The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-22

AA6AAtp UCC0U0C Va ll10 OlQ 1IlCIl<1SlAP
for your father and his sympathy for
YOU"
And you pleaded for more time
because you knew your case against
Jack was more full Of holes than Q
slice Of Swiss cheese!" Ruth inter-
rupted vehemently. And nothing
that has developed today has
strengthened your case against him!
Rather, everything has weakened it.!
IF you mean the Manning woman's
story, don't agree" McMann argued
reasonably. II consider that Martha
Manning left US exactly where she
found us-even II I did catch her in
a lie or two. I think it's pretty safe
bet that she was here Friday night.
and left those fingerprints. And we
have no more evidence that she was
here Saturday than that your death
threat-muttering old man came back.
That's right, isn't it,"
Eyes," Ruth agreed.
"Of course, I've got man detailed
to keep an eye on her, but ! don't ex-
pect anything to come Of It,"
And you still don't think Rita did
1t, that she only robbed the dead
body?" Ruth asked, still In that meek.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and-Im
-only-a-little-girl voice.
y 4 y
"A case against Rita would be more
full Of holes than your piece Of Swiss
cheese: 1t would be q Sieve" McMann
retorted positively. las far as MUIR
der goes, I mean. But as for robbery
she'll do q nice little stretch for
that, unless she knocks the jury for
an acquittal, with those black eyes OF
hers. Which she probably will" he
added with gloomy cynicism.
But OF course you'll have done your
duty" Ruth sympathized.
$50 you see where all this leads
u.s." McMann summed up, almost
apologetically. Mrs. Borden had
already got her check. No reason at
all for her to come back and shoot
her husband, because he'd said a sar-
castle word or two to make her cry.
Besides, the elevator boys swear she
didn't come back, and I can't see her
walking all the way up six flights of
stairs, with FLOODED murder in
her heart-especially since it's pretty
evident that she loved her husband,
rotten though he was. Hayward's the
only suspect left, now that the office
boy is out of the picture. And speak,
ing of Benny reminds me Of bad
turn the poor kid did you when he
was willing to confess to murder to
help YOU"
Ruth was startled. Benny? What
do you mean?"
Just this" the detective began
slowly, with dreadful significance. II
think the kid was telling about as
much truth as lies. What became of
your gun and who closed this airshaft
window"
Il thought you had explained that,
satisfactorily to yourself at least"
Ruth interrupted spiritedly "by de-
monstrating that Jack could have
closed it from his own window by
using the window pole"
= The objective grinned. 1T would
have been good trick-and maybe
that's how 1t was done. But let's sup
pose that Benny did come back Sat-
urday afternoons second time, I
mean"
ITO murder Mr.. Borden?" Ruth
asked scornfully.
"Oh, no! For the same reason he
came back the first time-to borrow
your gun for target practice. I don't
believe 1t was gone out Of your desk
when he came back the first time. but
that Borden bawled him out for med
ding In your desk and sent him pack
ing-just as both Benny and Minnie
have said.
But Benny knew Borden was 60
ing to Winter Haven on the 2:l5. Not
knowing Borden had been killed, the
kid sneaks back, and walks up the
stairs as he said he did, so that he
won't be seen and questioned, pos
sibly caught with the stolen gun. He
has his key. He comes in, finds the
gun gone. and goes into Borden's
office to see if 1t is there. He finds
Borden dead, and the gun some dis
lance away. No powder burns on the
mans vest, SO the kid. used to fire.
arms as he undoubtedly is, knows that
Borden has not committed suicide.
HE thinks first of you. / got it out
OF him yesterday that he had over
heard Borden making love to you and
your scream. He thinks you did it,
and takes the gun to protect you.
Then he notices the open window and
wonders II it could have been Hay
ward, who, he knows, has seen and
overheard the love making and scream
business, too. Furthermore, Mickey
Moran has, admitted that he told
Benny, on the kids first return, about
your scene with Hayward at the ele-
vator at 20. when Hayward again
threatened Borden's life.
He closes the window-in case it
mad been Hayward who did it-Hay-
ward whom you're in love with, and
who must be protected, too. With
your gun accounted for, and the clos
ing OF the window. and with Rita to
rob the dead body of the money that
was missing. I can't see flaw in my
case against Hayward-and I'm
mighty sorry, for your sake"
\ \ \
Ruth brushed aside his sympathy.
And you think you can force Benny
10 admit to being an accessory after
the fact. when he was so anxious to
protect me and the man I love that
ne would confess to murder?"
McMann ahrugged. 1--WE simply
ialo all my cards on the table.
wanted you to know why it is my
duty to arrest John G. Hayward for
the murder Of Harry Borden"
The girl went very white. There
was no mtrth, no assumed meek aess
IN her eyes or voice now. She rose,
ana steadied her trembling body
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