The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1915-01-22


you haven't heard the latest"
What is it?" he asked with provok-
ing calmness
Taylor Dodge" / blurted out, has
the clue. Tomorrow he will track down
the mani"
Kennedy fairly jumped as repeat,
ed the news.
"How long has he known" he de-
manded eagerly.
Perhaps three or four hours l 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!" / 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 un
canny about Kennedy's assurance.
| QouDLeu-yet Iedreu.
It was we'll 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 moi
SO much SO that he did not recognize
me. He was about to bang the dool
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 1t oul
heightened imaginations, under thu
spell Of the darkness?
'Listen!" cautioned Kennedy.
We did, standing there now in thu
hall. Kennedy was the only one of vi
who was cool. Jennings face blanched
then he turned tremblingly and wen
down to the library door, whence thu
sounds had seemed to come.
He called, but there was no answer
He turned the knob and opened thu
door. The Dodge library was a larg'
room. In the center stood big, fiat
topped desk of heavy mahogany l
was brilliantly lighted.
At one end of the desk was tele
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on thu
floor at that end of the desk-perfect
ly rigid-his face distorted-a ghastl,
figure. A pet dog ran over, sniffet
frantically at his masters legs ant
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 int
the library, dropping beside the deaf
man, without seeming to notice us a
all.
"Father!" shrieked woman's voice
heart-broken. Father! Oh-my Coz
-he--he is dead!"
| 1t was Elaine Dodge.
With a mighty effort, the heroic cir
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 Il
the process of disrobing in his owl
apartment uptown. and would be RICH
down.
Together, Kennedy, Elaine and my
self lifted Dodge to sofa and Elaine
aunt, Josephine, with whom she lived
appeared on the scene, trying to quie
the sobbing girl.
Kennedy and I withdrew little way
and he looked about curiously.
"What was it," l whispered. "Wa
1t natural an accident, or-or mul
der?" The word seemed to stick i
my throat. II it was murder, wha
was the motive? Could it have bee
to get the evidence which Dodge ha
that would incriminate the maste
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and e1
amined the body of Dodge. When h
rose his face had peculiar look.
"Terrible!" he whispered to m,
Apparently he had been working 9
his accustomed place at the desk whe
the telephone rang. He rose an
crossed over to it. See! That brougt
his feet on this register let into tn
floor. AS he took the telephone r,
ceiver down a flash of light must hay
; shot from it to his ear. 1t shows th
; characteristic electric burn"
1.-THE motive?" queried.
Evidently his pockets had bee
gone through, though none of the vail
ables were missing. Things on h
desk show that a hasty search ha
been made" ...
Just then the door opened and Bel
nett burst in.
AS he stood over the body, gain
down at it, depressing the emotions {
a strong man, he turned to Elaine, an
in low voice exclaimed: eth
Clutched Hand did this. ! shall cons
crate my life to bring this man to ju
tice!"
He spoke tensely, and Elaine, lool