The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-18

wouldn't I hold the line?" Amazingly
the contralto voice was gone, and /,
its place Minnie Cassidy's pleasant
cracked old voice, rich with tn
brogue she had brought from ireland
Ruth smiled, but McMann did not
"And-then?"
! Martha Manning resumed her own
voice. In a minute or two, thu
cleaning lady told me that Mr.. Bor.
den would not talk then, but wantet
me to call again In Is or 20 minutes.
And you said"-McMann levelet
forefinger at her and narrowed hi.
gray eyes to slits-"you said: "Tell MI
Borden that If he is wise he will tall
to me when I call again. Your last
warning, wasn't it, Miss Manning?"
If you wish to call 1t that" the
woman shrugged. what I meant wa.
that, if he did not keep his promise
to establish trust fund for our son
I would go through with the suit to
make him support the child, as I had
threatened on Friday night"
And yet"-McMann pounced-
you were so dizzy with Joy and relief
when you came out of his office Fri
day night that you had to lean
against the door for support How
do you account for your sudden
change of hearth"
The great dark eyes suddenly looked
utterly weary. Il was-afraid he had
promised just to get rid of me on
Friday night. / wanted to talk will,
him again, to ask him If he had seen
his lawyer, as he had promised he
would, or had made the appointment
to do So"
Birdwell opened the door, Here's
Miss Dubois, chief"
Have her wait out there till I call
for her." McMann directed impa-
tiently. Nov, Miss Manning, why
didn't you call Borden Is or 20 min
utes later? Why did you wait until
after 2 o'clock?"
Ruth, watching the woman closely,
her own heart beating heavily, won
dered if 1t was fear or merely indig-
nation which made those great dark
eyes dilate as they did.
After two?" Miss Manning re-
peated. Il did not wait until after
two! I called at five minutes Of two,
and Mr.. Borden answered the phone
himself. He again promised to see
his lawyer Monday"
Just a minute!" McMann cut in
sharply. Suppose I tell you what hap
pened! You came to the Starbridge
Building to see Borden again, after
you'd made your first call"
That's not true!" the woman cried.
Shut up and listen to mel" The
detective commanded harshly. "You
came here, knocked on Borden'S door,
he asked who 1t was, you answered,
he recognized your voice, refused to
admit you, you determined to see him
or talk with him somehow; you re-
membered that John G. Hayward's
offices lie directly across the airshaft
from Borden's: you went to his door
possibly to ask him to let you use
his phone, even to solicit his aid in
forcing an interview for you with
Borden"
mo, no. That's not true! None OF
it is true!" Martha Manning cried
passionately, rising from her chair in
her excitement.
The detectives mighty voice plowed
through her protestations: You
didn't find Hayward In, but because
his cleaning woman was careless, you
found his door unlocked, entered, tele-
phoned Borden, Quarreled violently
with him from a few minutes after
two until two-ten, learned that he
would do nothing for you-Wait!" He
commanded roughly, and forced the
agitated woman into her chair with
ruthless hands. II even know the
exact words with which he refused
your demands, Miss Manningl Harry
Borden said to you. Who are you to
tell Harry Borden what he can do and
can't do?' A witness overheard Bor-
den say those exact words, Miss Man
ning!"
But not to mel" she cried. but she
sat still again, except for those twist
ing hands, watching the detectives
face.
And then" McMann went on In
exorably. you remembered the gun
you had seen lying in the bottom OF
Mr.. Hayward's desk, the first time
you were in his office. You called
Harry Borden from Haywards win
dow, he stepped to his own window,
after first securing the weapon with
which he had armed himself against
an attack he evidently feared, and
you shot him, his bullet going wild
and hitting the wall beside Hayward's
window"
Oddly, as the detectives charge
piled up against her, the woman be-
came more and more calm. When he
had finished his terrible harangue
she raised her head and her eyes met
his fully, steadily, though her face
was CHASTITY white around the rouge
spots. Mr.. McMann, you are merely
trying to bully me into confessing q
crime I did not commit. You cannot
possibly have any proof to back your
absurd charges. I will gladly face
anyone you can bring forward who
will say that he or she saw me IN
this building on Saturday. You know
you cannot bring forward such 9
person, for was not here"
At the supreme confidence behind
those quietly emphatic words. the
last Of Ruths hopes Of thus clearing
the man she loved vanished-or al
most vanished. For-if Martha Man.
ming had not 50 used Jack Hayward's
office. who hadp
McMallil, tacitly admitting his lacl
Of proof by not answering her chal-
lenge, considered for long moment
then said, with 9 shrug Of, his massive
shoulders: We'll. where do you SAY
Won Mere2 Got 81 good alihi Al