The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-28

ty sure that he had brought no othe
passengers to this floor"
II wouldn't count too heavily O,
Micky Moran's memory, Mr.. Nc
Manu." Ruth flashed. "And rrantins
that Micky is infallible, isn't it rea
sonable to suppose that person
coming here to see Mr.. Borden
after a telephone quarrel with him
a person he feared and armed him.
self against, would have walked al
least flight or two, rather thar
be seen getting off the elevate,
right in front Of Mr.. Bordens Of
Ifices ?"
"Just minute, Miss Lester" Nc.
Mann brushed her question aside
l"You refer to a telephone quarrel
Surely you're not forgetting that
that telephone quarrel, or part of
it. was overheard by Bill Cowan,
when he was cut in on Hayward's
busy line? How can you explain
that? You don't think it was your
petty thief, prowling through the
Starbridge Building, who called up
Borden and quarreled with him, aft
er stealing Hayward's gum"
Ruth looked staggered for a mo-
ment, then triumphant. Telephone
operators have been known to give
wrong numbers as we'll as plugging
new calls In OH busy lines. Mr.. Bor-
den's telephone numbers are Main
$500 and 1901. Mr.. Hayward's num-
Der is Main 3051. Mr.. Cowan was
formerly rather close friend of Mr..
Borden's. He could easily have given
the operator the Borden number,
which he must have called many
times in the past, thinking that he
was giving Mr.. Hayward's number.
Remember, he did not hear Jacks
voice-only Borden's!"
McMann chuckled. "You're very
clever, Ruth Lester. You can have a
job under me any time you like.
That's all for the present, Hay
ward. You can get back to your
work."
"Thanks!" Jack bowed ironically.
Then, to Ruth, in low voice:
you're darling and | love you."
"All right, Ashe!" McMann called
through the door by which Jack was
leaving.
The gray-haired, bloodless-look-
ing little man who had been Harry
Borden's man-servant slipped noise
lessly, diffidently, through the door,
and took the chair which McMann
indicated-opposite his own at Bor-
denis desk.
"Sit down, Miss Lester" McMann
invited. II may need you. Now.
Ashe. how long had you been with
Mr.. Borden?"
"Ten months, sir"
"When did you last see your en-
ployer?"
Saturday morning, sir. He left
his apartment at half nine. as
usual. He told me he would be out Of
town for the weekend, and that ]
was to pack his bags. was to ex-
pect him for dinner Monday evening
him and young lady," the valet
answered.
was ?"
eyes, sir. He. said Miss Dubois
would dine with him."
Where were you Saturday after
noon, Ashe ?" McMann pounced sud-
denly.
The valet looked startled. then
family indignant. II, sir? I had
lunch with my daughter-my mar
ried daughter, Mrs. Bernard viii
liams, in Washington Heights, and
took her to neighborhood movie
my daughter and her two children.
At half-past four her husband met
US in the lobby of the theater and
all of U.S.
"All right, Ashe!" McMann inter.
rupted the iron-clad alibi inpatient
~. "Now tell me: Have you any
knowledge or suspicion as to who
killed your master ,"
The anemic little man straight
ened in his chair, then leaned for
ward slightly toward the detective
as he said in a curiously impress
sive voice:
eyes, sir, I think / have, sir!"
(To Be Continued)
Ashe reveals that his master was
in mortal terror Of q woman. In
the next CHAPTER.