New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-03-09
THIS HAS HAPPENED

Ruth Lester. secretary. finds the
body of her employer. Handsome
Harry" Borden, Monday morning.
sprawled beneath the airshaft win
DOW of his private office. He was
shot between one and four Saturday
afternoon. McMann. detective SER
geant, questions the following sus-
poets: Ruth. Mrs. Borden, Borden's
estranged wife and mother of his
two children; Rita Dubois, night
club dancer. with whom Borden wa )
infatuated; Jack Hayward, Ruth's
fiance, whose office is across the
narrow airshaft from Borden's.
McMann's belief in Jacks guilt Is
strengthened by the testimony of the
elevator boys, Micky Moran and Otto
Pluger, and of Bill Cowan, Jacks
friend, who says he heard Jack
threaten Borden's life Saturday
morning. Detectives are sent out to
bring in Cleo Gilman. Borden's dis
carded mistress, and Jake Bailey,
his bodyguard.
McMann questions Benny Smith.
Borden's office boy; Ashe, his man
servant; Minnie Cassidy. scrubwo-
man. who cleans the Borden suite,
and Lefty Miller, who cleans Jacks
office.
McMann shows Ruth new-made
scar in the brick wall beside Jacks
window, also a flattened bullet
found on the cement seven flights
below. He says Borden fired this
bullet too late in self-defense, at his
murderer who stood in Jacks WIN
dow Jack, not yet arrested but
Swallowed by detective, goes to
Huth's apartment that evening
where they review the events OF the
day in an attempt to fit bits of the
puzzle together. When Ruth men,
tons Ashes and Minnie's testimony
about the mysterious woman with
the beautiful contralto voice. Jack
bushes and starts violently.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER NNNiN
"Nothng'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-anl
you're still blushing,' Ruth ac-
cused him wonderingly, and little
Jealously I'm sure my dcscrip-
ton reminded you of someone you
know
What about this woman with the
voice 90 Jack evaded, reaching tor
the poker SO that Ruth could not
see his eyes.
The girl stared at him, Devil
dcred and hurt, then answered
steadily. "a little coldly: You were
present this morning when l told
Mr.. McMann about a telephone call
for Mr. Borden at 10 o'clock Satur-
day morning. | VAS familiar with
the voice calling then, for the
woman had tclephoned several
times during the four months !
worked for Mr.. Borden. He always
refused to talk with her. though
she never gave me her 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
beautiful to you. but believe me,
Id rather listen to a riveting ma
chine or words to that effect
Not enough to hang her on
Jack commented drily, still pokins
:ecdlessly at the fire.
cot course not dcar,' Ruth an
swcrcd reasonably though her
voice trembIed slightly. But the
Story Minnie Cassidy told definitely
brings the woman with the con-
,ralto voice into the puzzle. While
Minnie was cleaning in our offices
shortly after half-past one Mr.. Bor-
den left his office for a minute or
two, asking Minnie to stay until he
returned. since he had no key and
didn't want her 10 so 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 asked her to describe
the voice of the woman calling. and
Minnie did so. saying the woman
had a lovely. sweet voice. like an
alto singer, as she puts it. At first
Mr.. Borden told her. curly to hang
Up the receiver, then considered a
moment, and directed her to tell
the woman to call again in Is or
20 minutes"