The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-20
it, T., p ]; \ A &C.: < R ;}Ez;| 81

ing cold" Ruth explained, taking
care to keep defiance out Of hcl
voice.
"You seem to have recovered from
the cold" McMann reminded her
perhaps there was something
heavy in the lining pocket which YOU
didn't want the waiter to feel o.
Ruth knew that he was referring
to her missing automatic. "There
was nothing in the pocket, Mr.. Nc.
Manu-"
McMann smiled, shrugged, then
turned to the waiter again. "You
said there were several things that
Impressed this couple on your memo.
ry. What else, Phillips 2"
"Well, sir, the young lady dropped
her pocketbook, and while l was
STOPPING to pick up the scattered
contents of the bag, the little lady
excused herself, saying she had to
telephone"
ITO warn Borden not to let Jack
Hayward into his office? McMann
pounced, his glinting, narrowed gray
eyes fixed upon Ruth.
The girls face famed. "No! / SIM
ply made the conventional excuse,
and went to the ladies' rest room to
powder my face. / telephoned nd
one."
! "Hmm!" McMann obviously did
not believe her. "What else, Phil
lips ,"
"While / was picking up the scat
tered objects, the young gentleman
was studying the menu card" the
waiter went on, in his deprecatine,
hesitant manner. "He put the things
back in the young lady's bag and
gave me the order, without waiting
for the young lady"
"What was the order!" McMann
demanded.
~ wouldn't like to swear to that,
sir"
II ordered broiled mushrooms on
toast for Miss Lester, and sweet
bread patties for myself" Jack in
terrupted. "They were on the ready
to-serve list, and both Of US are in
the habit Of eating light luncheons."
That's right, sir! / remember
now!" the waiter corroborAted ca
gerly. II brought the orders right
out, but first, before the young lady
came back, ! brought the rolls and
butter and gave the young gentle
man the key"
1.-THE key! What key!" McMann
d. manded, his eyes taking quick note
of Ruth's startled surprise.
"Why, sir, the key that had fell
ous Of the young lady's handbag. /
kicked against it when I was putting
the rolls and butter on the table, or I
would never have noticed it. ! hand
ed it to the young gentleman, sir"
"And what did he do with it,"
II didn't notice, sir"
did you see him reach for Miss
Testers handbag to put it there?"
mo, sir. I'm quite sure no didn't,
sir. at the time, at least. Probably
he handed it to her when she To-
turned to the table, sir"
"Do you think xso?" McMann
grinned. "Just what kind Of key was
this, Phillips?"
IAN ordinary modern lock key,
sir"
miss Lester, show Phillips your
key to this suite, pleased" McMann
raped out.
Ruth obeyed, going to the outer
office to get her handbag out Of the
top drawer. When she returned she
silently handed key to the waiter,
who fingered it briefly, then laid it
upon the extended palm Of the de-
| tective.
as that the key, Phillips?"
1T looks, like it, sir, but Of course
| couldn't say"
"Or is this the key you found on
the floor" Ruth asked, with quiet
triumph, offering Z second key, diff
fering only slightly in size and shape
from the first, which she took from
small coin purse.
The waiter shook his head help
lessly. ut looks like it, miss, but
since most Of these keys look alike
-
Exaetlyav Ruth cried. "Mr. Nc.
Mann =" and she handed him
the second keys the key to the
office. You can try it and see for
yourself. These keys are 50 much
alike that Twas always installing
my apartment key for my office key,
and the other way round. So solved
the. difficulty by keeping my office
ikeys tn my GolN purse, and the apart.
meut 10y s1QSDA 1h my handbag. And
W coin pnfse, which has = firm