The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-03-25

illt iNtl NJ IluIH III Nlt Nbo1s DNN
you haven't heard the latest"
What is it?" he asked with provok.
ing calmness.
Taylor Dodge" I blurted out, has
the clue. Tomorrow he will track down
the man"
Kennedy fairly jumped as ] repeat.
ed the news.
How long has he known" he de-
manded eagerly.
Perhaps three or four hours" ] haz.
arded.
Kennedy gazod at mo fxedly.
Then Taylor Dodge IL dead" he
exclaimed, throwing on his a~cid.stained
laboratory jacket. and hurrying into
his street clothes.
"lmpossible!" l calculated.
Kennedy paid no attention to the OBJ.
lection. Come. Walter" he urged
I'VE must hurry before the trail gets
cold"
There was something positively I'M
canny about Kennedy's assurance. !
doubted-yet ! feared.
1t was well past the middle OF the
night when we pulled up in a night.
hawk taxicab before the Dodge house.
mounted the steps and rang the bell.
Jennings answered sleepily, but not
80 much so hat he did not recognize
me. lie was about to bang the door
shut when Kennedy i~nterposed his
foot.
"Whero Is MIR. DODGE" asked Ken.
nedy. is he all right?"
"Of course Ne is-in bed" replied
the butler.
Just then we heard n faint cry, like
nothing exactly human. Or was " our
heightened ~imaginations, under the
spell OF tho 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 ONE
lie called. but there was no answer
He turned the knob and opened the
door. The Dodge library was n large
room. In tho center stood a big, Nat
topped desk OF heavy mahogany. II
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 dlstorted-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 n wild figure In flying gar
ments fitted down the stairs and into
the library. dropping beside the deat
man, without seeming to notice US a.
all.
Father" shrieked a woman's voice
heart.brokcn. Father! Oh-my Goo
-he-he Is dead"
II was Elaine Dodge.
With a mighty effort. the heroic CIR
seemed to pull herself together.
Jennings" she cried, call Mr.. Ben
nett-immedlately!"
From the one.sided, excited CONVEX
sation Of the butler over the telephone
! gathered that Bennett had been II
the process OF %disrobing In his owl
apartment uptown, and would be figh'
down.
Together. Kennedy. Elaine and my
Golf HftnI np1na ~ "a gnTn mud I'lufnn's
aunt. Josephine. with whom she lived
appeared on the scene. trying TO quie'
the sobbing girl.
Kennedy and | withdrew n little way
and he looked about %cnriously.
What was TT" ! whispered. "Wa'
y Il natural, an accident. or-or mur
der?" The word seemed to stick II
my throat. II II was a murder. wha'
was the motive? Could IL have beer
to get the evidence which Dodge haC
= that would incriminate tho master
criminal?
Kennedy moved Over quietly and eX
amined tho body of Dodge. When III
rose his face had n peculiar look,
"Terrible!" he whispered to me
Apparently he had been working a
his accustomed place at the desk wher
the telephone rang. lie rose anC
crossed over to II. See! That brough
: his feet on this register let into tn,
floor. As he took the telephone re
cciver down n fash of light must hay,
shot from Il to his ear, Il shows the
characteristic electric burn"
The motlve?" ] Queried.
Evidently his pockets had beer
gone through, though none OF the valu
ables were missing, Things on hi
, desk show that a hasty search hat
been made"
!, Just then the door opened and Ben
nett burst In.
> As ne stood over the body, gains
down at II. REFRESHING the emotions o
a strong man. he turned to Elaine, anC
In a low voice exclaimed: 9TH,
I Clutched Hand did this. | shall conse
l crate my life to bring this man to JUS
, tice!"