The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-30

scrap Of disguise, except for the vel,
lowish spectacles. which was left te
her. What luck that he thought hel
curls had come cut Of machine. hel
complexion out Of box! There's nm
urgent letter from Nathan in Los An
geles. He's demanding a larger conn
mission on Bakersfield OIL. since the
new field is failing. What shall ]
write him?"
Borden consented to be lured into
dictation.
Write me out a check for 500
cash" the promoter said at last, fling
ing his personal check book across
the desk to her. And go to the bank
yourself, won't you? Then stop at
the station and get me drawing
room and two round-trip tickets for
Winter Havet1-train leaving at AIS
this afternoon. Wire the Hotel VIM
ter Haven for a suite-best in the
house. Reserve the rooms in the name
OF Mr.. and Mrs. H. Pets see
what other surname begins with
B?"
"Benton?" Ruth suggested. in q
small. innocent voice.
"All right. But make note of 1t
on the ticket envelope for me. please.
Guess who Mrs. Benton will be. Gin
derella?"
TT think I'd better not know,
don't you. Mr.. Borden?" Ruth an
swered, in her timid, ghostlike little
voice. Here's the check. Will you
sign 1t, please, and I'll go to the bank
right away. before It's TANNED"
Little prunes-and-prisms!" Borden
chuckled, grasping the small hand
which extended the check. you
know-I believe you've been stringing
me! I don't think you're half the
timid little rabbit you've been pre-
tending to be-"
He drew hard on her hand, so that
Ruth's small body was strained
against the desk. Come on! Let's
see how you really look! Take off
those big spectacles and let me see
your eyes"
please, Mr.. Borden!" Ruth gasped.
IL can't see without them. My
eyes are very weak. They-they
blink without my glasses" she lied
desperately.
It was Benny who ended the scene,
a stormy-faced, Sullen Benny who
jerked open the door as II he had
been listening at the keyhole.
what the DEVIL" Borden began
furiously.
Benny swung the door shut and
slouched against 1t. sullenly defiant.
There's q guy out here wantin' to
see you. Says him and his wife's been
tipped outa their life savings"
Borden stared at the boy as If he
thought Benny had suddenly grown
crazy. Then the dark blood of anger
stained his peculiarly white skin. Get
out Of here, or I'll shake your teeth
down your throat! And get rid Of
that man, whoever he is. You know
I never see q person Of that sort :.
Wait! You'd better handle him your
self, Miss Lester. Here! Don't forget
the check! Five hundred, In tens and
twenties. Here's fifty to get the
drawing room and tickets. I want to
have at least 500 in ready cash, and
this fifty Is too big bill anyway"
The promoter had drawn a hand
some brown leather wallet from his
pocket, and as he extracted the fifty
dollar bill, Ruth caught a glimpse o1
another yellow backed bank-note, but
did not see its denomination.
Later, q harsh-voiced, flinty-eyet
man would be demanding of Ruth
Lester q infinitely detailed recital O.
every event -uf that fatal Saturday
morning, expecting prodigious feat
of memory of her. Then, everything
would be Of Importance, for murdel
would have made 1t SO. But nov
nothing seemed important to Ruth
Lester but that she was free to leave
Harry Borden's private office, free tx
close the door upon his staring, bole
black eyes.
Not even the old man who was ire.
mulously reiterating his story Of ter
rible and crushing financial los
through one Of Harry Borden's fax
schemes seemed important 10 he
then. She eased him out of the of
flee as gently as possible. her ear
deaf to his muttered threats againS
Henry p. Borden.
AS she put on her fur coat to 60 t.
the bank and to the station, her hear
. was singing again. It was half -paS
J 10 o'clock. In less than three hour
she would join Jack Hayward at tn
elevator, 60 to lunch with him to cele
brate the engagement which had tax
en- place last night.
II BY this time Jack had captured tn