New Britain herald., 1929-02-25

| 8dtus wv . &ooA aVs0Sts tsAt0s Seh live been unavoidably detained. What time is it?' l told him 1t was F minutes after two. and he swore a blue streak. and then he said we'd have to take . later train and for mo to come on up to the office, that we'd make new plans when I got there"
 McMann drowned and tapped his pencil against the dead mans desk. Ruth knew that he was trying to fit the dancers testimony into his theory of Jack Hayward as Bor. den's murderer. She wanted to remind him that he had her own corroboration Of Jacks alibi-that he had rejoined her at the Chester Hotel at 10 minutes after two. But she realized, miserably. that more than her own word would bs need ed to make McMann believe in tha, alibi. Even jury would hesitate to accept the word Of . girl fighting for the life of the man she loved, when that word was the sole sup- port Of his alibi.
 "Wel, Rita, go on," McMann di- rected at last. You came. and you were hopping mad, too. weren't you?"
 Well, wasn't what you might call delirious with delight" Rita admitted flappantly. Then her eyes widened with, fear. Say. what are you trying to do? Pin something on me: We'll, you've got a fat chance. old dear. because ! didn't even see Harry, much less bump him off, If that's what you're insnuating."
 McMann's thin lips twisted in that slow. crooked grin of his. Stick to your story, Rita. When did you get here? What hap pened?"
 The dancers hands cripped each other so tightly that a knuckle cracked. Her big black eyes flashed from McMann's heavy. erinning face 10 Ruth's pale one. as if seeking help. Then, on 2 quickly drawn breath. Rita an- swered: T came right over from the station. just a block away. Just took time to check my bagd. I suppose l was here within five minutes after I hung up tho re- Ceivcr."
 You got here about IS or 2O minutes after two, then?" McMann asked, with pencil poised.
 Rita shrugged. T guess 70. Maybe a minute or two sooner-I don't know. I knocked on the door and there wasn't any answer. ' knocked several times and then tried the knob and found the door i locked. so - l went away again. There wasn't anything else to do." she added defiantly.
 ''Of course not" McMann agreed blandly. Nothing to do but to turn right around and go right back home. and wait for Borden to call you there. So that's what you did. eh?"
 Yes" the dancer agreed eagerly and fell headlong into McMann' ! trap.
 Then. Rita" McMann asked. as Ruth leaned forward tenseiy. "how do you account for the fact that you spent at least 10 minutes on tho seventh floor?'
 "I didn't!" Rita denied recklessly 1 Ruth could hardly suppress a gasp of relief. Now. at least, Rita Dubois was lying. Micky Moran. the elevator operator. had testified that after taking the dancer to the seventh floor he had spent at least 10 minutes in tho telephone booth in the lobby of the Starbridge Building. in conversation with his girl. But. of course, Rita could not know this
 Suddenly an incident which sho had completely forgotten until that moment recurred to Ruth Lester like flash of lightning across a dark sky. Please. Mr. McMann," , she cried, her voice quivering with excited hope. may I speak with you privately for a minute?" The detective led the trembling girl to a far corner of Borden's of- flee, while Rita stared after them with enormous. frightened black eyes.
 i've just remember something, Mir. McMann," Ruth whispered. as the big man bent low to listen Saturday morning. when MT. Bor den was in the outer office with Rita. he waved goodby to her with the torn half of a yellow-bac cked | banknote. I didn't see the denom . ination. and I didn't think much of it at the time, but now I believe l know what had happened. and what Mir. Borden meant when he said that about keeping his part of the ! bargain if she kept hers" I "Yes, yes" McMann urged impa- | ticntly, as Ruth paused for breath. I'm sure now that they had been scuffling playfully. Rita trying to take tke bill away from him. and tearing it in two. I'm surc-sure! that he let her keep half of the torn bill. and had promised to give her the other half after she'd kept her promise about - about going away with him.
 "Well?" McMann grunted, frown- ing in deep concentration.
 "Oh, don't you see?" Ruth inn plored. If she's telling the truth l if she really didn't see Mir. Borden again. she still has her half Of the 1 bill! But I believe she's lying! believe MT. Borden was alive when she came. and that he either gave her the other half of the bill, az he l had undoubt edly promised he would, or that-that they quarreled because he wouldn't. and she 1 She-"s
 Her whispering voice faltered She could not bring herself to utter an accusation of murder. "Oh. Mir McMann, please believe i'm not