The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-01
as Il, B |; ! A!GK R!!G5E|5Q|,|14
THIS HAS HAPPENED

THIS HAS HAPPENED
RUTH LESTER. private sec.
rotary, conceals her blond love.
liness behind yellow spectacles
and ill-fitting t."thes and skins
back her curls in order to escape
the attentions of flirtatious en-.
pI0yers. But for this disguise she
could not have worked unmolest.
ed four months for HAND
SOME HARRY BORDEN, pro-
rnoter of dubious stock com Dan-
hes and notorious for his affairs
with beautiful women.
Ruth. suspecting him of shady
dealings. would resign but for =
romance which springs un be.
tween her and JACK HAY.
WARD, Young insurance broker,
whose office is just across the
narrow airshaft from B0rden's
private office on the seventh
floor of the Starbridge Building.
Ruth and Jack become en-
gagged on Friday night in Jan.
uary and Ruth dares to come to
the office next morning with her
disguise removed. In her office.
Ruth greets BENNY SMITH,
office boy. who is astonished 1t
her Transformation and who i'm
stantly becomes infatuated. He
hates Borden and begs Ruth to
don her disguise before his
return. She is interrupted by q
phone call. 1t is ''the woman with
T. e contralto voice" whom Bor.
den has previously refused to
talk to.
Ruth has time to put on her
spectacles before Borden's ar.
rival. Borden finds an orchid
tinted envelope in the mail and
thrusts it in his pocket with an
oath. Ruth is sent to the bank
with instructions 10 get $500 in
cash and to the station for two
r0und-trip tickets and a draw
ing.room for Winter Haven ON
the isis train. As she returns
to the office she wonders whom
the second ticket is for.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER Ill
"Hullo, Miss Lester! Is Gods gif1
to women in his office? l phonet
aid he's expecting me. Oh, pardon
me! thought it was Miss Lester
But ! guess Handsome Harry cannet
her, the poor little scared bunny
Can't say I blame hiin-why!-wha
-"
Ruth turned in the little swive
chair and faced the girl who had an
herself so rcnchalantly. S,
it was Rita Dubois who was goini
to Winter Haven with Borden. Rutl
was hardly surprised, but a littl'
sorry, for she liked the vivacious
dark-eyed, black-haired little SINCE,
and dancer from the noisiest, mos
garish night club in the city.
give just turned my hair loose,
Ruth smiled, putting on her timid
scared-bunny manner and peerini
upward at Rita through her enor
nous horn-rimmed spectacles.
"Attagirlw Rita applauded, as sh'
touched up her already vivid.
rouged lips. $50 you've fallen fol
Handsome Harry, too, you poor littl,
simp! Been to the movies and got I
few hot tips on how to vamp YOU
boss? -. Well, Bunny, don't b.
jealous Of little Rita, no matter what
you hear! You can have him-nex1
week! But listen, don't you toddle IL
and tell him / said so, after Tn
zone, or I'll snatch those golden curl.
Of yours out by the roots. Pref
ty stuff" And Rita, finished will
her lips, lifted one of Ruth's curls
an fingered its yellow silk almost
tenderly.
Ruth laughed, then glanced appre'
toward Harry Borden's
closed door. 1.-THE curls are out ir
someone else's honor, Miss Dubois
but-I'm engaged 20 be married. II
just happened last night. You're ths
second person I've told"
"Good child! Wise little baby!" Ri
Ia .-,proved, her voice curiouslv gen
tie and low. Then she stopped anG
laid her heavily rou-ed and scented
lips against the rose and ivory Of
Ruth's cheek. THAT'S the only way
infant! Lasso 'em with a wedding
ring when you're ,oung and-ch
hul-lo, Harry! The top Of the morn
ing to you, darling!"
Harry Borden hell his door wide
md, regardless of Kuth's presence
his arms, too. "Glad to see you
Miss Testers jus,
bought the tickets. Drawing-room
too, if you're q good girl"
As Harry Borden, laughing indul
gently, was about to close the door
Rita Dubois turned her head and
gave Ruth a confidential, mockine
grin, along with q slow, significant
wink.
Ruth's fingers were flying ove1
the typewriter keys again when Ben
ny Smiths voice, sullen and indig
nant, interrupted her.
"Hunh! Thought it was a secret
you getting engaged" he flung a
her from his own desk in the corner
Men you 60 and tell everybody"
swell, if you gotta whisper your
little secret, looks like you'd pick GU,
somebody besides one of Handsome
Harry's dames," the boy persisted
sullenly. II thought you just tolt
me cause you-you sorta liked mi
Startled, Ruth let her hands liz
idle on the keys. So that was it
Benny, too! Well, thank goodness, HI
was too young to want to goble hel
up. She must b very careful not t.
hurt him. never to let him see hel
smile with amusement at his aGo:es'
rent tilmhlinn into love.