New Britain herald., 1929-02-07
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TINS HAS HAPPENED


to Ruth Lester. secretary to Hand
some Harry" Borden. promoter Of
dubious stock companies, whose pm
vate office 10 just across the narrow
airshaft from Jacks.
On . Saturday morning In Janu-
airy. the promoter has two women
callers. The first 10 Rita Dubois,
night club dancer. who 10 to accom-
pany him to Winter Haven for the
weekend. The second ID Mrs. Bor-
den. Borden's wife and mother OF
bis two children, who calls for her
monthly alimony. Learning he 70
busy. she agrees to return. Before
she goes she glimpses the pistol In
Ruth's desk. While Ruth takes die
tation Borden makes = playful pass
at her and she screams, attracting
Jacks attention in the opposite Of
flee. He Is furious.
When they meet for lunch. Ruth
discovers she has forgotten her bank
book and PUSHES back to the office.
At the luncheon table Jack says he
left their theater tickets on his desk
and returns for them. He returns
strangely perturbed.
When on Monday morning Ruth
finds the body Of Borden sprawled
on the floor near the window. she
reviews Jacks strange behavior
and 10 petrified with fear. She
runs to his office and. finding him
out. looks frantically in his desk
for his gun. 1t is gone! Jack e.
turns Immediately and accompan-
les her to Borden's office where he
calls the police. Fearing Jack shot
Borden through the open windows
she PUSHES into Borden's office to
close his window before the police
arrive. The window Is already
closed! The police arrive.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER VIII
1t the brief instant between the
turning Of the knob Of the outer
door and the entrance Of the police,
Ruth had time to get control Of her
nerves. For fear 80 horrible that
she now wondered how she had
been able to bear 1t had been lifted
from her mind and heart.
The window of Borden's private
office. opening upon the airshaft.
and directly opposite to Jack Hay.
wards window. was closed. How
could she, even for a moment. have
believed her man was guilty Of
murder?
Her reasoning was exquisitely
clear and simple: The only way
Jack Hayward could have shot
Borden was through the window.
She herself had left Borden's door
locked. because OF his deadly fear
Of holdup men or the assaults Of
loss crazed investors in his stocks.
Borden would never in the world
have unlocked 1t for Jack Hayward.
for it was his custom. she knew,
to demand to know who wanted to
see him, If he was alone and unpro-
tected in his office. ...-
The emily person, probably whom
he had admitted was his wife.
whom he was expecting. and she
undoubtedly had already called b.
fore Jacks return to his office 20
get the forgotten theater tickets.
Henry p. Borden's offices?" an
aggressive voice demanded I'M
necessarily. for the name was
painted on the door. whats hap
pened here?"
Ruth Lester was still standing
in the protective circle Of Jack
Hayward's arm. She looked curl
ously. no longer afraid. at the Of
ficer in plainclothes who was ad-
dressing her. Behind him stood
two policemen in uniform, but
Ruth scarcely saw them. The de-
tective lowered over her - \ gigan-
tic man. at least six feet three
inches tall and broad In proportion.
He looked as II he had grown griz-
zled In the service Of justice. but
was still not satiated, getting q
savage Joy out Of running crimi-
nails to earth.
II am John c. Hayward-officcs
in this building. and this IL Miss
Lester - Ruth Lester, secretary to
Mr.. Borden, who IL ~ In there.
MurQeFeQ, JdCh duS"cIcu tHC uS>
tective quietly.
I'm Detective Sergeant Nc
Manu." the huge man completed
the strange introductions curtly.
Move aside. please. Let's see him.
Who discovered the body?"
II did," Ruth whispered, horror
OF that thing inside swoopins
down upon her again. II got
to the office this morning at S:15.
and-and found him there"
you've been in there. too" Nc
Mann jerked his head at Jack.
Just looked in. didn't touch
anything" Jack answered.
Except the door knob. No good
having It photographed for finger
prints since both Of you've touched
it, McMann answered a. he
srasped the knob in his own hands.
Another. jerk Of his head indicated
that the two uniformed policemen
were 70 enter the room behind him.
Ruth and Jack stood aside to let
the three Of them pass. then watch.
I'd from the doorway. The detective
stopped just inside the door and
gave a keen, searching glance about.
apparently less interested in the
tody on the floor near the window
than in what he hoped to find In
the room.
What are these crumbs and pea.
nuts doing on the rug" he demand
ed. whirling upon Ruth.
oh" she gasped. guilty. Il
I must have dropped them when
saw-.Mr. Borden. IL was going
10 feed the pigeons the first thing
this morning because ! forgot TO
Saturday and / thought"
Pigeons" McMann calculated. |
what pigeons"
Rufh'a tremu1oul yntco az.