The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-21

f0ey walters yesterday VI SOuAoO, DcO
he was out of town-didn't get back
till noon today"
"And did you find a motive?"
Ruth asked eagerly.
Not unless we want to believe
that Mrs. Borden got impatient"
McMann said slowly. Outside of
a few thousands to his lawyer, who,
it appears, expected more for keep
| ing Borden out of jail on some OF
his fake stock schemes, everything
goes to the wife and kids"
AToTHING to Martha Man
IN ning's child?" Ruth interrupt
ed.
/ mot a red!' McMann answered.
''I've Just told you that mans will
is a good index to his character. He
makes no provision for the child
that Miss Manning claims is his.
/ Maybe he had cause to question his
paternity, but I doubt it. I'd stake
my hope of promotion for solving
this case on that woman's telling
the truth-so far as the kid is con-.
cerned, at least"
st agree with YOU" Ruth said
soberly. Did Mr.. Borden leave
large eState?"
about a million and a quarter,
according to Walters, though the
will simply says, More than $4,000.
The usual thing, you know" Nc
Mann answered.
"Of course I asked Walters if Mrs.
| Borden knew either the extent OF
her husbands wealth or the dis
position made of it in his will and
he answered mo- to both questions.
She must have been pretty sure,
however, that whatever her husband
had would come to her and her chill
dren, but since Borden was giving
them $500 a month, I'm afraid we'll
have to look elsewhere for a. motive
that will hold water"
"Mrs. Borden did not kill her
husband" Ruth stated quietly.
"You seem pretty Sure-oh, all
right, Birdwell! What is it?" as his
subordinate appeared in the door,
! way.
Captain Foster on the wire, sir.
Wants to talk with you"
While NIcMann was arguing and
eXpostulating with his immediate
superior, who had evidently just
been heckled by his own superior,
Commissioner Weeks, Ruth sat star
ing at the airshaft window, smiling
interlocked hands.
McMann, glancing at her once or
twice for approval of the way he
was standing up to the police
captain, saw to his amazement that
she was not even listening!
Something did arouse her out of
her smiling abstraction, however.
1t was the mournful, reproachful
call of the black pigeon, which was
strutting up and down the broad
white ledge outside the airshaft
window.
With an exclamation of dismay
at her own thoughtlessness, the
4 i
office, to get the envelope which
she had filled with bread crumbs
from her own luncheon. But the
hungry black pigeon had to wait
minute longer, for Ruth stopped
to type one line and tear it, mar
row, ribbon, from the sheet of yell
low paper.
| With her message, bread crumbs
and a length of black thread, she
hurried back into the privat office,
where McMann was just replacing
the receiver, his face flushed with
righteous indignation.
"EXPECT man to solve mys-
~ terry like this in two shakes of
lambs tall" he grumbled to the
girl, then abandoned his self
defense to ask curiously: what are
you doing here?"
"Just feeding the pigeons!" Ruth
laughed. Poor things! I've neg
lected them shamefully. I hope the
next tenant in this suite has more
|
Say! That's a pretty sight" Nc
Mann commented, as he strolled to
the airshaft window, where the
girl stood, laughing and cooling to
the flock of pigeons, which fought
greedily for the crumbs she was
Sprinkling upon the ledge.
ooh, you greedy thing!" she cried,
as the black pigeon bodily settled
upon her Land and began to peck at
the crumbs it held. Nov you've
made me spill half of your dinner!"
she added ruefully as a shower of
crumbs fell upon the polished strip
of floor between rug and window.
"Just for that, MIR. Nemesis, you're
going to be punished by being made
to work." And one little hand
closed firmly about the cleaning
body Of the black pigeon.
What are you going TO do now?"
McMann asked indulgently, as swift
fingers wrapped the narrow ribbon
of paper about the tiny red leg of
the pigeon, fastening it securely
with the thread.
Watch and seel" Routh laughed.
Then, still holding the pigeon
against her breast, she called out in
a clear, blithe soprano: "Yoo hoo,
! Jackl'-
Almost instantly the young insur-
ance brokers' head and torso were
framed in the opposite. window.
Got any crumbs, darling?" Ruth
called gayly. IF you have, you may
learn something to your advantage"
and she released the black pigeon.
"Sayi What does all this mean?
And thought you weren't
liStening!" the detective spustered
Look here, Miss Lesteri I've treat