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

hand to trace them by"
The editor paused a moment, then
exclaimed: why, this fellow seems
to take a diabolical--I might almost
say ological-pleasure in crimes
of violence, revenge, avarice and self
protection. Sometimes it seems as if
he delights in the pure deviltry of the
thing. 1t is weird"
He leaned over and spoke in low,
tense tone. "Strangest of ALL the tip
has just come to US that Fletcher, HaX-
worth, Sherburne and all the rest of
the Consolidated Mutual Life. Now,
Jameson, | want you, to find Taylor
Dodge, the president, and interview
| him. Get what you can, at any cost"
had naturally thought first of Ken
| nedy, but there was no time now to
call him up and, besides | must see
| Dodge Immediately.
Dodge, I discovered over the tele-
| phone was not at home nor at any of
| the clubs to which he belonged. Late
| though it was concluded that he was
at his office. No amount OF persuasion
! could get ME past the door, and,
| though | found out later and shall tell
soon what was going on there, I de-
termined, about nine o'clock, that the
/ best way to get at Dodge was to go to
his house on Fifth avenue, if l had
/ to camp on his front doorstep until
morning. The harder found the story
to get the more ] wanted it.
With some misgivings about being
! admitted, I rang the bell of the splen-
did, though not very modern, Dodge
residence. An English butler, with a
! nose that must have been his fortune,
opened the door and gravely informed
me that Mr.. Dodge was not at home,
but was expected at any moment.
Once in, was not going lightly to
! give up that advantage | bethought
myself Of his daughter Elaine, one Of
the most popular debutantes of the
season, and sent in my card to her, on
a chance of interesting her and seeing
| her father, writing on the bottom Of
/ the card: Would like to interview
Mr.. Dodge regarding Clutching Hand"
SummOning up what assurance
had, which is sometimes considerable,
| | followed the butler down the hall as
he bore my card. AS he opened the
door of the drawing-room, | caught a
vision Of slip CT a girl in evening
clothes.
Elaine Dodge was both the ingenue
and the athlete-the thoroughly mod
ern type Of girl-equally at home with
tennis and tango, table talk and tea.
Near her l recognized from his pic
lures Harry Bennett, the rising young
corporation lawyer, a mighty good
looking fellow, with an affable, pleas
ing way about him, perhaps thirty-five
years old or so, but already prominent
and quite friendly with Dodge.
"Who is it, Jennings?" she asked.
! "a reporter, Miss Dodge" answered
| the butler glancing superciliously back
at me. "And you know how your father
| dislikes to see anyone here at the
house." he added deferentially to her.
Miss Dodge" l pleaded, bowling as
if had known them all my life, I've
been trying to find your father all the
evening. It's very important"
She looked up at me surprised and in
doubt whether to laugh or stamp her
pretty little foot in indignation at my
stupendous nerve.
She laughed, you are very brave
young man, she rippled with a roguish
look at Benefits discontinue over the
interruption of the tete-a-tete.
There was a note Of seriousness in
it, too, that made me ask quickly
Why"
The smile fitted from her face, and
in it's place came a frank earnest ex
preston, which later learned to like
and respect very much. My father has
declared he will eat the very next re
porter who tries to interview hin
here" she answered.
l was about to prolong the waiting
time by some jolly about such a stun
ming girl not having by any possiDil
ity such cannibal of parent, wher
the rattle of the changing gears of
car outside told of the approach of {
limousine.
The big front door opened ant
Elaine flung herself in the arms of al
elderly, stern-faced, gray.haired man
why, dad" she o$ied, where have
you been? / missed you so much a
dinner. I'll be so glad when this ter
rible business gets cleared up. Tell
me. What is on your mind? What Is
it that worries you now?"
noticed then that Dodge seemed
wrought up and a bit unnerved, for he
sank rather heavily into a chair
brushed his face with his handkerchie
and breathed heavily. Elaine hovereC
over him solicitously, repeating hel
question.
With a mighty effort he seemed t.
get himself together. He rose anC
turned to Bennett.
Harry he exclaimed, I've got thu
Clutching Hand"
The two men stared at each other.