The Bismarck tribune., 1929-03-23
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"For three hours?" McMann was
heavily sarcastic.
"Sure!" Rita retorted scornfully.
How long do you think It takes to
get q haircut, Z shampoo with hot oil
treatment, q facial, q manicure, q
pedicure, and an eyebrow plucking?
Did you think God made him look
like that?" and she pointed mock
Ing finger at her husband.
Check this right now, Birdwell!"
McMann flung the order to the still
bored and apparently somnolent de-
tective seated 1t Benny Smiths
desk.
Telephone numbers Circle O430,"
Rita volunteered. "Alittle blond home
wrecker, name Of Nanette. took care
Of him. She always does" she added
viciously. "oh, you'll find he was there
all right. Big Boy she turned inso-
lently to McMann again. And that
I telephoned him . little after half
past two. ! called from the lobby of
this building to tell him that It was
all right-I'd got the cash for him"
= \ \
"But you didn't tell him you'd rob-
bed your dead lovers body to get it,
did you?" McMann pounced.
mo! Because it wasn't true!" Rita
flashed, her black eyes blazing. "Say,
I'm getting sick of you harping on
that line! # i've told you once I've
told you q hundred times that Harry
Borden gave me the other half Of the
$500 bill, Of his own free will and
accord, and that he was alive when
I left hint"
McMann shrugged, and abandoned
that line for new one, Of more Inn
mediate interest. 80 the money was
for Romero. was It? What did he
need $500 for? To pay his beauty
parlor bills?"
Before Rita could reply, Birdwell
interrupted to say he had Madame
Rosenstein on the wire. The detec-
tive sergeant after identifying him.
self, put his questions with a brutal
conciseness and rapidity that must
have been a severe shock to the high
priestess Of 1.-THE Temple Of Esthetic
Beauty" but when he hung up there
was no need for him to admit to the
room at large that Romero'S alibi had
been corroborated.
"Now, Rita,-no use for me to try
to talk to that Spanish -jabbering hus-
band of yours-Romero may not have
killed Borden, but he'd killed some-
one and needed money for getaway!
Out with it and save time. You know
damned well I'll get the goods on him
anyway"
"Then why should I do your work
for you?" Rita retorted insolently.
Il think l can help you, chief" De-
tective Casey volunteered. "This Is
a bird one Of them foreign countries
/ i'm South America somewhere, the
Argentine. I guess it was-told us to
keep an eye peeled for. Killed his
sweetie down there, for making eyes
at another Hot Tamale. We got his
picture on file at headquarters
Guess one Of the boys from his old
home town blew in and piped him al
the Golden Slipper and shook him
down for blackmail to the tune o1
half grand"
AS If each Of Casey's hard-boilet
sentences was q bullet which hac
| found its mark in her exhausted
body, Rita sagged lower and lower
until she was again in the position
| IN which Ruth. opening the door, tac
found her-half sitting, half lying II
her chair, her head on the table, hel
arms outflung In utter defeat.
And across the table, slowly, uncer.
tain Of its welcome, came Ramor
Romero's beautifully manicured hand
At that familiar touch, Rita raiset
her head and gaSed at her HUSBAND
with incredulous hope.
you're not mad at me any more
Rarnon?"> she asked, in q wistfu
voice. "You wouldn't really hav'
killed Rita, would you, Baby? Hon
estzthere wasn't any other way t.
get the money but to string Border
along. I didn't ever mean to com
across with him-1 was going to Civ
him the slip as soon as I got m
hands on the cash. Honest to God,
was, honey"
= = =
/ Across the table Ramon Romer
leaned rs far as his manacles woul'
; permit, and lifted his wife's hand
to his lips.
Il II 70 with you nowl" he said AFRO
gantly to Detective Casey.
you're mighty right you will!
McA6ann agreed griuly. Take thi
dancing sheik down to headquarter
and book him on b charge Of c4rrytn
firearms till we know more about hi
comic opera past,"s he added to tn
detective and the patrolman.
!. May I 60 with him?" Rita begget
. springing to her feet as her husban
was being led to the door.