The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-19

so you dropped the gun, ELI,
Benny?" McMann asked gently.
odd we didn't find it"
FL picked it up again n stuck
it in my overcoat pocket, n then
I beat it down the stairs" Benny
corrected himself feverishly, shrilly.
"I-gosh, I was scared! II
wrapped the gun in a newspaper
what II found on the stairs-I
mean in one of them big sacks in
the hall, what the cleaning women
use to dump wastebaskets inn I
Il chucked the gun in "a big
trash can on the sidewalk"
'Where?" McMann interrupted.
"-I don't remember. Aw, gee,
Mister, what does all, them things
matter now? Amt I told you I
done it?" the boy pleaded, wiping
his eye on the sleeve of his coat.
"D Emmy, after you'd-shot Bor-
Id den, did you go around to Mr..
Hayward's Office for any reason
Whatever" Ruth interrupted with a
question Of her own.
The boy stared at her, frankly
puzzled. "Naw-Why should II"
81 thought so! Oh, Benny! Why
are you doing all this? For my
sake, Benny?" the girl cried, her
voice shaking. Jumping up from
her chair at the desk, she aban-
doned her notebook and pencil and
ran to the boy. 81 know you're just
making it all up, Benny darling!
Why, why?"
"He he at detective Benny
sobbed-"told me yesterday I'd bet
ter come clean, or you-you'd be
arrested for murder"
"Oh!" Ruth cried, her blue eyes
blazing scorn at the embarrassed
detective. Then, to the boy, sooth-
ingly: Dear Benny, I told you yes
terday I was in no danger"
But after he'd sent you for Min
ME, he said you was, n just didn't
know it, n all last night n this
mornin' I studied how I could get
you out of it, cause I'm just kid
n they wouldn't 'lectrocute me"
The boy broke off, sobbing heart
brokenly.
The door opened. Mrs. Smiths
here, sir"
But Benny's mother waited for no
permission. A small woman, her
sharp-featured face framed in
frizzly waved light-brown hair,
pushed past Detective Birdwell and
ran to the sobbing boy.
Benny Smith, if you wasn't sick,
I'd spank you right here in front
of these folksl" she scolded the boy
sharply, but Ruth knew that the
sharpness covered acute maternal
anxiety. st mighta known you'd
pull some stunt like this, minute
my back was turned!"
Then she whirled upon Detective
Sergeant McMann. Are you the
detective, mister? i. Well, hope
you're satisfied! You and your
third-degree have run my boys
fever up till it's something awful!
Il didn't get a wink of sleep last
night, listening to this poor child
rave about keepin' Miss Lester out
of jail! The doctor and my girl
friend, Mrs Thompson, who helped
me set up with him and hold him
in bed, can tell you how he took on
-ravin' in fever he was-about
confessin' so this Lester girl
wouldn't have to go to jail"
"DLEAsE, please, Mrs. SMITH"
a. NIcNIann at last succeeded in
stopping the torrent of words. I'm
very sorry indeed if anything said
to Benny yesterday gave him the
impression that I was about to arrest
Miss Lester Now, I think we'd
better call an ambulance and have
this boy taken to the hospital. I'm
afraid he's a pretty sick young
ster."
After Benny, who HAD lapsed into
a fever stupor, had been removed
on city hospital ambulance
stretcher, the whole proceeding
frantically recorded by newspaper
cameras outside the Borden suite,
wet-eyed girl faced flushed,
penitent detective across the dead
mans desk.
Pretty rotten, I know" McRTann
admitted defensively, dropping his
eyes to the sheaf of notes he was
shuffling between his thick fingers,
"but if the police didn't use old
fashioned methods occasionally, we
wouldn't solve half the crimes we
do. Don't like EN- myself, but"
He paused and shrugged.
Leaves us pretty much where
we we're before Benny burst in on
us, doesn't it? If you'll pardon my
language, Miss Lester, this is a hell
of a case! Of course I knew the
kid was lying before he'd been CON
Tossing five minutes! :. +. Well,
better go to lunch, child. It's after
by George! It's half-past!"
Ruth rose, her notebook with its
stenographic report of Benny's
chivalrous lies held against her
breast, tenderly. She would tran
scribe every word of them, keep
the record always. "And-may Mr..
Hayward go with me?"