The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-06
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER W.T.

4NOW uO YIN WITH lHE SlUk1
CHAPTER VII
Slowly, her feet feeling as stiff
and cold as the thing that lay on
t. 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, unwinking blue
eyes could not tear themselves away
from the sight which filled them
the PROSTATE 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 blackness of his UNI
ruff!ed hair, was pillowed upon his
flung left arm, so that he looked
Eassif he slept. But the rigid stiffness
OF that crumpled body was not the
peace of sleep. From beneath the
slightly raised right shoulder-he
mad fallen upon his side-something
which had once been warm and red
had spurted, forming dark, irregu-
iarly shaped pool, dry now at the
edges.
Her cropping hand found the door
knob. and she chung to it, swaying
dizzily for a moment. Then, frenzy
taking the place Of stunned horror,
she banged the door upon that
chastity sight and staggered across
her own office, both hands reaching
for the outer door.
| When she had come in, she had
LETT it on the latch, so that visitors
to the office might gain access, and
as she let it swing shut behind her
fleeing, horror-driven figure, she
had the impulse, born Of long habit,
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 be-
yond Borden's, turned the corner,
raced on.
From the very first moment of
discovery there had been only one
thing she could do. She must see
Jack. The journey along the two cor
rldors had never seemed long to her
before, but now she felt as il she
would never reach the man she was
engaged to, the man who. But as
Il something too frightful for con-
temptation were pushing upward
from her sub-conscious mind, she
veered her thoughts.
Two men who had offices in Jacks
wing of the Starbridge Building
looked at the white-faced, running
girl. but she did not see them, did
not hear one of them call out to her.
II she had, she would not have an
swered. No one but Jack would do
now, and he Oh, no, no!
| She found his outer office door
closed, but not locked, tore it open,
gasped out Jacks name to the girl
who was calmly opening mail.
Mr.. Hayward? Yes, he's here, or
rather, he's in the building. Just
stepped out Of the office q minute,
Won't you wait for him." Miss
Barnes asked, her light-brown eyes
taking Ruth in curiously, then with
q little cynical half smile, which be-
trayed her thought that the engaged
couple had quarreled already. "Go
right into his private office, Miss
Lester. I'll see il ] can find him for
You. ! think he went into the type
writer agency next door"
Ruth had no power to listen, did
not know that she shut the door OF
Jacks private office upon the un-
completed sentence Of his secretary.
Gasping, her hand pressing hard up
on her heart, she sank down into
Jacks desk chair, her whole body
trembling 50 that the chair quivered
and squeaked.
II only Jack would come! Come
quickly and take her in his arms,
and tell her what to do, tell her that
he hadn't Oh, no; not that! She
mustn't 90 mad, with so much to
do. -. Afterwards, Ruth had no
memory Of reaching ! shaking hand
down. down, to the bottom drawer
Of Jack Hayward's desk, no memory
at al Of jerking il open. But there
memory began, recording moment
Of such transcendent horror as Wal
never to be entirely erased from heI
mind.
Every finger Of her cropping hand
seemed to have n eye, q If hel
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