The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-09

the one l initiated"
you're right, of course" Jack ad-
mitted reluctantly. II do know the
woman-slightly. She came to my
office about two months ago, to in
lquirc about insurance"
"Just picked you out blindly?"
Ruth asked scientifically. "Or had
someone given her your name?"
"She didn't say, and of course l
didn't ask" Jack answered, a little
stiffly. 81 asked her into my private
office and gave her a lot of informa-
ton about various types Of policies
straight life, 20-year endowment,
etc. I didn't think, at the time, that
she seemed particularly interested,
though she had asked for the infor-
nation"
81 imagine" Ruth interrupted sud-
denly, chat she was more inter-
ested in the occupant of the office
across the airshaft."
"You've hit it again, though I did
Mt think anything of it at the time, !"
Jack admitted. Before she left. with
her hands full Of insurance litera-
turc, she stepped to the window and
looked out. perhaps towards Bor-
den himself. I thought she was in
terested in the pigeons, which were
circling about-made some remark
to her about them. believe"
\ X X
"What was she lke-beside her
voice :" Ruth asked eagerly.
"Tall and very slender, big, fine
dark eyes-sad eyes," Jack answered
so unhesitatingly that another pang
of jealousy shot through the girls
heart. "About IS. l imagine. A good
deal of makeup. but skillful, artis-
tic job. Good clothes, but just lit.
tie shabby, an elegant sort of shah
biness."
"She evidently made great inn
preston on you," Ruth could not
help remarking. II suppose you re-
member her name, tool"
you're delicious when you're an
cry or jealous" Jack laughed, and
kissed the tips of her fingers. "She
did make deep impression on me,
because l thought she had the most
tragic face I'd ever seen. That's why
| hesitated to say word which
might involve her in this nasty bust
ness. No man would want to add an
other bitter line to that tragic face.
Her name was Martha Manning"
"Miss or Mrs.? Ruth persisted.
"She. didn't say, but I addressed
her as Miss Manning until she made
inquiries about trust funds being
made of the insurance, If she took it
out, in favor of her six-year-old son.
Then called her Mrs. Manning and
she did not correct me-"
Ruth considered. her eyes grow
ing wider and wider. Then, slowly:
miss Manning. Jack. and the boy
was Harry Borden's illegitimate son.
feel absolutely sure of that. 4.
What was her address ?" she added
suddenly.
"Some little hotel-let me think.
Oh, yes, the Acropolis Hotel.
wrote her, asking if she had made
up her mind as to the kind Of in
surance she wanted to take out, and
she did not reply. She did come in
again. however, and told me that it
was quite useless for her to consid-
err any kind of insurance on her life
that she had been to her own ply
stefan and he had told her she was
in an advanced stage of tuberculosis.
And again-she stood at my win
dow, looking out. :. I felt damned
sorry for her." Jack added, in low
Voice.
Frank Ashe felt sorry for her,
too" Ruth said slowly. And then she
told him, briefly, the story that Bor-
denis manservant had told Detec-
tive Sergeant McMann-how the
woman with the beautiful contralto
voice had come to Borden's apart
ment, gained entrance by watching
her chance, and had been knocked
half senseless either by Borden him
self or by Jake Bailey, his body
guard.
"Motive!" Jack commented, but
without triumph. SNOW as to oppor-
tunity. Let us suppose she came to
the Starbridge Building Saturday
afternoon, before calling Borden on
the telephone as he had asked her to-
through Minnie. But why come tc
my office to make the call, even il
she did remember that it was di.
rectly opposite Borden's and that
she could see his face, as she talked
to him ?"
Maybe she realized that you were
interested in her, would 90 out o.
your way to do her . good turn
Perhaps she intended to appeal Il
you to help her plead her. case will
Borden" Ruth suggested kesitating
~. "She found your door unlocked
thought you were in, and entered
Once inside, she took the liberty o.
using your phone, although you wer,
not there, quarreled with Borden
and shot him through your window.
"But how did she know I had I
: pisto1?" Jack objected.
you've just said you gave her
lot of insurance literature" Rutl
pointed out eagerly. "You keel
stacks Of it in the bottom drawer o
your desk. Why couldn't she hav'
seen the pistol while you wer
searching for the printed matte
4 you wanted to give hsr?"
Possible, but not highly proba
ble," Jack conceded. Butt oh
killed him from my office, how col
you account for the disappesranc
Of your gun? Miss Manning coul
hardly have entered the dead man
, locked office, would have had no req
son to do so, in the first place"
"Then maybe she induced Border
|, by threats Of some sort, 70 gran
J her an appointment, told him Oh
Twas in the building and would b
rfrht nm. then armed herself wit