The Bismarck tribune., 1929-03-14
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THIS HAS HAPPENED

THIS HAS HAPPENED
RUTH LESTER secretary. finds
the body Of her employer,
HANDSOME HARRY" BOR-
DEN, Monday morning. sprawlcd
beneath the window Of his pri-
vatc office.
McNlANN, detective sergeant,
questions the following suspects:
Ruth, MRS. BORDEN, estranEcd
wife Of Borden and mother of his
two children; RITA DUBOIS,
night club dancer, with whom
Borden was infatuated; and
: JACK HAYWARD. Ruth's fiancc,
insurance broker with office di-
rcctly across the narrow airshaft
from Borden's.
McNlann's belief In Jacks guilt
is strengthened by his discovery
that Jacks Colts .3S is missing:
by Jacks own admission that he
returned to the seventh floor Sat-
urday afternoon, and by the tcsti-
mony Of elevator boys MICKY
MORAN and OTTO PFLuGER.
BILL COWAN. Jacks friend, tells
McMann he heard Jack threaten
Bcrden's life.
JAKE BAILEY, BOrdcn's body
g1ard, is sent for. Meanwhile
McMann quixzcs BENNY SMITH.
Borden's office boy; ASHE. his
manscrvant: MINNIE CASSIDY
and LEFTY MILLER. seventh
floor scrubwomen, and CLEO
GILMAN, Borden's discarded :
mistress. Cleo gives an ironclad
alibi. McNlann cxults when he
finds q fresh scar in the brick
wall outside Jacks window and =
flattened bullet on tho cement
seven flights below. He says Bor-
den fired the bullet in self-de-
fensc at his murderer, who stood
in Jacks window!
MARTHA MANNING, mother
Of Borden's illegitimatc son, Is
brought into the investigation by
Ruth Lester. McMann mercilcss-
ly questions her about her rela-
tionship with Borden. Then he
fires at her: "Whcn did y-u last
see Harry Borden:"
Il X X
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Il have seen Mr.. Borden a number
of times during the last few months
at a distance" Martha Manning
answered the detective sergeant S
question.
You mean you followed him
about?" McMann pounced.
Martha Manning smiled strangely
and did not answer. But she tamped
out her half-smoked cigaret in the
ash tray which stood on Bordens
desk, and dropped her hands into her
ap-as if she could not trust one of
hem under the piercing eye of the
II ask you again, Miss Manning
when was the last time you saw
Harry Borden?" McMann asked with
angry impatience.
MY last-interview with Mr.. Bor-
len was on Christmas Eye. Tn
afraid I took rather an unfair ad-
of his manservant's careless
1eSS-as he has probably told you
md succeeded in speaking with Mr..
Borden.
'Ah!" McMann raised his bushy
,rows. And what was the purpose
md the result of that impromptu in
erview, Miss Manning?"
LAS to the purpose of that inter-
,iew, ! decline to answer. Its result
7ou undoubtedly know already" the
woman answered calmly. but Ruth
Jaw her hands were gripping each
,ther tightly in her lap.
McMann laughed, an ugly sound.
You're q cool one, all right! -.
Yes, the man AShc has told us that
1ou and Borden, in the presence OF
lake Bailey, Borden's bodyguard. had
! row that ended in a fight in which
1ou were almost knocked out. I see
The cut on your lip has healed.
You tried to kill your lover then
didn't you?-and didn't quite make
! job Of it?"
The woman's great dark eyes blazed
With scorn. May I remind you that
It was I, and not Mr.. Borden. who
was injured in that encounter?"
"But"-McMann leaned forward
toward her across the desk, his eyes
to slits-"you've hated hin
and planned revenge ever since thai
night! That's true, isn't it?"
mol" the denial rang out sharply
then in voice that quivered and
broke with emotion: Il loved him
loved Harry Borden from the day
met him till the cay he died.
still love him-wherever he is now
and will love him till die!''
\ = -
The detective settled hack in hi
chair, regarding tho trembling woman
With that twisted smile Of his which
Ruth Lester longed, passionately .tc
strike from his mouth. "a
Suppose we get down to brass
.acks. Miss Manning. I'll tell you 9
Few things. and then you tell me 8
lew. Tit for tat. Fair exchange
First: you have q so.l-" he said Will
awful casualness, then paused sts
watch the blood slowly drain from
Martha Manning'S thin face. leaving
the rouge spots In ghastly relief. =
son you have tried to force Harr,
Borden to recognize and support a.
his illegitimate child"
"6top!" Martha Manning half rosl
from her chair, leaned toward the de.