New Britain herald., 1929-02-21
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THIS HAS HAPPENED

moter of dubious stock companies. is murdered sometime between one and four o'clock Saturday after noon. His body is found Monday morning sprawled beneath the air. shaft window of his private office by his secretary. Ruth Lester. The scene of the investigation ts the of- flee of the victim. The first suspect questioned by Police Detective Me- Mann is Mrs. Borden. Borden's wife and mother of his two children. who admits calling Saturday after noon for her monthly alimony check.
 The second suspect is Ruth Les- ter. who admits Borden's attempted familiarity with her on Saturday morning but denies any knowledge of the crime. The elevator boys. Micky Moran and Otto Pfiuger. un- willingly cast suspicion on Ruth. They tell of her joining her fiance. Jack Hayward, at 1:20 Saturday. her almost immediate return alone to the Borden suite, and her subse- quent departure with bruised lip. The next suspect is Jack Hayward. whose office Is just across the nar- row airshaft from Borden's.
 Hayward explains his return to the seventh floor that fateful after noon by saying he left his and Ruth's matinee tickets on his desk. McMann strengthens the case against Jack by bringing in Bill Cowan. Jacks friend, who tells of hearing Jack threaten Borden Sat urday morning. Cowan further tells of calling Jack Saturday afternoon. of being plugged in on busy line and of hearing Borden's voice raised in violent anger. Phillips, waiter, who served Jack and Ruth Saturday at luncheon, is questioned. Benny Smith. Borden's office boy. and Rita Dubois. night club dancer and friend of Borden's, are sent for. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XIX
 Well, what about the office boy, Birdwell? Why the devil hasn't he shown up?" McMann demanded of his subordinate. after the waiter had been dismissed.
 Callahan traced the Smith fam lily to their new address, and has just phoned from the neighborhood sir" Birdwell answered wearily' "The boy, Benny Smith. is sick in bed. Callahan says the doctor has been there, and won't let the boy out of the house until the middle of the afternoon. if then"
 What's the matter with the boy?" McMann parked impatiently.
 Birdwell coughed. Upset stom. ach, it seems. The boy was sick this morning. but insisted on com ing down to the office. Callahan says. leaving tho house about half. past 10. At II he was back. and seemed so sick that his mother had d doctor in.'
 Benny sick!" Ruth marvelet to herself. Why. he has the con ,ti.ution of an OK! I wonder"
 Whatever 1t was she was abou Q ask herself was cut short b, "c.1anns next question. aimed a ''lrdwell: What about Rita Du hoiso Any word from Clay?"
 Yes. sir. Clay has traced he 10 the home of a friend of hers -s Miss Wilbur-Willette Wilbur. An other dancer. living with her moth CT at" and he consulted . mem orandum for the address,
 Then why doesn't he bring he in?" McMann demanded impa tiently.
 Birdwell refused te be hurried ''The girls are out, sir. accordini to Mrs. Wilbur. She says Mis- Dubois spent the night with he daughter, and that after breakfas this morning the two girls wen downtown together to do som shopping. They expected to hav' lunch with Mrs. Wilbur. and men tioned that they would Do back b, ono o'clock"
 well, I guess there's nothing t do but to wait" McMann admitte' grudginsiy. By the way. Bird we'll. Clay didn't tip off Mrs. Will bur that Rita was wanted by tn police. did he?"
 Btrdwell smiled slightly. 'No Clay! He's watching tho hous and has instructed the central tel ephons offlcs to plug in any call from or to tho Wilbur number O the phone I'm holding down ou hers. Just in case Mrs. Wilbu might try to warn the girl. yo know"
 "dood!" McMann applaudet That's all-no. send covey in { me. He's in 715 down the hall. 70 know. :. ., :. And now, Haywart another question. if you can spar tho time," he called out sarcasticall to the young man who stood at or of the two front windows, his arl about Ruth Lester's shoulders.
 "Yes?" Jack wheeled.
 "You've said you and Miss Le' ter attended . matinee. Which thu ater? When did the curtain [ up?"
 Ruth saw the drift of the que ton before 1t was apparent Jack, but there was nothing to C but to stand quietly in the circ of his arm as he answered:
 "The Princess Theater. The pis was Murder The curtain rose 2:45."
 .Murder.' Rather . neat e incidence, eh? hope you bo' -nioyed the show"
 Ruth, remembering how she h.
 cpl uncontrollably during u
 .oend act because the district a
 rney reminded her of her des
 'her, did not answer except VI:
 rrrvous flicker of her eyelashe
 ,l Jacks only response was
 Ftoning of his arm about Il
 -ri'a shoulders