The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-16

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her bag. Had Merry Christmas for
my Dad wrote on it"
It was not a laugh, this time that
told that Jake Hailey's words had
struck home. It was a long drawn
"Oh!" of infinite misery, so heart
rending that Ruth Lester involun-
tarily leaned forward and patted
those tight locked hands whose mes.
sage she had not yet had time to
read.
And after you knocked her out?"
McMann prpdded his witness.
"Well, me and Harry fixed her up
with some brandy, and I took her
down and put her in taxi. Paid for
it, too" he added virtuously.
"And did Borden later intimate to
you that he feared this woman would
kill him?"
| X X X
| Martha Manning raised her head
and stared steadily at the man who
leaned nonchalantly against her dead
lovers desk.
"sure!" came the emphatic answer
in cracking falsetto. He said he'd
a-swore she was gonna croak him
that time, and he bet she'd do 1t
yet"
80 you offered to put her out Of
the way for him, didn't you?" Nc
Mann asked casually, after glance
at the notes he had made on the
story of Frank Ashe, Borden's man
servant.
well, I didn't, SO it won't be me
'atll sit in the chair" Bailey retorted.
"And did you see Miss Manning
again?" McMann pursued his ques-
Itioning.
"Naw-guess she laid low and
waited till I was out of town." Bailey
answered.
"You didn't see her on Friday
night?"
mo, I left town ON Friday night,
like told you."
But you were with Borden before
you left?"
"Sure was. I went with him to
the Crillon, swell feed joint, and
waited outside while he ct with his
new sweetie, that classy little dancer
he picked up at the Golden Slipper.
Bout half-past six 1t was when he
met Rita there, and around eight.
when him and her come out. He
put the frail in taxi, and promised
to see her at the Golden Slipper
about 10, before her act went on at
II. She wouldn't let him drive over
Ito her hotel with her-always acted
ritzy with him-that dame did. SO
him and me hoped into another cab
and come on over to his office. Said
he was dopin' out new scheme and
wanted to work awhile before goin'
to the Golden Slipper"
and did you come up with him?"
Sure! Harry wouldn't 60 into his
own office at night alone, If he could
help it, Scared some sucker who was
sore at him because he'd lost his
money might be layin' for him, or this
. dame here" and Jake jerked his head
toward Martha Manning. II come
up all right, and we set here awhile,
cheWin' the rag-told me about this
dancin' baby he was gonna take to
Winter Haven with him Saturday. II
he could get her boss to let her off,"
How long were you with Borden?"
"Oh, bout half an hour. guess"
Jake answered readily. II didn't have
nothin' to do but kill time before my
train left-9:24, that was. Must a.
been round nine when I beat IT.
sure, that's when 1t was! Eight: fifty
five! remember asking the elevator
man what time 1t was, when he
showed his book at me to sign out.
They make you write down the time
and your name and the office you've
been in"
please, MIR. McMann, may ask q
question:" Ruth spoke for the first
time since Jake Bailey had entered
the room. 1--WE just been wondering
how Mr.. Borden got into his office,
since he'd given his key to Rita Du-
Bots Friday afternoon and never did
lget it back"
That's right" McMann agreed
rather ungraciously. He did not en-
joy having been caught mapping.
How did Borden get in, Jake?"
Check, kid!" and Jake touched his
forehead in salute to Ruth. Harry
didn't remember till he got to his door
that he didn't have q key, and since
I never had one myself, he had to
hunt up one Of the old james that
cleans the offices to let him in with
her passkey. He couldn't find the
old lady that took care Of his office
regular, and had to prove who he was
by shown q letter with his name on
1t to the woman I secuted around
land found for him."
Hmm! Lefty Miller, I suppose.
She's the only other cleaning woman
on the floor" McMann commented,
as he made q note. "Where did you
find. herr"
"Down the hail." Bailey answered
promptly. "Ssid she wasn't acquainted
] with the tenants on this corridor, but
was jist helptn' out the old lady who
belongs on this part Of the floor"
For the first time. In many minutes
McMann addressed question ia
martha Manning: did you see this
lscrubwoman yourself, Miss Manning?"
r The contralto voice was quite
steady. mo. As I told you before,
saw no one. ! was alone while ]
waited for this man" -dnd she
nodded scornfuily toward Jake Bailey
Ito leave. and no one but myself
was in the hall when I left, after
seeing Mr.. Borden. The scrubwolna1
who admitted Mr.. Borden must have
finished her work In this corridor be-
fore had walked UP the stairs"
II McMann peremptorily commanded
, the amazed ex-pugilist to silence
, lyon realize. Miaa AanuinR.n he anid