New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-31
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THIS HAS HAPPENED

beauty interferes with her oppor-
tunities for becoming an expert Sec
rotary and consequently dons yell
low spectacles. ill-fitting clothes and
skins back her curls SO she may 60
her way unannoyed by flirtatious
employers.
But for this concealment of her
loneliness she could not have>work-
ed unmolested four months for
Handsome Harry" Borden. pro-
moter OF dubious stock companies
and notorious for his affairs with
women. Ruth would resign but for
a romance which springs up be-
tween her and jack Hayward. young
insurance broker, whose office IL
Just across the narrow airshaft from
Bordens private office on the
seventh floor of the starbridge
building.
On a Friday night In January.
Jack and Ruth become engaged
and Ruth comes to the office next
morning with her disguise removed.
In her office, Ruth greets Benny
Smith, 17-year-old office boy. who
il astonished at her Transformation
and who instantly becomes infatu-
ated. He advises her to don her dis
cuise before Borders arrival. She
is interrupted by phone call. 1t is
'the woman with the beautiful con-
tralto voice" whom Borden has pre-
viously refused to talk to. Ruth has
time to put on her spectacles before
Eorden's arrival. Among his private
mail is an orchid tinted envelope
which he thrusts into his pocket. He
instructs Ruth to 60 to the bank for
$500 in cash and to the station to
buy two railroad tickets and
drawing room.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER II
Ruth Lester was grateful for the
errands to bank and station when
"Handsome Harry" Borden had CIV
en- her to do, for they gave her an
opportunity to review, in undlsturo-
ed ecstasy, the miracle which had
happened to her. In a 1aunty little
brown hat, against which the new
Nv released golden curls chung like
sprays of delicate embroidery, her
new nutria coat wrapped snugly
about her small body, her blue eyes
unobscured by the hideous spec
tacles, she stepped into the elevator
which was directly across the nall
from the borden offices
Nlicky Moran, tho jolly. impu-
dent. red headed lord of the ele-
vator cage. did not recognize IN the
mink and white and gold little
beauty the timid secretary who had
been a daily passenger for the last
four mouths. His bold eyes took
her in at a glance. then he began
to whistle significantly: Eyes. SIR
that's my baby"
Just before the elevator reached
the ground floor. Ruth asked IN
the hcsitant, meek voice which had
been part of her disguise: is
your father recovering from that
awful automobile accident, Micky:
Before the astonished boy could
reply. Ruth, laughing at him over
her furred shoulder, stepped INTO
the lobby of the Starbridge Build
ing.
"Vain little imp" she character
lied herself. as gust OF January
wind tugged at her coat. but on.
TIM 80 glad / can be me at last!
put worth it, worth it. worth IT."
she chanted under her breath, as
she ioincd the Saturday morning
shoppers who millcd about the busy
corner.
It was uncanny how accurately
Penny Smith had diagnosed the
ahsurd situation which had made
disguise necessary. Perfect b'ond
beauty had been a pleasant possess
sion. one which would some Gay
bring her great happiness. she iao
Thought, 70 long as her father mad
been alive to shield her.
She ha1 been as proud OF hlm as
he of her. for Colby Lester haa
been one. of the greatest crlInihp
LAWYERS Of his day a criminal
LAWYER whose greatness lay IN Dis
kecnness as a detective rather thah
I'm jury-swaying oratory. During
tho last five years of his life nc had
talked over all his cases with ms
daughter. Many night they nan
sat up until dawn. Ruth cur'ed
knjtten-wise in his arms, her child
jsh brows knit. amusingly, IN me
same fashion as his. her logical NINA
kecping pace with his and somc-
times leaping ahead of it.
Good work. Infant! You've So'
the makings of a Grade A detcc-
tive behind those yellow curls. But
please God, you'll never have TO
earn your living in any such sordld
fashion as this" he had told her
once.
A dignifiei home. exquisite
clothes. servants who adorcd Colby
Lester and his daughter, private
school. association with keen and
cultured minds all these things
Ruth had enjoyed until Colby Les
ter's sudden, tragic death.
He had been defending woman
on the charge of poisoning her
lover. married man. and had been
shot down by lHe c'dHeu "i'o"
the victim because she had believed
that Colby Lester would win the
defendants freedom for her. And
he had. although his funeral took
place while the jury was bringing
in its Just verdict of Not guilty"
Even now Ruth could scarcely
understand why there had been so
little for her when her fathers >fs-
tate was settled. But his books
showed that he had defended more
renniless victims Of tragic circum-
stance than wealthy ones. because
their cases presented problems
which intrigued his detective in
stincts. And he had denied his
daurbtcr nothnr-nor himself. He