New Britain herald., 1929-02-08
THIS HAS HAPPENED

THIS HAS HAPPENED
 Ruth Lester. pretty private secre- tary to Handsome Harry" Borden. promoter of dubious stock com- panies, becomes engaged to Jack Hayward. young insurance broker. whose oilice is just across the narrow airshaft from Borden'sL On a Satur- day morning in January. the promo ter has two women callers: Rita DuboiA night club dancer. who is to accompany him to Winter Haven for the weekend, and his estranged wife and mother of his two children, who comes for her monthly alimony.
 When Mrs. Borden learns her hus- band Is busy, she agrees to return. but before leaving glimpses the pistol in Ruth's desk. Jack. fearing trouble with hold-up men. has bought two identical weapons and gives Ruth one.
 While Ruth takes dictation Borden makes . playful pass at her and she screams . protest which Jack hears. He is furious.
 When on Monday morning she finds the body of Borden sprawled on tho floor near the window, Ruth reviews Jacks strange behavior. She runs to his once and. finding him out looks frantically in his desk for his gun. It is gone! Jack comes in. calls the police. Fearing Jack shot Borden through the open window. Ruth rushes to close Borden's win- dow. It is already closed; When De- tective McMann arrives. he finds that the $500 in cash which Ruth admits getting for Borden for his weekend trip is gone. McMann questions Ruth. She admits her engagement to Jack and with horrible fear that almost smothers her. she begins her story of Saturdays happenings.
 (NOW GO ON WITH THE sTORY)
 CHAPTER TX
 Ruth pressed her fingers to her temples. in . mighty effort to re- member clearly the features of the old man who had threatened Bor- den's life on Saturday. When she had talked with him her mind had not been upon him or his threats. but upon that first disturbing evil dence of Borden's interest in her as a girl, not as . competent private secretary.
 'He was old-about 50, I think" she told the detective slowly. and did not see McMann, who was past 50 himself. vince at her uninten- tionally cruel words.
 "He was wearing a shabby black overcoat with a velvet collar, which had flakes of dandruff on it. ! re- member. for I felt sorry for him. he looked so helpless. I can't tell what color his eyes were. but he had on old-fashioned steel.rimmed spectacles. His hair. sort of long. I think. was gray. and his face thin and hollow. He seemed tall. but I'm 50 short that nearly everyone seems tall to me-" she confessed.
 T can't really remember what he said. for he was muttering most of the time. but he did make threats of getting even.' Said he'd teach that crook lesson. bring him to his knees-things like that. I don't really remember, for I was trying to soothe him and get rid of him. I had lot of work to do. and I knew 1t was all 50 hopeless. the Mir. Borden wouldn't see him or make any restitution"
 McMann. who had been jotting down her description of the defraud- ed old man. scowled and then told her to go on with her story.
 "Before writing the letters I went to the bank and to the station to get Mir. Borden's tickets for Winter Haven. After returned and gave the money and tickets to Mir. Borden. Benny told me that Mra Borden had called on the phone to say. she was coming in. She and Mir. Borden were not living together"
 T know. Legal separation. with court allowance for her and the children. About five years ago." Mo- Mann interpolated. What did she come to see him for?"
 ITO get her separation allowance" Ruth answered reluctantly. MT. had been ordered by the court to pay her each month on the 18th. and he made her come for it n person. Toto get news of the I suppose" she added. in ! futile attempt to gloss over the lead mans malicious cruelty to his ! wife.
 "Wsli? Did she come?" McMann lsked. busilv taking notes.
 Later" Ruth answered. flushing. ! But before Mrs. Borden arrived dr. Borden had another caller-l Miss Dubois. Rita Dubois"
 "Oh!" McMann whisteled. raising , ,is thick eyebrows. '"The dancer rom the Golden Slipper. eh?"
 "Yes. Mr. Borden saw her there wo or three weeks ago and-and-l fixed her."
 go the other ticket and the were for Rita Du-