The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-27

started to draw = deep breath Of
relief, when suddenly the whole struc-
ture toppled and fell, stricken BY
one question which her relentlessly
logical mind insisted upon asking:
Il Rita had done al this, where d!
Jacks missing automatic ne into the
picture?
Then hope thrust up its head
again. Why try to fit Jacks gun
into any theory Of the murder? III
was missing-true. But wasn't it en-.
tirely possible that Jacks gun had
been stolen by petty thief, prowl-
ing through the almost deserted Of
flee building, glad to lay his hands
on anything Of value? The long arm
Of coincidence, Of course, but wasn't
real life full Of just such amazing
condolences?
But Ruth knew, even az she COM
soled herself with this philosophic
reflection, that Detective Sergeant
McMann would emit . loud roar Of
derisive laughter Il she told him her
theory. He might be trying. with
true police conscientiousness. to bull
" Rita Dubois into confessing to
both murder and robbery, but Ruth
was sure that in his heart McMann
believed that the dancer had done
nothing worse than rob . dead mans
body, after Harry Borden had been
killed by Jack Hayward, in q jealous
rage.
The newly-discovered evident q
that Borden had had Ruth's gun In
his possession that Saturday after
noon would do much, Ruth realized
sickly, to confirm McMann's suspi-
cions against Jack. He would argue.
undoubtedly, that Borden and Jack
had quarreled over the telephone
that inexplicable one-sided conversa-
ton OF Borden's which Bill Cowan
had overheard when he had called
Jack Hayward's number at 10 min
utes after two-and that consequent-
", fearing an attack upon his life,
Borden had possessed himself Of
Ruth's gun, had gone to the open
window with it in his hand, and had
been shot down by Hayward before
he could aim Ruth's weapon.
But-Ruth argued with herself
desperately-if McMann believed
this to be the truth about Borden's
murder, how could he account fer
the disappearance Of her gun? Would.
he be so stupid as to try to con-
vince himself that Rita Dubois had
stolen it, too, along with the money
on Borden's body?
D,,%I. ha~~a1& 800. ...~~ Al>l - n.A-,l
had come into Borden's office and
found him dead, with q gun lying on
The floor, she would have concluded
that he had committed suicide, would
not have dreamed Of touching the .
weapon with which he had done it,
For fear Of its being found in her
possession and discriminating her.
"Miss Lester!" McMann's harsh
voice broke into the girls troubled
maze Of theory and conjecture. "Do
you know when the glass panels of
these office doors were ashed last?"
Ruth considered for q moment,
then answered confidently: ION Fri
lay. The window washer always
comes on Friday, and does the door
panels at the same time. It was late
Friday afternoon"
"Was any other woman, besides
yourself, Rita and Mrs. Borden in
these offices after the window wash
.r's VISIT"
Ruth shook her bad, her puzzled
blue eyes taking n tR6 fact that Nc
Mann's narrowed eyes were fixed
upon set of photographed finger
prints. mo. Not while I was here,
Mr.. McMann."
"Well," McMann grunted, "some
woman was here, all right. She left
Ter calling card on the glass panel
# the door between this office and
he outer one. Three fine finger
prints" H reached for the phone,
which was plugged up with police
headquarters. "Hello! Captain Eos.
;er, please! McMann speaking.
Oh, Captain, any report yet on Cleo
Gilman? e. Is that so?"
(To Be Continued)
A new character to be reckoned
with-Cleo Gilman. Will she lead
hem to a solution7