New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-02-06
THIS HAS HAPPENED

THIS HAS HAPPENED
Ruth Lester. beautiful secretary
to Handsome Harry" Borden, pro-
moter Of dubious stock companies.
be comes engaged to Jack Hayward,
whose office is just across the mar
row airshaft from Borden's.
On a Saturday morning in Janu-
airy, Borden has two women callers
The first is Rita Dubois. night club
dancer, who is to accompany him
for a week end at Winter Haven.
The second caller is Mrs. Borden.
Borden's wife and mother of his two
children. who comes for her month
ly alimony which the promoter
forces her to ask him for in per
son.
Learning her husband is busy she
agrees to return. but before leaving
glimpses pistol in Ruth's desk.
Rita leaves and Borden waves good
by with a torn bank note, remind
ing her of her bargain
While Ruth takes dictation. Bor-
den makes a playful pass at her and
she screams. attracting Jacks attcn-
ton in the opposite office. Jack Is
furious and threatens Borden across
the. airshalt. He is still angry when
Ruth meets him for lunch. Ruth
forgets her bank book and rushcs
back to the office where she bruises
her lip. Jack believes Borden hurt
her but Ruth insists he is wrong. At
the luncheon table Jack says he left
their thcater tickets on his desk
and returns for them. He is gone
20 minutes. returning strangely or.
turbed. This mood persists through
ont the matinee and rcappcars again
hen he calls Sunday night. At the
office Mouoday morning Ruth goes
into Bordcn's private office with
the window ledge. Her eyes fix in
horror on the thing sprawlcd near
the window on the floor.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER VII
Slowly. her feet feeling US stiff
anu fOlu DIS VIC 't'li'S t"dA IdN VII
the floor. Ruth Lester backed to-
ward the door which led into her
own office. her hand cropping for
the knob. in desperate need for
something to cling to. for her
whole world was whirling madly
about her. But her staring. un-
winking blue eyes could not tear
themselves away from tho sight
which filled them - the p, rate
body Of her employer. handsome
Harry" Borden.
Even in death he looked hand
some. His still face very white
against the POLISHED dark brown
wood Of the floor and in contrast
with the sleek blacIncss Of his un-
ruffled hair. was pillowed upon his
up flung left arm. SO that he looked
as it he slept. But the rigid still
ness of that crumpled body was not
the peace of sleep. From beneath
the slightly raised right shoulder
~ he had fallen upon his side -
something which had once been
warm and red had spurted. FORM
ing dark. irrcsularly shaped pool.
dry now at the edges.
Her cropping hand found the door
knob. and she CLING to it, swaying
dizzily for moment. Then. fren-
zy taking the place of stunned hor-
ror. she banged The door upon that
CHASTITY sight and staggered across
her own office. both hands reach Is
for the outer door.
when she had come in. she had
left it on the laSch. so that visitors
to the office might gain access. and
as she let It swirl shut behind her
fleeing. horror driven figure, she
had the impulse. born Of long hab-
it, to click on the latch. SO that no
one could enter during her absence.
Nobody can hurt him now. He
needn't be afraid of unlocked doors
any more" Ruth's mind babbled
crafty. as she ran down the hall,
past the suite of offices that lay
beyond Bordcn's, turned the cor
ner, raced on.
From the very first moment Of
discovery there had been only one
thing she could do She must Sc !.
Jack. The journey along the two
corridors had never seemed long
| to her before. but now she lslt as If
she would never reach the man she
was engaged to. the man who 4.
But as II something too frightful
for contemplation were pushing up
ward from her sub-conscious mind
she vcercd her thoughts.
Two men who had offices In
Jacks wing of the Starbridgc
Building looked at the white-faced
running girl. but she did not see
them. did not hear one of them call
out to her IF she had. she would
not have ansN cred. No one but
Jack would do nov. and he j..
oh. no. no,
She found his outer office door
closed. but not locked. tore IL opcu.
gasred out Jacks naur to The girl
" no WAS calmly opouing mail.
MIR. Hayward" Yes. he's here.
ar rather. he's in the building. Just
stepped ont Of tho office a minnie.
Won't you wait for him?" Miss