New Britain herald., 1929-02-09
THIS HAS HAPPENED

THIS HAS HAPPENED
 To celebrate their engagement, Ruth Lester, pretty secretary to Handsome Harry" Borden. pro laotcr of dubious stock companies. tnd Jack Hayward. whose office IS lust across the narrow airshaft from Eorden's. agree to meet for Satur- cay luncheon and 10 attend a mat lliHc.
 While Ruth takes dictation Sat urday morning, Borden makes playful pass at her and she screams Il protest which unfortunately Jack hears in the opposite office. lie / furious and muttcrs threats. Benny smith. office boy. is also incensed at Borden's familiarity. When Eoth and Jack meet fo, lunch. Ruth mas she left her bank book in the ofllcc and rushcs back for it. bruising her Iip in the search. Jack insists 1901 den hurt her but she dcnles H.
 At lunch. Jack says he left thcir theatcr tickets on his desk ana re- turns for them. He comes back strangely pcrturbed.
 on Monday morning Ruth l'hd' the body of Borden spraw'cd 0" the floor near the window. Slc f""s 4, lacks office and finding him ou,, ,ao,s frant.call, in his desk for Ills cum It IS gone. Jack had preNionslS ,r,.hased two identical weatons :.,rj gave Ruth one to use Ill cas' Q hoIdups. Jack arcomrihics u''
 ,he ];or.lrn suite and phones tor
 po,ic,.. When Detective M'Mah'' ..i;v,s, he questions Ruth. She 'F''9 ..,, of i,nr,ien's two women cal''s ,-, satur,)ay. Rita Dubois. night ci'' dancer, who Was to accompany '", ,,romotcr on a W""k-enu 'flp' d"" ,jrs Borden n,s wife and moth"' of his two children "lo tai'e 'o' lrr monthly alin'ony. Euth ad"''s ,,or .ur,crurnt 10 Jack and an- swcrs McMunn'e questions. | ne hoo' cpcns Mrs. l:orden. palc-faced anu reJ-cynd. steps in.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE Slol'A
 CHAPTER x
 coth NcNann and Ruth Lester ..,r,rp to their feet as Mrs. Eorden't voice rose in vail of terror anu grief. But it was Ruth who reached inc pale-faced. red-eyed oman first. her arm which went around the swaying body.
 Jack Hayward strode 10 inc
 fa ter of the office. which served also as | reception room for clients. picked up a chair. and helped Ruth to lower the almost hystericai woman into it. McMann. immense. tall. watched the scene with mar ,owed, intent. gray eyes. then when Mrs. Borden was seated stepped forward.
 "Mrs, Borden" he began slowly. rortentously, just what makes you think something has happened to your husband?"
 Mrs. Borden's eyes fluttered un- certainly before they met the hard eyes Of the detective. Then. like thoroughbred. she drew the hys- teria-rent cloak of her dignity about Ter slight figure. Are you from thc-the police. too. sir''
 Y am Detective Sergeant Me- Mann." the big man answered curtly. "T repeat. how did you know that something had happened to Mir. Borden?"
 The pale face Of the new-madc widow went e,en whitcr. Why why" she stammered. "the police man stationed outside the door. or course. Tell me the truth. MT. Me- Mann: has my husband been ar rested? oh. was afraid it would come to this somctime. Where did they take him? I must see him, ] must I have q right
 McMann stepped toward the closed door leading into the private office as he answered. "No. Mrs. Eorden your husband has not been arrested. And you may see him IT" Is here Won't you step in. rl"ase?" and McMann held the door tide.
 For many nights 10 come Ruth
 ster was to be haunted by that wy drawn wal of agony and grief hat rose from Mrs Bordens throat hon she caught sight of that which lTy hudhl"d and still on the floor.
 For q dreadful second that seemed eternal Ruth thought the widow was going 10 kneel in tha. horrible brownsh. drying pool of hlood. but she must have seen it just in time. for she shudderel l away from it. then flung her body down beside that Of the man who had been her husband and th. father of her children.
 Ruth tried to tear her eyes away so that she might not see that lift- ing of inc stiffcr"d face. the era 1ling nf ii upon bosom Harry