The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-31
CHApTER r-(continuedl

II think Id better not know,
don't you Mr.. BordenP" Ruth an
swered, in her timid, ghostlike lit
tie voice. Here's the check. Will
you sign it please, and I'll go to the
bank right away, before it's
jammed.'
Little prunes-and-prismsl" Bor-
den chuckled, grasping the small
hand which extended the check.
"You KNOW believe you've been
stringing me! Z don't think you're
half the timid little rabbit you've
been pretending to be-"
H drew hard on her hand, so
that Ruth's small body was
strained against the desk. Come
onl Let's see how you really look!
Take off those big spectacleS and
let me see your eyes"
please, Mr.. Borden!" Ruth
gasped. "I-I can't see without
them. My eyes are very weak.
They-they blink without my
glasses" she lied desperately.
TT was Benny who ended the
l. scene, storrny-faced, sullen
Benny who jerked open the door
as if he had been listening at the
keyhole.
what the DEVIL" Borden be-
gan furiously.
Benny swung the door shut and
slouched against it, Sullenly defiant.
There's a guy out here wantin' to
see you. Says him and his Wife'S
been tipped outa their life saw
ingS--"
Borden stared at the boy as if
he thought Benny had suddenly
grown crazy. Then the dark blood
of anger stained his peculiarly
white skin.
Get out of here, or I'll shake
your teeth down your throat! And
get rid of that man, whoever he is.
You know I never see person Of
that sort /. Wait! You'd better
handle him yourself, Miss Lester
Herel Don't forget the check! Five
hundred, in tens and twenties.
Here's a fifty to get the drawing
room and tickets. I want to have
at least 500 in ready cash, and this
fifty is too big a bill anyway"
The promoter had drawn a hand
some brown leather wallet from his
pocket, and as he extracted the fif-
ty-dollar bill, Ruth caught a
glimpse of another yellow backed
banknote, but did not see its denom-
nation.
Later, harsh-voiced, fInty-eyed
man would be demanding of Ruth
Lester a infinitely detailed recital
of every event OF that fatal Satur-
day morning, expecting prodigious
feats of memory of her.
Then, everything would be of I'M
portance, for murder would have
made it so. But now nothing seemed
important to Ruth Lester but that
she was free to leave Harry Bor-
den'S private office, free to close
the door upon his staring, bold black
eyes.
Not even the old man who was
TREMENDOUSLY reiterating his story OF
terrible and crushing financial loss
through one of Harry Borden's fake
stock schemes seemed important to
her then. She eased him out of the
office as gently as possible, her
ears deaf to his muttered threats
against Henry P. Borden.
AS she put on her fur coat to go
to the bank and to the station, her
heart was singing again. 1t was
half past ten o'clock. In less than
three hours she would Join Jack
Hayward at the elevator, go to
lunch with him to celebrate the en-
gagement which had taken place
last night.
BY this time Jack had captured
the black pigeon, had robbed Satan
of the little love message she. had
wrapped about the tiny red leg.
She smiled at the absurd irony of it.
The pigeon which Jack had in
sisted should be called Handsome
Harry, because, after all, Satan and
Handsome Harry we're synonymous,
had been forced into the role of
lovers messenger. If Handsome
Harry knew thatl
Ruth laughed softly as she left the
Office to fulfill Borden's commits
Sions.