth. They did not miss the fac:
that her little hands were locked
tightly together. her eyes fixed in a
wide, unwinking stare OF horror
upon Elizabeth Borden.
when did you last see your auto
matte, Miss Lester? Come now
tho truth, the whole truth. and moth.
Ing but the truth! Colby Testers
daughter should be familiar with
that phrase, and know that the truth
10 always the best policy"
Ruth nodded weakly. and moist
ened her lips. 'I-saw 1t Saturday
morning, when I opened tho bottom
drawer to get 4 new carton Of paper
cupa It was there then. lying on
TOP Of those clean towels. II
never saw 1t again, Mr.. McMann.
never touched 1t. 1t frightened me
even to look at it."
"Who else knew you kept 4 gun
In that drawer"
Ruth silently prayed that Mrs
Borden would forgive her. "a num-
Der OF people. l can't remember
all of them at the NOM nt, but Ben
ny, the office boy. Of course, and Mr.
Borden. and-and Mrs. Borden
"Ah! So Mrs. Border knew" Nc
Mann interrupted triumphantly
And how did Mrs. Bcrden know
you kept gun there? Did she ask
sou?"
"She-saw it there" Ruth sail
family, reaching out dizzily for thu
desk. A low exclamation, thai
might have been either from fear o.
startled realization, had broken from
Mrs. Borden's ashen lips.
"When?" McMann barked.
Saturday morning" Ruth ad.
mitted in a low. trembling voice
Il pulled out the drawer to get tho
paper cups and Mrs. Borden. who
was sitting at my desk. helped me
with the drawer because it stuck
and - and ] explained how hap.
pcned to have a gun - about The
hold-ups in the building. yor
know"
And why was Mrs. Borden sit.
ting at your desk >" McManr
You'd made her sit down because
she was feeling faint. hadn't you
And you were after cup 10 Civ.
i'or a drink. weren't YOU"
Ruth stared her amaZcmcnt at hi
accurate deduction. Mrs. Horde,
did not look Well. so ! thought
Look here. Miss Lester" Ne
Mann interrupted her stumblin.
speech. This is murder. 70,
know. and someone committed tn,
murder. and I'm here to find on
who did ". If you re trying tt
shield Mrs. Rorden-"
I'm grateful" Mrs. Borden
who had risen and was holding u
lcr chair finished his sentence 70
him. And 7 don't want you Il
bully this child. II is true: | di'
see the weapon. I was feeling sic'
and faint because I heard a woman
and my husband laughing loudly to
gcther."
You admit that" McMapn dc
naanded. II guess we're ,bon
through here. doctor" he called 4
the medical examiner. " no WAS sill
in the private office with tn. cor, Sc
wait. Mr.. McMaun." Mrs. Ror
den commanded. and Ruth al
Inired the calm courage which ha.