The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-04
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER v

Lord, darling! thought you
were never coming. Just one more
minute and I'd have gone in after
you," Jack Hayward greeted the
beautiful girl who ran out of Bor-
denis office to Join him at the eleva-
tor. "Did that beast"
"Sh!" Ruth warned. "Look!" Here
comes Minnie and Lefty, Juggling their
brooms and scrub pals. poor things!
I wonder if they'll recognize me ?
-. Hello, Minnie! Lefty! Aren't
you going to speak to me ?"
The two calico-clad, gray-haired,
stoop-shouldered, old women who
had been gossiping together as they
plodded down the hall, stopped and
stared. then sgrinned humbly, spolos
getically.
"They really don't know metz
Ruth laughed, hugging Jacks arm
delightedly.
The older Of the two women
nudged her companion with her
broom handle. cts Miss Lester. Let
ty! New, don't that beat all? Ye've
took your specs off, amt you, dear.
lie? My, what a change! Lefty, may
be If US girls 'ud take off our specs
we'd catch US q beau, too, Ell :" and
Minnie cackled shrill mirth at the
idea.
Lefty Miller shook her gray head
slowly, a resigned smile ripping
across her pale, lined face. Reckon
our day Is over, Minnie. But It's
nice to see q young couple sweet
heartin,: one as handsome as the
other"
"Just for that, Letty!" Jack laugh
ed, drew a dollar bill out Of his
pocket, and tucked it into the torn,
sagging pocket Of the calico dress.
The arrival Of the elevator cut
short his cleaning woman's eager
thanks. As they stepped into the car,
Ruth squeezed her sweethcart's arm
and whispered with mock severity:
"Prodigal! Don't you know you've
got to save money now But it was
dear Of you'll"
As the car shot down to the main
floor Micky Moran, the elevator OPP
orator, commented with impadent
frankness on Ruth's changed appear
ance, and It. amused the girl to zee
how jealously Jack resented the
boys familiarity. Imagine being
jealous Of Micky! They were pass
ing through the lobby Of the office
building when Ruth suddenly re-
membered that she had left her saw
ings bank book in the office.
"Wait here for me, darling" she
told Jack. II forgot something. Be
right back. No, don't come up with
me" and she darted back into the
elevator.
A few precious seconds were lost
while she fished in her handbag for
her key. Darn Harry Borden any,
way! Afraid to stay alone in his own
offices Il the outer door was un-
locked! Praying that he would not
hear her, she ran to the filing cabi.
net and pulled out . folder marked
Ruth Lester-Personal."
The bank book was not there. She
went through the contents Of the
folder twice, then darted to her desk
and searched through the two top
drawers ullsuccessf''sly. From Bor-
denis office came the rumble Of hid
voice. Probably he was talking over
the phone. Whirling hack to the I'll
ing cabinet, she dug into half dor.
en- folders with panicky Aimlessness.
At last, aftsr 1t least five or six
precious minutes had been wasted,
she found the thin brown booklet ID
the folder devoted to her employers
returued checke and hank statementa
AZ, she thrust the pasobook into
her handbag she heard The sound ID
. reeelvee beine slammed upon IL
hook. Ia her haste b b eono -.
Tore Harry Borden could come out
TO investigate, she jerIed open the
|cuter door 90 violently that Il
struck her across the mouth.
She was painting ! littls, ha,
handkefehio4 pressed 70 her bruises
lip, viva to elevator. which she ~
jhet ai9naled, STOPPED IS her Aoos
|ono Jock hayward eJn6tgod, his lok(
w Nh1fA. h. GyeG stormy with m.
| o. AnA fear.
what Kept you = long! why
RUTH WHAT'S wrong9 You're cry
|tnele And almoot. roughly. - Aic&,
Moran looked Oh, Jark pulled Ruth'i
hand from her mouth and NV 81.