The Bismarck tribune., 1929-02-09

when she caught sight of that which
lay huddled and still on the floor.
For dreadful second that seemed
eternal Ruth thought the widow was
|going to kneel in that horrible
,brownish, drying pool of blood, but
she must have seen it just in time,
for she shuddered away from it,
then flung her body down beside
that of the man who had been her
husband and the father Of her chill
dren.
Ruth tried to tear her eyes away,
so that she might not see that lift
ing Of the stiffened face, the cra-
ding Of it upon bosom Harry Bor-
den had scorned in life and come
back to in death.
McMann stood by, grimly watch
ing that heart-breaking tableau, lis
t, ing for the widow to betray her.
self. But the only words that came
were choked endearments, spaced by
shuddering sobs and means Of grief.
At last the detective bent over the
kneeling woman and gently forced
h: convulsively clinging hands from
the dead face. With considerable
care, McMann restored the body to
its exact former position, while
Ruth on one side of her and Jack on
the other half carried the widow into
the outer office.
McMann Joined the group, and,
for him, spoke softly to the col
lapsed figure in the chair. "Mrs.
Borden, why did you come to see
your husband this morning?"
Mrs. Borden raised a shaking
hand and passed it over her dazed
eyes. "Please! I feel-faint. I'll be
b.tter in moment"
I'll get you drink" Ruth Of
fered pityingly, eagerly. As she ran
to the water cooler in the corner
sh' had mental picture Of per-
forming that same service for Mrs.
Borden on Saturday, saw herself
pulling open the stuck bottom draw
er of the desk, with Mrs. Borden's
assistance, saw again the blue-black
automatic lying on a stack Of clean
towels, heard again her own hur-
ried explanation to Mrs. Borden of
the guns presence there. -.
Thank you, MiSs-oh, yes, Miss
Lester. You're very kind. Will you
tell me why-he-killed himself.
SIR" Mrs. Borden addressed the de-
tective with an effort, after she had
moistened her lips with the water
Ruth had brought.
my question first, please, Mrs.
Borden" McMann answered. "Why |
did you come to see your husband
this morning? You have had ample |
time to think of good reason"
"Oh!" Ruth cried, but Jack, tax
ing her hand and pressing it hard, |
warned her to silence.
Mrs. Borden stiffened. "I came
this morning to tell my-my hus-
band that our daughter, Betty, is ill. |
Harry-Mr. Borden-is-was very
fond Of Betty, and Betty of him."
"You were here Saturday, Mrs.
Borden? Was Betty ill them"
"Oh, no, she was quite we'll then,
but Betty is delicate, easily upset. |
She awoke this morning with q fe-
yer, and cried for her-her father"
II see," McMann said, with appar-
ent sympathy. "You came Saturday
morning and were told Mr.. Borden
was busy and that you had better
come back later?"
EYES,"
''You said you would return about
half-past one?" McMann pressed.
"And did,"
Il did. Harry-Mr. Borden"
"Just minute, Mrs. Borden! How
did you get in? With your own
latchkey?"
Humiliation flooded the woman's /
face with scarlet. "I-had no latch
key, Mr.. McMann. Mr.. Borden. and
I-were-living. apart. I came to
give Mr.. Borden news of our chill.
dren and Toto"
ITO get your monthly allowance
check for $500, which he stipulated
that you must ask for in person on
the fifteenth day Of the month, with
out fail?"
The color became mottled on Mrs.
Borden's thin cheeks. "Yes, sir. l
knocked on the door. then when no I
one answered, I realized that Miss
Lester had gone for the day and
that Harry-Mr. Borden-was in his /
private office. I tried the door and
found it locked, then knocked quite
loudly. He came and-and let me