The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-18
Is 1, B !; ! &c! <. RIEGz;E75lQzf )1h FL

in and I pulled open the drawer,
shifted the automatic slightly to the
front, and placed the clean towels
behind it. That is absolutely the
last time I saw the thing"
Used one towel all week, eh?"
McMann sneered.
NO" Jack was obviously fight
ing for Self-control. Miss Barnes
puts out a fresh one for me each
morning before 1 get to the office.
We have a cabinet with towel rack
above the stationary wash basin in
the outer office, just as. this suite
has.
Miss Barnes a tell you whether
the gun was there Saturday or not.
I don't know myself, Tor I didn't
open che drawer"
"She says it was there, all right"
McMann assured him. Real handy
for you when you had your quarrel
with Harry Borden"
ST had no quarrel with Harry
Borden" Jack denied quietly, wear
lily. Il have never spoken a word
to the man in my life"
rs that so?" McMann exclaimed
triumphantly. "Birdwell! Bird
WE'LL" he shouted till the room re-
verberated with the sound.
when his subordinate opened the
door the detective sergeant barked
out an order. There's a chap
named CoWan waiting outside in
the hall, Bring him in!"
He turned to the couple who
were gazing at each other, the girls
eyes frankly terrified, the young
mans face very pale, but under
better control.
"Your good friend, Bill Cowan,
Hayward! Won't you be glad to see
him? I found him waiting for you
in your off1ce-said he made an
appointment with you for this
morning when he was in your Of
fice-remember?"
Eyes" Jack answered quietly.
81 thought you'd remember" Nc
Mann agreed significantly. Funny
but your friend Cowan didn't know
his old pal, Borden, had been muir
dered. I had to break the news to
him, and I wonder if you can i'm
agine why Cowan wasn't as sur
prised as he might have been?"
The badgered young man was
saved the necessity of a reply by
the entrance of Bill Cowan, the real
estate man, ushered in by Birdwell.
who Immediately retired to his dut-
les in the outer Office.
Ruth, clinging to her sweet
hearts arm for much-needed sup
port, turned to face the man who
undoubtedly had it in his power to
send Jack Hayward before a grand
jury She saw a medium-Sized,
foppishly dressed man of 38 or 40
ruinning an embarrassed hand over
sleek brown hair.
Lord, Jack, I'm sorry I stumbled
into this! Tough break, old boy! If
I'd seen a paper" Cowan began
nervously, alphabetically.
you wouldn't have kept your ap-
pointment," McMann finished his
sentence for him. "That right?
You'd have been pretty sure that
your friend, Jack Hayward, was in
trouble, wouldn't your"
81 wouldn't say that" Cowan
hedged miserably. But no mar
wants to get mixed up in a murder
case"
TN afraid you are mixed up in
one, Cowan." McMann interrupted.
"Anc. I don't need to remind you
that it's the duty of a citizen to
aid justice in any way possible,
when circumstances force him into
the unpleasant role of witness. Just
repeat the story you told me, Cow
an.
Il may as well tell you, Hayward,
that your friend gave you away by
accident when I told him you were
being questioned concerning Bord-
ems DEATH"
"T~HAT'S right, Jack, old man, -
Cowan assured the grim-faced
young man anxiously. God knows
I wouldn't for the world"
That's all right, Cowan," Jack
interrupted. his pale lips twitching
into a faint smile. Naturally it's
your duty to tell anything you
know which may seem to have any
bearing on this case. But I want
you to know, Cowan, that I had no
more to do with Borden's murder
than you did"
That's fine, old mani" Cowan
thrust out a hand with eager friend
illness, and seemed much relieved
when Jack shook it.
"As Mr.. McMann here has Just
said. Jack. I spilled the beans ac-
ci%dentally. Said some ching foolish
and hasty about being afraid Sat-
urday that there'd be a row. He
wouldn't let up on me till I'd shot
the works, of course"
The embarrassed real estate mar
mopped his brow. lord! If I'd
only learned to keep my mouth
shutI -. I had to tell him, Jack,
about that nasty little business Sat-
urday morning, when you saw Bor-
den struggling with the young lady
here"
Pardon me, Cowan. This is Miss
Lester, my ~fancee," Jack inter
rupted. Il believe I told you Sat-
urday that Miss Lester and I were
to be married soon"
"Glad to meet you, Miss Lester
the embarrassed man acknowledged.
"I told Jack Saturday that I didn't
blame him for going off his nut
when he saw Borden getting fresh
Both you and Mr.. Hayward were
mistaken as to Mr.. Borden's inten-
TONS" Ruth said, in a clear, calm
| voSce sNHr Rnrdnn was merely FRY.