The Bismarck tribune., 1929-03-14

Come here. Miss Manning!" and the
detective seized one of the woman's
wrists and drew her by force to the
window looking out upon the air.
shaft. "Look!" and he pointed to the
opposite window. Whose office is
that?"
The woman snatched her impris-
oned hand from the detectives hold
and rubbed her Redeemed wrist. Il
don't knowl How should II"
Then let me remind you." McMann
retorted. "That is the private office
of Mr.. John c. Hayward, insurance
broker, the very agreeable and hand
some young man you consulted, not
so long ago, on the subject Of policy
in favor of your son. Do you re-
member now?"
Martha Manning seemed suddenly
to get control of her tortured nerves.
Almost calmly, though Ruth thought
she moved hastily over the spot where
Borden's life blood had ebbed away,
the woman walked across the room
and took her seat again. It was not
until the detective was also seated
that she answered his question:
Il did consult MIR. Hayward about
insurance, but that Is not usually
considered a criminal offense, Mr..
McMann."
"And how did you happen to pick
out that particular insurance broker?"
McMann asked sarcastically. rs he
famous in his field?"
Il saw his name and business listed
on the bulletin board of the Star
bridge Building" Miss Manning an
swered defiantly.
"One of those days when you were
trailing Borden? BY the way. you
were still living with Harry Borden
when he took these offices three
years ago, weren't you? You were
pretty familiar with the layout Of
this floor, suppose?"
when went to consult Mr.. Hay
ward about insurance, I had no idea
that his office was across the air.
shaft from Harry's," was the positive
almost calmly spoken answer, but
Ruth saw a pair of thin, white hands
twisting, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that
would not lie, no matter how well that
beautiful contralto voice could be
made to serve its owners hidden pur-
poses.
AS Ruth watched those hands she
got an odd, subconscious impression
that they had message for her-a
message of vital importance-but with
that compelling voice to listen to.
there was no time for Ruth to heed
the. mute story that the hands were
"Then may remind you that when
you were in Mr.. Hayward's office on
two occasions you went to his window,
which affords q. view Of the interior
Of this office, and stood there-each
time-for minutes. looking toward and
undoubtedly into this very room?"
Il did not look this way, because
I did not realize that by so doing
I could see into MIR. Borden's office.
My eyes idly followed q number Of
pigeons circling about the window,
but my thoughts were on my son. and
how to provide for him in case Of my
DEATH"
your natural death-or by way Of
the electric chair" McMann sug-
gested brutaliy.
The frail body stiffened, but the
contralto voice scorned to make plea
for sympathy: "When I first con-
suited MIR. Hayward about insurance.
III knew I was not well, but I con-
sidered myself q passable insurance
risk. But when saw him the second
Etime, went with the knowledge that
insurance was impossible. Tor my
physician had told me that ! have
pulmonary tuberculosis. It was with
this knowledge that appealed to Mr..
Borden on Christmas Eve for help tor
my son."
There was q brief silence, almost
long enough for Ruth to hear the
mute message which Martha Nam
Inina,s thin twisting hands seemed to
be trying to give her-without their
owners knowledge or consent. But
not quite, for McMann interrupted.
demanded the girls whole attention
with his next words:
''I submit, Miss Manning" Nc
Mann began slowly. "that your need
became SO desperate that you deter
mined to stop ct nothing, not even
q threat Of murder. to force Harry
Borden to provide for your son. 1sn't
that true?"
| mol"
"You deny then, Miss Manning,
that you have ever threatened Harry
Borden's ufe?"
IT dol OF course deny It'll" The
beautiful voice throbbed with anger,
McAdann smiled, that cynical twist
ing Of the lips which always made
Ruth Lester shiver with repulsion
f"But you won't deny that you have
written to Mr.. Borden . number ol
times In the last few mouthSf"
The woman's eyes dilated. theu
closed for moment, before she
answered In q voice 90 low It va
almost . whisper: mo- won't deny
that. OF course l wrote him. ]
could reach him In no other way
"And when did you write your lAsl
letter to your former loverf" No.
Mann persisted.
Martha Manning moistened hef drJ
lips. "l-dont remember the exact
time"
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