The Bismarck tribune., 1929-03-26

man as Mr.. Hayward was pleasant
also. But I-had no plans then"
"Ah! Plans!' McMann commented
dryly, with q keen glance at Ruth to
see If she were getting every word Of
the confession down in shorthand.
Just when were those plans made,
Miss Manning?"
"On Christmas day after my hum
iliating interview with Harry on
Christmas Eve" Martha Manning
told him. the exquisite throaty con-
tralto faltering slightly. II felt that
somehow I must be in a position to
see him alone-l1ot with his body
guard, Jake Bailey, present. But to
explain how managed, I shall have
to 60 back a bit. One evening in
early December"
"Just minute. Miss Manning!"
the detective interrupted. ".Until this
time-1 mean, until the assumption
OF a disguise-had you ever made
threats. verbal or written, upon Harry
Borden's life?"
Il had not!" the woman answered
emphatically. Nothing was further
from my wish or Misunderstanding
him, I mean. I-loved him."
"And yet-you became Lefty Mil
ler,' q scrubwoman," McMann re-
minded her. But go on. Miss Man.
ming. I believe you said something
about one evening early in Decem-
ber-'
Eyes. One evening early in De-
cember when I followed Harry to the
6tarbridge Building, without getting
q chance to speak with him, and was
waiting for him to come out. a small
army Of cleaning women poured out
Of the building. It was just after
nine. One Of the women-it was
Minnie Cassidy. as learned later
looked so Ill that followed her into
the street. She almost tainted, and
I took her home, using the last cent
I had for the taxi.
"On Christmas day, when I was
desperately casting about for q way
to see Harry alone. remembered
Minnie Cassidy's gratitude, remem-
bered, too, that she worked on the
seventh floor Of this building. I
went to see her. I told her I needed
work very badly, would take anything.
She told me that one Of the Cleaning
ladies'-her partner on the seventh
floor, as Minnie called her-had just
quit, and that her place had not been
filled.
ut was Minnie who took me to
Mrs. Pellow the following Monday,
but late Christmas day I had en-
gagged a room in q horrible old ROOM
ing house under the name Of Lefty
Miller. and in the guise Of Lefty
Miller. Just for q week, In case Mrs.
Pellow checked up on my address.
The gray wig and this dress"-she
looked down at the faded calico
thing she wore-'had been given me
as sort Of souvenir Of my part in
Stairs . play in which made q
rather notable success just at the
time I met Harry Borden. Yes. !
was an actress"
"That explains . lot" McMann
commented. grimly.
Martha Manning ignored the in
terruption. mo one but Minnie
Cassidy knew that the new cleaning
lady had seen better days. was
younger than she looked. Minnie
was good friend. But don't think
she suspected for 4 moment that I
killed Harry Borden" she added
quickly as McMann reached for PEN
eli and paper.
aAll rieht." McMann conceded.
IT hardly think that Tim Cassidy's
widow would. connive ct Z murder.
But-eo on. You laid your plans to
kill Bofden?"
mol" Again that flashing denial.
= merely wanted to be near him. to
have eaSy access to his office, % that
! could see him alone some night and
make him listen. / believed he still
cared something the boy, at
least. But Jake Bailey WAS always
waiting when Harry worked 'at night,
and my chance for an interview did
not come. Not even Friday night, for
It was nine when Jake left; and ]
had to leave the building, o. b dis
covered BY Mrs. Pellow. But ! nd
mitted Harry to his office that night
with my passkey and he did not
recognise me.
Friday afternoon wrote one last
urgent appeal to my sons father, and
on Saturday morning ! telephoned to
ak for his decision. He WAS not in,
1asn -. - A. - - -.