The Dermott news., 1915-04-08

"kll right" I exclaimed, a little nettled that he should have anticipated me even so much in the case. But you haven't heard the latest"
 What is it?" he asked with proyok- ing calmness.
 Taylor Dodge" 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 gazed at me fxedly.
 Then Taylor Dodge Is deadi 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. Walter he urged We must hurry before the trail gets l cold"
 There was something positively un- canny about kennedy's assurance. | doubted-yet 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 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 MT Dodge" asked Ken nedy "Is he all right
 Of course he is-in bed" replied the butler.
 Just then we heard faint cry, like nothing exactly human. Or was f our heightened imaginatons, under the spell of the darkness9
 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 tremhlingly and went down to the library door. whence the sounds had seemed to come.
 lie called h4t there vas no answer. He turned the knob and opened the door The Dodge library was large room In the center stood big flat topped desk Of heavy mahogany. IL was brilliantly lighted
 At one end of the desk was I tele- phone. Taylor Dodge Was lying on the floor at that end of the desk perfect ly rigid his face distorted a ghastly figure. A pot dog ran over, snifed fraattcauy 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 eonfu- 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 Gs 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 ,frort. the heroic girl seemed to pull herself together.
 Jennings. she cried. call Mir Ben immediately"
 From the one-sided excited conyer- satinn of the butler over the telephone. gathered that Bennett had been in the process of disrobiuE in his own apartment uptown. and would be right down.
 Together Kennedy. Elaine and my self lifted Dodge to a sofa and Elalne's aunt. Josephine. with whom she lived. appeared on the scene. trying to quiet the sobbing girl
 Kennedy and withdrew q little way, and he looked about curiously.
 What was it2" I whispered Was it natural. an accident. or--or mur- der ae The word seemed to stick in my throat If 1t was a murder. what was the motive? Could it have been 10 get the evidence which Dodge had that would inermiuate the master criminal?
 ktNntNN inoNtA ONtI QultlI9 anu tN- amiued the body ot Dodge. When he rose bis face had a peculiar look
 "Terriblei" he whispered Co me. Apparently he had been working at hjs accustomed place at the desk when the telephone rang He rose and crossed over to t. Seei That brought his feet on this register let into the floor. Az he took the telephone re- cgiyer down q flash of light must have shot from it to his ear IL shows the characteristic electric burn"
 The motiyee' queried
 Evidently his pockets had been gone through, though none of the yalu- ables were missing Things on his desk show that nasty search has been made"
 Just then the door opened and Ben nett burst in
 As he stood over the body, gazing