The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-05
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widows alibi, his flying pencil
making notes of the detailed in
formation she gave him as to the
name of the theater, the time she
and her children had arrived there,
even the musical and dancing num-
bers of the prologue which had in
troduced the feature picture.
Ruth knew, as the detective left
the private off1e for a conference
with BirdwelI in the outer room,
that every detail of that alibi would
be carefully checked, that even Har-
ry Borden'S children would be pitt
lessly croSs-examined, but she had
little hope that Mrs. Borden's alibi
would be shaken-and, looking at
the sad-faced bereaved woman,
Ruth could not but be glad. -.
NFcMANN returned, sat down,
Iva again faced the widow, who
was standing, with one hand
clenched tightly upon the back of
the chair in which Minnie Cassidy
sat. She had refused a chair for
herself.
Mrs. Broden, Minnie Cassidy
here has corroborated what you said
about your, seeing her when you left
your husbands Office about ten min
utes to two on Saturday. But-she
also says that she saw you wiping
tears from your eyes. Is that true?"
The pale, once beautiful face quiz
cred, but the leaf-brown eyes were
steady. "It is true. I don't think
I ever left my husbands presence
after our Experimentation tears
in my eyes. I loved him, and grieved
that he would not return to me and
our children"
The detective looked at her stead
lily for a long time, then said abrupt
ly: That's all, Mrs. Borden. You
may go home to your children, but
of course you are not to leave town
and are to hold yourself available
for further questioning at any. time "
Thank you, Mrs. Borden said in
a low voice, as she turned toward
the door.
please, Mr.. Borden" Ruth
begged urgently, may I ask Mrs.
Borden just one question:" The
detective nodded, frowning slightly,
and Ruth turned eagerly toward
the murdered mans widow.
Mrs. Borden, I know it is painful
for you to have to think of such
things now, but won't you please
tell Mr.. McMann whether Mr.. Bor-
den-to your knowledge a
woman with a peculiarly beautiful
contralto voice?"
Color famed suddenly in the pale,
aristocratic face of Harry Borden's
widow. She drew in her breath
sharply, and her eyelids f1uttered,
before she answered, almost haught-
lily: II am afraid I can give you
little help along-those lines, Miss
Lester. Naturally Mr.. Borden's in
innate women friends were not
known to me--socially."
She opened the door, passed into
the outer Office, closed the door be-
hind her.
Ruth shrank in her chair as if
the widows words had been blows
in her face. But beneath the throD
of humiliation two things cIamored
for recognition-the fact that Mrs.
Borden had not really answered her
question and the suspicion, amount
ing to certainty, that the widow
had known only too well the an
swer to that question.
But why, should she try to shield,
by concealing her name, one of the
women who had undoubtedly pos
sessed Harry Borden's love-tempo-
rarily at least-after his wife had
lost it?
Ruth suddenly felt too tired and
beWildered to bear any more, but
she raised her head, listened YEARLY
as McMann concluded his interview
with Minnie Cassidy.
"T MATS all, Minnie" McNIann
4 was saying. How's the baby,
by the way? I remember Tim was
always Dragging about his girl
child"
"Baby?" Minnie cackled. Eye
should see her now! Growed up on
me, she did, Tommy McMann.
Twenty come June. and as pretty a
lass as ye'd hope to see. Amt that
right, Miss Rutf?"
Rose is a little beauty" Ruth
admitted, as heartily as WEAKNESS
and encouragement would permit.
And good girl, too. She helps
Minnie here with her work, when
the rheumatism is bad"
"A good girl" Minnie repeated,
tears Springing into her watery old
eyes. III tell Rose We was askin'
for her, Tommy McMann. It's been
hard With Tim gone and all, but
I've tried to do everything for the
children that Tim Woulda done"
And I'm sure you have" Nc
Mann agreed absently, his eyes on
his notes again. What's the name
of the woman who cleans Hayward's
Of 1es? Lefty Miller-that's
right. Send her in to me, won't you,
Minnie?"
Suddenly Ruth remembered some
thing-something which might be of
vital Importance to Jack Hayward
Her WEAKNESS routed by hope, she
eagerly awaited the arrival Of Lefty
Miller.