The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-07

!
have, and since know Jack wasn't
in the Starbridge Building after two
o'clock Saturday until nine this
morning, l know his name is not on
the register. That's true, isn't 1T"
EYES," McMann admitted. But he |
could have walked down to the base
ment without using the elevator, or
without being seen by the one man
on duty after four o'clock Saturday."
"And that exit door to the court is
kept locked" Ruth cried. 1T had to |
be unlocked for me. The porter in
the basement had to send for Mr..
Coghlan, the superintendent. in or
der to get the key to unlock it. Fur
thermore, Jack never had the key to
this office, so he could not have
come here Saturday night or Sum |
day and gained access to Mr.. Dor.
denis office, even if he could have
entered the building and left it un-
observed by the elevator man. You
must believe me when l tell you that
the key which the waiter picked up
and handed to Jack was the key to
m apartment. not my office key.
No, Mr.. McMann, you're on the
wrong scent. Please believe me,
please keep an open mind for some
theory which will explain all the
facts"
"And one of those facts" McMann
pointed out, sis that Harry Borden
fired a shot which grazed brick in
the wall beside Jack HayWArd's win
dow"
"And what does that prove
against Jack?" Ruth challenged.
"Ill grant that Mr.. Borden was
standing near that window when he
was killed, but how can you be sure
that he was facing the window when
he took aim? If his murderer-or
murderess-fired at him in this Of
flee. isn't it easy to picture Mr.. Bor-
den's arm flying out, after he was
hit. so that the bullet with which he
had meant to kill his attacker, was
discharged through the window?
Why assume that he had aimed ut
someone in Jacks window? There
was simply nowhere else for the bull
let to go"
"Just a minute!" McMann inter-
rupted. Detective Birdwell opened
the door between the private office
and the outer office. "What is it,
Birdwell?"
commissioner Weeks on the wire
from headquarters, sir"
McMann reached for the instru-
ment on Borden's desk, but before he
removed the receiver, he spoke to
Ruth: "That's all for the present,
Miss Lester. Please remain in the
outer office till I need you again.
You might open and sort the after
noon mail. I'll take charge Of it and
. 20 over it later, of course"
AS Ruth slipped through the door
which Birdwell held for her she
, heard the detective sergeant greet
his superior, the police commission
i. ter.
Sickly she realized what that call
, from the head of the police depart
, ment meant. Commissioner Weeks
) was famous for his choleric temper,
) his impatient demand for quick re-
< suits, especially in sensational cases
. like the murder of Handsome Har-
t ry" Borden. His motto seemed to be
j, ARREST somebody = anybody - and
: find out the truth later" In this
: particular case, Jack Hayward would
( undoubtedly be the victim OF Com.
missioner Weeks avid appetite fol
t newspaper praise.
e Fifteen minutes later, as she sal
d at her desk, trying to concentrate
$ upon the thick sheaf Of correspond
! ence addressed to man who woult
S never read it, Police Commissions
= Weeks arrived.
h Ruth knew the commissions
n personally. In the old days, befor'
d her fathers death, Weeks had occa
{. sionally dined with the famous Grim
j. inal lawyer, Colby Lester. She ros
and faced the tall, lean, distinguish
Is ed-looking man who had barked on
= curt greeting to Detective Bird
)! we'll.
/! "How do you do, Mr.. Weeks ?" sh
m faltered, trying to make her trem
X bling lips smile naturally. Il won
der if you remember me!"
Light sprang into Commissions
l. Weeks cold eyes; . broad smil
* flashed suddenly beneath his stubh
n white mustache. Remember 70!
ii child 2" he exclaimed cordially, tai
D. ing her cold little hand in both hi
"Who could forget your pretty face
il. You're Colby Testers daughter,
Is course. And while I'm mighty so
err ry that you're dragged into this mil
n cradle business, I'm glad to see yc
ed again. How are you, my dear!"
We "Well, and-very happy" Ruth 81
cd swercd steadily. 'You see, N
a. weeks. I'm engaged to be marri,
g- to a man love with all my heart
ed Mr.. John G. Hayward: I'm going
W. invite you to my wedding.
ed Hayward? :" the commissioners =
tn peated, his eyes going cold and pa
i" again. "Isn't that the young man
ID oh, hello, McMann! I'm renewing
II old friendship with little Ruth lie
on ter"
ok =
On Ruth sank slowly into her cha
"a as the two mer,--the detective sc
las reant in charge of the investigate
his into the murder Of Henry T. Botds
ker and Police Commissioner Weeks
no passed into Borden's private OFT
ow and closed the door behind the
/ Had she helped or injured Jacl
my chances by her desperate, indire
lad appeal to man who had never be
ent known to permit friendship 70 INT!
The fere with tho performance Of
duty? 'Well-and her body sag1
uld tiredly-she had done her best
not Jack. -.
hts The next hour was . niehtms
ent !. suspense for Ruth Lester: g. tr'