The Springdale news., 1915-02-12

ing calmness
 Taylor Dodge I blurted out, "has the clue. Tomorrow he will track down i the mani"
 Kennedy fairly jumped as I repeat l 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
 "lmpossible." I ejaculated.
 Kennedy paid no attention to the ob- l jection. Come, Walter, he urged We must hurry before the trail gets cold
 There was something positively un' canny about Kennedys 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 Mir Dodge?" asked Ken nedy. Is he all right?'
 Of course he is-in bed" replied the butler.
 Just then we heard a faint cry, like nothing exactly human. Or was 1t 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 large room. h the center stood a big. flat topped desk of heavy mahogany It wss brilliantly lighted
 At one end of the desk was tele- phone Taylor Dotge was lying on the floor at that end of the desk-perfect- ly rigid-his face distorted-a ghastly figure. A pet dog ran over sniffed 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 a 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 womans voice, heart,broken. Father! Oh-my God -he--he is dead."
 It was Elaine Dodge
 With a mighty effort, the heroic girl Geemed to pull herself together
 Jennings" she cried. "call Mr. Ben- nett-immediately!
 From the one-sided, excited conver- 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 a sofa and Elaine's aunt, Josephine, with whom she lived, appeared on the scene, trying to quiet the sobbing girl.
 Kennedy and I withdrew little way, and he looked about curiously.
 What was it?" I whispered Was it natural. an accident, or-or mur- 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.
 "Terrible'" he whispered to 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 a flash of light must have shot from it to his ear. It shows the characteristic electric burn"
 "The motive?' I queried
 Evidently his pockets had been gone through, though none of the valu- ables were missing. Things on his desk show that hasty search has been made"
 Just then the door opened and Ben. nett burst in.
 AS. he stood over the body, gazing down at it, expressing the emotions of a strong man, he turned to Elaine, and in low voice exclaimed: The Clutched Hand did this. I shall con, e. crate my life to bring this man to jus tice!"