Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-04-09

ing CdlmneSS.
Taylor Dodge blurted out, "has
the clue. Tomorrow he will track down
the mani"
Kennedy fairly jumped as l repeat
ed the news.
How long has he known" he de-
manded eagerly.
Perhaps three or four hours haz-
arded
Kennedy gazed at me fixedly.
Then Taylor Dodge is dead!" he
exclaimed, throwing off his acid-stained
laboratory jacket, and hurrying into
his street clothes.
'Impossible!" l calculated.
Kennedy paid no attention to the OBJ
lection. Come, Walter" he urged.
1--WE must hurry before the trail gets
cold"
There was something positively I'M
canny about Kennedy's assurance. |
doubted-yet l feared.
1t was we'll 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 sleepily, 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.. Dodge?" asked Ken
nedy. rs he all right?"
"Of course he is-in bed" replied
the butler
Just then we heard faint cry, Like
nothing exactly human. Or was it our
heightened imaginations, under the
spell of the darkness?
"Listen!" cautioned Kennedy.
We did, standing there now in the
hall. Kennedy was the only one of us
who was cool. Jennings face blanched,
then he turned tremblingly and went
down to the library door, whence the
sounds had seemed to come.
He called, but there was no answer.
He turned the knob and opened the
door. The Dodge library was a large
room. In the center stood big, fiat
topped desk of heavy mahogany. 1t
was brilliantly lighted.
At one end of the desk was a tele-
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on the
floor at that end of the desk-perfect-
ly rigid-his face distorted-a CHASTITY
figure. A pet dog ran over, shifted
frantically at his masters legs and
suddenly began to howl dismally.
Dodge was dead!
"Help!" shouted Jennings.
Others of the servants came rush
ing in. There was, for the moment,
the greatest excitement and confu-
sion.
Suddenly wild figure in flying gar
ments fitted down the stairs and into
the library, dropping beside the dead
man, without seeming to notice us at
all.
"Father!" shrieked a womans voice,
heart-broken. Father! Oh--my God
--he-he is dead"
1t was Elaine Dodge.
With a mighty effort, the heroic girl
seemed to pull herself together.
Jennings" she cried, "call Mr.. Ben
nett-immediately!"
From the one-sided, excited CONVEX
sation of the butler over the telephone,
| gathered that Bennett had been in
the process of disrobing in his own
apartment uptown, and would be right
down.
Together, Kennedy, Elaine and my
self lifted Dodge to sofa and Elaine's
aunt, Josephine, with whom she lived,
appeared on the scene, trying to quiet
the sobbing girl.
Kennedy and withdrew little way,
and he looked about curiously.
what was it?" l whispered. WAS
it natural, an accident, or-or muir
. der?" The word seemed to stick in
my throat If it was a murder, what
was the motive? Could it have been
to get the evidence which Dodge had
that would incriminate the master
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and ex'
amined the body Of Dodge. When he
rose his face had peculiar look.
'1eTFlDl6! he WulSpSIeu 10 me.
Apparently he had been working at
his accustomed place at the desk when
the telephone rang. He rose and
crossed over to it. See! That brought
his feet on this register let into the
floor. AS he took the telephone re-
ceiver down flash of light must have
, shot from it to his ear 1t shows the
: characteristic electric burn"
"The motive?" / queried.
Evidently his pockets had been
gone through, though none of the valu
) ables were missing. Things on his
: desk show that a hasty search has
been made"
: Just then the door opened and Ben
l nett burst in,
AS he stood over the body, gazing
down at it, depressing the emotions OF
a strong man, he turned to Elaine, and
l in a low voice exclaimed THE
I Clutched Hand did this. shall conse
crate my life to bring this man to JUS
,. tice!"