The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-16
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VVEES 1920 By hEA Service Inc. bgANNE AUSTIN -

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over to her hotel with her-always
acted pretty ritzy with hinl-that
dame did. So him and me hoped
into another cab come over to his
Office. Said he was dopin' out a
new scheme and wanted to work
awhile before goin' to the Golden
Slipper
And did you come up with hirn?"
Sure! Harry wouldn't go into
his own Office at night alone, if he
could help it, Scared some sucker
who was sore at him because he'd
lost his money might be layin' for
him, or this dame here" and Jake
jerked his head toward Martha
Manning. 81 come up all right, and
we set here awhile, chewin' the rag
told me about this dancin' baby
he was gonna take to Winter Ha-
ven with him Saturday, if he could
get her boss to let her off,"
How long were you with Bor-
den?"
"Oh, bout half an hour, / guess, .
Jake answered readily. II didn't
have ,nothin' to do but kill time be-
fore my train left-9 "a. that was.
Must a-been round nine when /
beat it--sure, that's when it was!
Eight f1fty-f1ve! I remember ask
ing the elevator man what time it
was, when heshoved his book at
me to sign out. They make you
write down the time and your name
and the Office you've been in"
"DLEASE, Mr.. McMann, may I
Il ask a question:" Ruth spoke for
the first time since Jake Bailey had
entered the room. "I've just been
wondering how Mr.. Borden got into
his Office, since he'd given his key
tc Rita Dubois Friday afternoon and
never did get it back"
That's right" McMann agreed,
rather ungraciously. He did not
enjoy having been caught mapping.
How did Borden get in, Jake?"
Check, kidd" and Jake touched
his forehead in a salute to Ruth.
Harry didn't remember till he got
to his door that he didn't have a
key, and since I never had one my
self, he had to hunt up one of the
old James that cleans the Offices to
let him in with her passkey.
He couldn't find the old lady
that took care of his Office regular,
and had to prove who he was by
shown letter with his name on it
to the woman secuted around and
found for him.
Hmm! Lefty Miller, I suppose.
She's the only other cleaning wo-
man on the fioor,'' McMann COM
mented, as he made a note. Where
did you find her?"
"Down the hail." Bailey answered
promptly. said she wasn't &C
ouainted with the tenants on this
corridor, but wa5 jist helpin' out the
old lady who belongs on this part
of the floor
For the first time in many min
utes McMann addressed a question
to Martha Manning: did you see
this scrubwornan yourself, Miss
Manning?"
The contralto voice was quite
steady. mo. AS I told you before,
saw no one. I was alone while I
waited for-this man"-and she
nodded scornfully toward Jake Bal
ley-"to leave: and no one but my
self was in the hall when I left after
seeing Mr.. Borden. The scrub
woman who admitted Mr.. Borden
must have finished her work in this
corridor before I had walked up the
stairs"
McMann peremptorily command
ed the amazed ex-pugilist to ST.
lence. You realize, Miss Man
ming" he said to the now calm but
burning eyed woman, that if Lefty
Miller tells me she was working on
this corridor while you claim you
we're III it your story will be blown
sky-high?"
I'm not afraid of anything that
this Lefty Miller may say" Martha
Manning retorted scornfully, for
I am telling the truth. I was here
II did wait until-this man had
left, I did have a talk with Mr..
Borden"
"Sayt'' Jake Bailey burst out, re-
CARELESS of McMann's Injunction.
Where. was you2 You wasn't in no
hall when I come out of here to
take the elevator"
mo, I wasn't. / was behind the
stairway door. holding it SLIGHTLY
aiar and watching you," Miss Man
ming assured him with cool triumph.
"Say!' Jake Bailey turned to Nc
Mann. you got the goods on that
dame, amt you?-and she's tryin'
to lie out of it, amt she? You got
proof she was in Harry's Office, and
she's irwin to make you believe it
was Friday night she was here and
not Saturday? That's right, amt
| it?"
NT'MANN grinned wryly. Sub
Iva stantially correct, Jake. We've