The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-23
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it contained. "That so? What gave
you that impression, Miss Lester Z"
"A big, notwithstanding man
whom Mr.. Borden called jake
never heard his last name-was in
and out Of the offices frequently
i and Mr.. Borden always saw him, y
Ruth answered eagerly. "And IL Z
new threat had been received in the
mail. Mr.. Borden always called for
the folder when Jake made his next
visit. Frequently, also, when Mr..
Borden was still in his offices when
/ left. ! saw Jake hanging around
in the hall, as il waiting to protect
Mr.. Borden. At least, that is the
only explanation could think Of"
McMann frowned in intense con-
centration. Then: "Did this Jake
have 4 key to the offices, Miss Les
teri"
Ruth shook her head. II don't
know. I don't know anything else
about him at all. OF course never
asked Mr.. Borden any questions, and
he never volunteered any informa-
ton"
i \ =
McMann left the room, apparent
| ~ to give instructions to Detective
Birdwell in the outer office, then re-
turned and began to study the let.
tiers again, frowningly. "Nothing re.
cent here" he said at last, closing
the folder, "but Of course I'll put a
man on this job. Something may
turn up, but I doubt it. Now let's see
these cancelled checks. You checked
his bank statements for him, I sup
pose? :"
eyes. It was difficult, for he sell
dom made an entry on q check stub,
and when / questioned him about q
blank stub in an effort to keep the
record straight so that he would not
overdraw, he would say, oh, I don't
know! Two or three hundred, guess.
Just charge it to "cash."' Sometimes
he drew as much as two or three
thousand dollars out of the bank in =
single week"
"Any checks to women?" McMann
demanded. =.
"Only to Mrs. Borden" Ruth told
him.
$50. Handsome Harry was no
woman's FOOL" McMann approved,
smiling crookedly. "Any charge ac-
counts for his lady friends?"
Again Ruth shook her head. "No,
not in his name at least. But from
what he said to Rita Dubois on Sat-
urday I gathered that he had given
her letters to the credit managers Of
several shops. I imagine the ac-
counts were to be opened in her
name, with his name as guarantee
Of payment, but Of course I can't be
"Just one of the little points that
Rita can clear up for US" McMann
commented dryly. "By the way, how
long had Borden's affair with the
dancer been going on?
II don't think it had really begun"
Ruth answered honestly. "From
what overheard between them on
Saturday and from. what Mr.. Borden
said after Rita had left"
"What did he say?" McMann in
terrupted sharply.
"Something about 'they all fall
sooner or later and that he liked
them when they weren't too easy"
Ruth answered, flushing. "He met
Rita Dubois at the Golden Slipper
about three weeks ago, and was in
fatuated with her from the first"
"And she with him :"
Ruth's., flush deepened. "N-no.
She hated for him even to touch her
hand. was surprised that she had
agreed to 60 to Winter Haven with
him Saturday"
there's something else, Miss Les
ter. Out with til"
"Well," Ruth admitted reluctantly,
.she practically admitted to me that
she was gold-digging Mr.. Borden.
That was Saturday morning. She
noticed the change in my appear
ance, too, and charged me, good
naturally, with having 'dolled up to
'vamp' Mr.. Borden. She laughed
then, and said I could have him next
week. implying that she would get
all she wanted out Of him over the
weekend. Then she warned me not
to tell Borden what she had said.
replied by telling her Of my engage
ment to Mr.. Hayward. Mr.. Borden
came out Of his private office then
and ended the conversation between
Miss Dubois and myself"
a..ak =
"Hmm!" McMann frowned, as he
scrawled notes on . sheet Of yellow
paper. mo wonder she was sore
when he. stood her up Now, Miss
Lester. I'd like YOU to tell me, il you
can, who preceded Rita Dubois in
Borden's affections. There was some.
one, Of course?"
Ruth. hesitated, loath to involve
another woman, probably As limo.
cent as herself Of Borden's murder,
but she realized that now, when the
shadow Of arrest hung over the man