The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-11

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1t had been taken out, with the rest
of the papers, by Minnie Cassidy,
where was Il now?
If, as McMann seemed to believe.
Rita Dubois had robbed his dead
body, why should she also steal q let
ter written to Borden by another
woman? There was no possibility
that Rita herself was the writer. The
orchid-tinted envelopes marked per
sonal" had been coming to Bordens
office long before he had ever met
and fallen in love with the dancer.
If Mrs. Borden had killed her hus-
band before Rita's arrival and rob-
bing Of the body. she could not have
known of the existence of the letter,
could have had no motive for taking
it if she had known, for the letter
had not been written by Elizabeth
Borden. Ruth knew the discarded
wife's handwriting very well, had seen
her small. delicate, precise signature
each month as an endorsement Of
Borden's check for separation allow
ance.
Suddenly the obvious course Of
action occurred to the excited girl.
There was no use in puzzling and
worrying over the letter now, but to-
morrow morning. She lay back
OH her pillows which Immediately
began to dull her brain, for maybe
Colby Lester, her father, would come
to her again. -.
Colby Lester did not come again
that night, but the next morning his
daughter woke. feeling strangely hap
py and comforted, quite equal to
performing the two errands she had
set herself-without benefit of police
sanction-and then, as she had i'm
pudently expressed it to Jack Hay
ward the night before, to taking
charge of the investigation into the
murder of Henry p. Borden!
While she was dressing, q sudden
thought occurred to Ruth. and she
ran to the front window Of her tiny
apartment. AS she had expected, she
saw man strolling leisurely up and
down the sidewalk across the street
from her apartment house, his head
turning now and then to glance casu-
ally toward the cheaply pretentious
entrance.
= Ruth blew a finger-tip kiss to the
unconscious watcher, laughed exult-
ingly, then whirled back to her dress
table. I'm going to lead you an
awful chase, dear. obvious old
'shadow'!" she promised him.
And she kept her promise. Twice,
as the detectives taxi drew almost
abreast of hers, the girl thought she
was going to be stopped and ques-
toned. but undoubtedly the man had
his orders not to jerk on the leash.
The first was not long trip. Ruth's
taxi drew up before an old but digni-
fled apartment house in one Of those
side streets which offer their resi-
dents an impeccable address-the
kind of address which makes de-
partment store Saleswomen look at
the owner with interest and respect.
please wait. I shan't be long"
Ruth directed her driver.
Mrs. Borden is not seeing ANYONE
miss" the uniformed doorman told
her, when she asked to be announced
over the house telephone.
please get Mrs. Borden on the
phone, and tell her that Miss Ruth
Lester wants to see her on a matter
of vital Importance" Ruth directed
crisply.
Three minutes later Borden's widow
and his secretary confronted each
other in the large foyer Of Mrs. Bor-
den's apartment. Deep shadows from
a sleepless. grieving night lay like
black moth wings beneath the widows
eyes, and accentuated the CHASTITY
pallor of her face.
Before Mrs. Borden could frame
her dignified protest at the intrusion,
Ruth put the question she had come
to ask: Mrs. Borden won't you please
tell me what you know about Martha
Manning?"
At that name, color flooded her
pale face and her eyes flashed angry
fire. Ruth was almost sorry she had
come.
"How dare you mention that wom-
ans name to me?" Mrs. Borden
gasped, her hands at her throat, as
if the words we're choking her. Then.
by visible effort, she regained q
measure Of control: "I-don't know
whom you mean, or why you ask, Miss
Lester! If Mr.. McMann has any fur
ther questions to ask me"
"Oh, please. dear Mrs. Bordenl"
Ruth pleaded. Il know you want to
protect your husband 's-past from the
newspapers, but-he is dead, and 1t Is
your duty to tell anything you know
which might help"
Il have nothing to say to you, Miss
Lester" Mrs. Borden interrupted
coldly.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you,
Mrs. Borden" Ruth said gently. land
I want you to know that you have
ny-my deepest sympathy" and
without waiting for reply. she
reached for the knob Of the door by
which she had entered.
~ - =
Her question had been answered,
far more completely than the MUIR
dered mans widow could suspect.
Ruth knew now why Mrs. Borden had
refused on Monday to identify the
woman with the contralto voice. The
mother Of Harry Borden'S legitimate