The Dermott news., 1915-04-01

"All right" I exclaimed, a little nettled that he should have anticipated me even so much ill the case. But you haven't heard the latest
 What is it?" he asked with provok- ing ealmness.
 Taylor Dodge" l blurted out, has the clue Tomorrow he will track down the man."
 Kennedy fairly jumped as l repeat ed the news.
 How long has he known" he de handed eagerly.
 Perhaps three or four hours" haz- arded
 Kennedy Eazed at me fXedly.
 Then Taylor Dodge Is dead,' he exclaimed. throwing of his acid-stained laboratory jacket, and hurrying into his street clothes.
 "Impossible." l ejaculated.
 Kennedy paid no attention to the ob- jection. Come. Nalter' he urged We must hurry before the trail gets cold"
 There was something positively m canuy about Kennedy assurance. ! doubted vet feared
 It was well past the middle of the night when We pulled up in night hawk taxicab before the Dodge house. mounted the steps and rang the bell.
 Jennings answered sleeplIY, but not so much so that he did not recognize me He was about to bang the door shut when Kennedy interposed his foot
 Where is Mr. podFeaa asked Ken nedy @Is he all right"
 "Of course he Is tn bed. replied the butler
 Just then We heard faint cry, like nothing exactly human or was # our heightened imaeinations. under the spell of the darknessa
 "Listen,s cautioned Kennedy
 We did. standing there now in the hall Kennedy was the only one of Us V ho was cool Jennings face blanched then he turned tremblnely and went down to the library door. whence the sounds had seemed 10 come. Ha called. but there Was uo answer He turned tue knob and opened the door The Dodge library Was a large room In the center stood big flat topped desk of heavy mahogany II was brilliantly lighted At one end of the desk was a tele- phone. Taylor Dodge was lyinE on the floor at that end of the desk perfect ly rield his face distorted ghastly figure. A pet dog ran over, snitfed frauucany at his masters legs and suddenly began to howl d3smally.
 Dodge was dead,
 aHelp," shouted Jennings Others of the servants came rush. ing ir. There was. fer the moment the greatest excitement and conlu- sion
 Suddenly wild figure in flying gar ments fitted down the stairs and into tho library. dropping beside the dead man. without seeming to notice us at all
 Father" shrieked a woman's voice, heart broken Father Oh-my God -he-he Is dead'"
 It was Elaine Dodge.
 With a mighty effort. the heroic girl seemed 10 pull herself together
 Jennings" she cried, call NIT Ben nett immediately"
 From the oue-sided, excited couver# SatIon of the butler over the telephone, gathered that Bennett had been in the process of disrobinE in his own apartment uptown. and would be right down
 Together. Kennedy. Elaine and my. sell lifted Dodge to a sofa and Elaine 8 aunt. Josephine. with whom she lived. appeared on the scene, trying to quiet the sobaing girl
 Kennedy and withdrew a little Way, and he looked about curiously
 What was ito" whispered. Was it natural, an accident. or-or mur- der" The word seemed 10 stick in my throat II 1t Was a murder, what was the motjve2 Could it have been 10 get the evidence which Dodge had that would incrimjnate the master erimjnal'
 Kennedy moved over quietly and ex amined the body ol Dodge When he rose his face had peculiar look
 "Terrible," he whispered to me Apparently he had been working at hls accustomed place al the desk when the telephone rang llo rose and crossed over to it Seet That brought his feet on this register let into the floor As he took the telephone re- cciyer down flash of light must have 2 shot from it to his ear IL shows the characteristic electric burn" "The motiyee" l Queried
 Evidently his pockets had been gone through, though none Of the yalu. ables were missing. Things on his desk show that a hasty search has been made. Just then the door opened and Ben nett burst in. AS he stood over the body, gazing I, ,F