The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-02
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though she was convinced that ia,
detective was merely resorting to ,
ruse to get rid of her while hi
grilled Benny Smith on the, subjec,
Of Borden's unwelcome advances t
her.
!, She found the cocky little detective
with his feet on . rickety desk, aban-
doned BY the recent occupants Of the
office suite. Several men, whom she
recognized as tenants Of the Star
bridge Building, stood about the
desk, smoking, exchanging theories.
\ \ \
Hello, Beautiful" Detective Co
vey greeted her impudently. "You
and the Big Cheese having q good
time down there? Believe me, child,
ne musta taken a shine to you, to
let you in on this investigation like
he has"
mr.. McMann has been very kind
to me-, Ruth said, forcing herself
to smile. "Has Minnie Cassidy, the
cleaning woman, come in yet, Mr..
Convey? Mr.. McMann wants to see
her."
"And what a treat that'll be-" CO.
vey chortlcd. "Yeah, she's in the
building. l saw her minute or two
ago. She's changing her clothes to
get on the job. / told her to come
back here and I'd take her to the
sergeant. Wanta wait? Mrs. Borden
and Rita are in there and he
jerked his thumb toward the inner
office Of the suite-''but why not
brighten up the day for old Jim Co.
vey!" and he swung out of the chair
he had borrowed from the next-door
office and pushed it toward her in
vitingly.
Ruth seated herself, glanced
around the circle of men diffidently,
then turned the full glory of her
wide blue eyes upon the little detec-
tive. ibid all these men hear the
shot fired, Mr.. Covey?" she asked
innocently.
Convey chuckled. give Of 'em think
maybe they did and maybe they did
mt, and if you can get any two of
EN- to agree on the time, I'll give
you my nice silver shield. Accord
ing to these birds-no offense, fell
lows!-guns were popping off in the
Starbridge Building last Saturday
afternoon from half past one to half
past three O'Clock, but just try to pin
one OF these guys down, Miss Les
ter, and he'll crawfish instanter-
tell you that at the time he thought
it was the backfire of an automo-
bile, and that he really didn't pay
any attention.
Cant say / blame chap with a
business Of his own to look after
nobody's fool enough to want to tes-
tify in a murder case that may drag
out for weeks and be tried two or
three times. Ho, hum! It's a great
game, Beautiful" and he grinned
at Ruth. "But it has its COM
pensations. Have you seen this
extra?" he added, reaching for a !
paper which he had tossed to the
floor beside his desk. "Got q swell
snapshot of you-you didn't duck
your head quick enough" he chuck
led. "Your sweetie looks sore enough
to bite nails in two, but he's a good
looking guy at that. How the Sob
sisters will love him! Wanta see,
girlie?"
"No," Ruth shuddered, wardine off |
the proffered sheet with a trembling
hand. "I-I'll 60 back to my office
now. Will You please send Minnie
Cas-"
Here's the old girl now!" Convey
interrupted, cheerfully. "All to9ged |
out in the what the well-dressed
scrubwoman will wear. Took your
time, didn't you, Mother Machree?"
X \ \
"Sure, sure!" Convey interrupted, |
hands plucked nervously at the bag
BY front Of her dress. "I'm sorry to |
have kept you waiting, sir, but one
of the cleaning ladies was sick
kinda fainty, and T."
"Sure, sure!" Convey interrupted, |
WANTED your bit Of Cos
sip, didn't you? Well, I can't blame
you. It amt every scrub LADY, that |
can Drag Of being one of the last |
to see murdered man alive. Come |
along now and have = good time tell
ing it all over again to Detective |
Sergeant McMann. =. No, reckon I'd
better stick right here and keep an
eye on Mrs. Borden and Ritzy Rita.
Can't tell what might happen"
It'll take Minnie to Mr.. McMann,"
Ruth volunteered eagerly, so eager
" that the little bantam rooster Of |
, detective gave her q long, measur-
ing glance before he opened the door
and permitted her and Minnie Cas-
,idy to pass into the corridor.
(To Be Continued)
Minnie Cassidy has an interesting