The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-01

GU " huUCA WHICH, she CAH0c W ulS VI.
fees.
Morning, Mrs. Borden" Benny
mumbled, as he opened the door wide.
"Say. Ruth. l gotta beat it to the
postoffice for them stamps. Any
thing else you need?"
"No thanks. Benny. Fifty twos, a
hundred ones, and 10 specials. :.
!. Good morning, Mrs. Borden"
Ruth had risen as she spoke. and
now faced Mrs. Borden nervously,
but smiling the little timid smile
which Mrs. Borden would expect of
her, for it had greeted her once q
month for four months.
A rather faded, tired 80, as against
Harry Borden's triumphant 40. Soft,
fine skin, going a little lax beneath
high, aristocratic cheek bones, and
wrinkling family around tragic eyes
and patient but bitter mouth. Leaf
brown eyes, no longer glowing with
the fire of spring.
Of all the varied duties which she
was called upon to perform as Har-
ry Borden's confidential secretary,
none was so painful to Ruth as this
monthly encounter with Mrs. Bor-
den. For Borden forced his wife to
come to his offices that he might
humiliate her. There had been a le-
gal separation, but no divorce, and
Borden had arrogantly stipulated
that he would pay the court allot-
ment of $500 q month for the sup
port Of his wife and two children. q
boy Of IL and girl Of seven, only
if Elizabeth Borden came to him each
month and asked for it. And Ruth
knew that if Elizabeth Borden had
had only herself to consider, she
would have died rather than so hu-
initiate herself before him.
Benny told me Mr.. Borden was
in" Mrs. Borden answered Ruth's
greeting in hesitant, gentle voice.
Ruth glanced miserably toward the
closed door, behind which Harry Bor-
den and Rita Dubois were arranging
details of their weekend trip to Win
ter Haven. Eyes, he's in. Mrs. Bor-
den, but he-he's in conference"
A burst Of high-pitched laughter
penetrated that closed door, and Mrs.
Borden flinched, her nostrils culver
ing, her gloved hands clenching up
on the handbag she held. Ruth did
not consciously notice the discarded
wife's reaction then, but later, when
every tiny thing was of so much i'm
portance, she remembered ~ and
wished she could forget.
mered. Shall I come back a little
later, Miss Lester? I brought the
children downtown with me, and
they're waiting in the rest room Of
department store. I-you know it
is necessary that THAT ask
that l see Mr.. Borden today"
YES" Ruth nodded. Harry Bor-
dens ultimatum was that the MONTH
~ $500 would be paid on the fit
teenth day Of the month and on no
other. If his wife did not call for it
then. and ask in so many words for
what was hers and the children's by
right, she would have to wait until
the same date the next month. Il
suggest, Mrs. Borden, that you come
back in about an hour. am sure
ne viii! be out of-conference-by
then"
Mrs. Borden flushed. 1.-THE children
have q dentists appointment at IL.
and then I'm to take them to lunch.
l wonder if Mr.. Borden will be here
about half-past one ?"
Ruth agreed eagerly. She was glad
she would not have to see poor Mrs.
Borden again on that, her own happy
day. Eyes. He will be here until
nearly two. He told me so just few
minutes ago. I'm sure half-past one
will be fine"
Thank YOU" Mrs. Borden was
turning toward the door, when an.
other burst Of laughter = treble
welded to bass-shook the gronnd-
glass panel in the door between the
outer and inner offices.
Ruth saw the slight, frail body
sway, sprang to put her arm about
the older woman. please sit down
Just q minute, Mrs. Borden. Here!
In my chair. And lay your head on
the desk. It's the heat-they keen
these offices sitting. I'll ret YOU
drink of water. Therei Feeling bet
ter (" she asked, as she helped Har-
ry Borden's wife to the little swivel
chair.
Ruth darted to the water cooler
IN the corner near Benny's desk, then
discovered that the paper cup con-
tainer was empty. But there was q
tube OF them in the bottom drawer
OF her desk. She ran, frightened =
little, for Mrs. Borden looked ter
ribly white and i'll. The drawer stuck
bit. and the older woman was Lean
ing downward to help, with trem-
bling hands.
Don't bother, dear Mrs. Border"
Ruth begged. There! It often sticks.
-. The cups are here somewhere
-. OH" She snatched her hand
from the pulled-out drawer as If she
had touched q snake. Then she
laughed, shakily. "What a goose /
am! Please don't be frightened, Mrs.
Borden. / keep forgetting that the
gun is in there"
Gun :" Mrs. Borden auavered,
shrinking away from the drawer. her
hand going to her throat.
.susss .0u3ucu uSEVOuSly. eS-8O
automatic pistol. Isn't It ridiculous
my having pistol? But there were.
80 many holdups in the building last
month that a-friend Of mine" she.
could not yet toss Jack Hayward's'
name nonchalantly-ssbouRht one for
me, and for himself, too. He has of-
fices in this building, and he was ter.
ribly in earnest about my keeping
the thing here in case Of another
holdup. As if I'd touch it! I'm more
afraid Of it than ! am Of : bandit!
Here are the cups. Sorry to be sos