The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-09

L OF the puzzle tOKether. When
Ruth mentions Ashes and Min.
MES testimony about the mys-
teriOus woman with the beau
tiful contralto voice" Jack
bushes and starts violently.
X X *
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XXXIV
"Nothing's the matter!" Jack
Hayward denied, with peculiar en-
phasis. "What were you going to. say
about the woman with the contralto
voice."
"You started and blushcd-and
you're still blushing," Ruth accused
him wonderingly, and little jeal-
ously. 'I'm sure my description re-
minded you of someone you know"
"What about this woman with the
voice." Jack cvaded, reaching for
the poker, SO that Ruth could not
see his eyes.
The girl stared at him, bewildered
and. hurt, then answered steadily, a
little coldly: "You were present this
morning when I told Mr.. McMann
ABOUT telephone call for Mr.. Dor.
den at 10 o'clock Saturday morning
was familiar with the voice call.
ing then, for the woman had tele-
phoned several. times during the
four months l worked for Mr.. Dor.
den. He always refused to talk with
her, though she never gave me heI
name.
Saturday morning Mr.. Borden
came in a minute or two after l had
hung up the receiver, and when ]
told him that the woman with the
beautiful contralto. voice had called
he said: That voice may sound beau
tiful to you, but believe me, I'd
rather listen to riveting machine,
or words to that effect"
"Not enough to hang her on
Jack commented drily, still poking
needlessly at the fire.
"Of course not, DEAR" Ruth an.
swered reasonably, though her voice
trembled slightly. But the story
Minnie Cassidy told definitely brings
the woman with the contralto voice
into the puzzle. While Minnie was
cleaning in our offices shortly after
half-past one Mr.. Borden left his
office for minute or two, asking
Minnie to stay until he returned
since he had no key and didn't want
her to 60 away and leave the door
unlocked for him. While he was gone
the phone rang, Minnie answered
told the woman to hold the wire
When Mr.. Borden returned, he askee
her to describe the voice of the wom
an calling, and Minnie did so, say
ing the woman had a lovely, sweet
voice, like an alto singer, as she put:
it. At first Mr.. Borden told hel
CURLY to hang up the receiver, ther
considered moment, and directed
her to tell the woman to call agar
in Is or 20 minutes"
| \ \ \ ~
"Well" Jack said impatiently, a,
Ruth paused.
"The woman, so Minnie says, CAV,
her this message for Mr.. Borden
Tell Mr.. Borden that if he is wise
he will talk to me when I cal
again."
Jack shrugged. mot nearly S,
definite threat as ! made agains
the man." Then, as Ruth stared a
him with wide, hurt eyes: IF your
thinking. that the woman with tn
voice made her final telephone cal
over my phone, I'm afraid l can
see It. Fifteen or 20 minutes ate
Minnie's. conversation with the lad
Of the voice, was in my office my
SELF.
| II. hadn't reached that conclusio
Iyet," Ruth said slowly, coldly. "Bu
Your reasoning strikes me as littl
odd. The woman could not hav
known that Mr.. Borden had a trai
to make, hence may have delayed
little until she reached the Star
bridge Building. Jack! Look at me!
she commanded with sudden urger
Icy. you're probably the world
clumSiest deceiver. It's written q
lover your face that you know some
thing about this woman. Is this an
time to conceal that knowledge frol
me? It's for your sake, remember!
Jack shrugged, then laughed RI,
fully. "1'll never be able to get ava
with anything, with wife like yol
u. And may have q kiss to mal
up for all I'm going to suffer ,
your hands in the future? u. Umn
-. Now, darling, initiate that vois
for me as perfectly as you can.
know you're good mimic. +,
heard you take off Borden, Benin
old Minnie Cassidy, and poor, tim
Lefty Miller. Go to it, sweet"
Ruth laughed, happy again, ths
Ishe enunciated in thr0aty contra
to: THANK you SO much, my del
Mr.. Hayward! You are too kind