The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-20


Whats the heavy thinking about,
honey?" Jack inquired at last.
Ruth shook her head, as If to clear
it of mists. "I-don't know. That's
the funny thing about it. In fact,
I'm not so much thinking as-listen-
ing"
'Listening?' Spirit messages?"
Jack laughed.
"You needn't Taught" Ruth pro-
tested. dad did come to me in my
dream last night and make me re-
member the orchid-tinted letter. And
I believe that letter is more impor-
tant than it seems now, or Daddy
wouldn't have"
1T was your subconscious, getting
In chance to remind you Of some
thing you'd forgotten" Jack explained
easily. But I'm glad, darling, that
you had your little visit with your
father, even if it was only a dream.
He must have been wonder-Colby
Lester"
He was" Ruth agreed. "But shut
up now, Jack, and let my subcon-
scious work in peace. That's what
I'm trying to listen to-"
The girl frowned. Those poor, thin,
tortured hands of Martha Manning's.
What mute message had they
been trying, without Martha Man
nings knowledge or consent, to get
across to her? And surely there had
been something else-something she'd
made a mental note of as Martha
Manning talked, something appar-
emily trivial. -.
Come along, darling, il you want
to see Mrs. PelloW!" Jack interrupted,
just as Ruth felt she was on the verge
of receiving q clear, strong message
from her subconscious mind.
Nov it's gone!" she reproached
her future husband ambiguously, but
she rose obediently. Here's my
check. You may as well get used to
paying for it, young mani"
It was good to breathe in deep
draughts Of the sharp, cold air, to feel
the winter sunshine on their faces.
With mutual, unspoken consent, the
two who had lived for two days under
dreadful shadow shadow which
might materialize into a prison cell
for Jack Hayward-stood for two or
three minutes on the edge Of the side
walk. content not to talk. merely to
breathe deeply.
Micky Moran, the elevator operator
Of the car Ruth habitually used, told
them where to find Mrs. Fellow:
shes in her office on the second
floor-238. Way at the back Of the
building. carried her up at two
o'clock myself, and seen her 60 down
toward her office"
The head cleaning woman, or pos
sibly more accurately, the house
keeper" Of the Starbridge Building,
was in her little cubby hole Of an
office, just as Micky had assured the
couple she would be. They found her
at her small, cheap desk, talking over
the telephone. She nodded, and went
on with her conversation:
"Yes, Mr.. Feldblum! I understand.
Yes, I'll ask Minnie II she saw
the paper that's missing, but all our
cleaning. women have strict orders
not to move papers that are left out
on desks. 4. All right, Mr.. Feldblum!
OF course I'm very sorry, but I'm sure
- Obi" she cried angrily, as she re-
placed the receiver on the hook.
"Hung up on me, as If was dirt
under his feet! It's Miss Lester.
isn't It? And Mr.. Hayward? Any
news yet about poor Mr.. Borden,
though harder man to get along
with But shouldn't say q word,
seeing as how he's dead"
mo, nothing yet" Ruth inter-
rupted the voluble flow Of CONVERSE
ton, and smiled charmingly at the
stately, white haired. white uniformed
"housekeeper. "But, Mrs. Fellow.
there's something I'd like awfully well
to have you tell me"
my land! More questions!" Mrs.
Pellow raised her plump hands in re-
signed despair. THAT shopping young
upstart, who says his name is Carl
son, and that big mogul Of q detective
what's his name? McMann?-have
been deviling the life out Of me, SO
I don't get minute to do my work!"
Ruths smile broadened, for she
knew that Mrs. Fellow had never en-
joyed herself so much In her life.
1T is awfully annoying, know, Mrs.
Pellow, but ] won't keep you minute.
You check out the cleaning women
as they leave every evening. don't you
about nine o'clock2"
II certainly dol" Mrs. Pellow agreed
emphatically. "And Just let one Of
those old girls try to slip one past
me with anything they haven't got
o right to! Why, Just before Christ
mas Eve, 1t was-1 caught one old
lady trying to sneak out with q
satchel full Of Christmas presents
she'd swipcd from"
"Oh, how awful" Ruth interrupted,
with apparently deep sympathy for
Mrs. Fellows troubles. You stand
In the lobby and check them out,
don't your"
yves, miss, I dol Every single night
In the week, from nine o'clock till
they're all gone, and Saturdays from
four till the buildings clear"
"You were on duty Friday night,
weren't you, Mrs. Fellow?"
s"I certainly vast But none Of my
cleaning women stole any gun out Of
your office, Miss Lesterl I'll take my
oath on thatl" Mrs. Fellow bridled.
"Oh. didn't think that for q
minute! Ruth disclaimed. But,
please, Mrs. Fellow. Il YOU were In the
lobby from nine o'clock till"
"Nine wenty.fiye!" Mrs. Pellow in-