The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-27
CHAPTER XIV

ASHE, is sent lot py police 4of uuestloh-
NOW GO ON WITH THE sToGY
CHAPTER XIV
= A LII right, Birdwell,'' McMann
IA nodded to his subordinate. q
told Mrs. Borden to come back at 2
o'clock. How's her sick child?
90. Better? That's goodl" and
oddly, Ruth Lester thought, the
stern detective seemed to be gen.
timely pleased.
= 1--WE won't keep her from the kid
longer than necessary. Sick, all
right. I talked to the doctor my
self. Tell Ferber to come in. Hold
Ashe out there till I'm ready for
him. And send around for Mr.. Hay
ward. He's in his own Office"
Ruth's eye dilated with fear. Was
McNann going to arrest Jack now
convinced, as she was sure the de-
tective was, that Hayward had shot
Harry Borden through the open
windows facing each other across
the airshaft, and that Rita, arriving
very soon afterward, had robbed his
body?
If so, how was McMann account
ing to himself for the disappear
ance Of her pistol? Or did he still
stubbornly hold to his belief that
she, Ruth, fearing trouble between
the two nen-Hayward and Borden
had taken the too-handy weapon
away with her on Saturday?
Ferber, the fingerprint expert, was
entering the private Office, a large
portfolio under his arm, when Nc
mann shot another question at
Rita Dubois:
WAS that window open or closed
when you came in this Office Sat-
urday afternoon?" And he pointed
to the window looking out upon the
airshaft?"
Rita's terror stricken black eyes
went blank. window? don't
know. Yes, I do? 1t was open,
because I noticed some pigeons-or
at least one black pigeon-walking
up and down the window ledge"
TTELLo, Ferber! Let's see what
II you've got there. Good, clear
prints?"
"Lots of 'en, McNIann," the fin
gerprint expert answered cheerfully,
smiling and nodding at Ruth Les
ter.
He spread the sheaf of enlarged
photographer f1ngerprints upon
Borden's desk.
Here's one peculiar set-found it
half q dozen places" and he pointed
to a picture. Look! The middle
finger of the right hand is a Stub
about half an inch of it missing,
I'd say"
Ruth started eagerly toward the
desk. Those are Minnie Cassidy's
fingerprints. Half of the first joint
of her middle right finger was cut
off in an accident when she was a
ct7ild. She told me about it when
she was busting my desk one after
noon"
Thanks, Miss Lester" McNIann
grunted, as he bent over the pho
tographs, studying them frowningly.
He looked up as Jack Hayward
entered the room, jerked nod at
him. which Jack answered with
smiling courtesy before he crossed
the room to take his place beside
Ruth Lester.
Send Mrs. Borden in, Birdwell, .
McMann called through the door
which Jack left ajar.
When Mrs. Borden was shown into
the private Office by Birdwell, Nc
Mann stuck his hands deep into his
pockets and regarded his collection
of guests" with appraised brows and
that now familiar twisted smile.
He looked at each in turn-Eliza-
beth Borden, the murdered mans
widow, whom he had tried, earlier
ii the day, to bully into confess
Gsln; Rita Dubois, dancer at the
Golden Slipper night club, and the
murdered mans last love-Ruth
Lester, his secretary, who, to pro-
tect herself from her employers am
oro,ls nature, had disguised her
beauty with ill-fitting clothes,
slicked back hair, and yellow spec
tacles, only to reveal it disastrously
on the day. of Borden's murder;
John c. Hayward, Ruth's hance, the
man upon whom suspicion of that
murder now lay heaviest.
Now, folks. Mcfiann said at last,
I'm going to ask all of you to per-
NIT Mr.. Ferber here to take your
fingerprints. 1t is my duty to tell
you that none of you is compelled to
do so-unleSs you are placed under
arrest as suspect he added, with
slow, significance. How about it?
Anybody got any objections9"
II have no objection" Tysrs. Bor-
den answered promptly.
ITS all right with mel" Rita Du-
bois answered defiantly.
Ruth and Jack agreed almost ST.
multaneously, and i've minutes later
the ugly, shameful business was &C
complished.
Seated at the desk again, McMann
compared the fresh prints with the
enlarged photographs of the finger
prints which Ferber had found in
the death chamber"
Mrs. Borden, you were wearing
gloves Saturday. I presume? Did
you remove them during either
visit?" the detective sergeant asked
II was wearing gloves on both
my visits, of course, and I did not
remove them" Mrs. Borden an