Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-02-06

you haven't heard the latest"
What is it?" he asked with provok
ing calmncss
Taylor Dodge" | blurted out, has
the clue. Tomorrow he will track down
the mani"
Kennedy fairly jumped as l repeat
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 hurrylng into
his street clothes.
'Impossible!" 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
me. He was about to bang the door
shut when Kennedy interposed his
foot.
where is NJ. DODGE" asked Ken
nedy. rs 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 it our
heightened imaginations, under the
spell of the darkness?
'Lsten!" 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 4 large
room. In the center stood a big, fiat
topped desk of heavy mahogany. 1t
was brilliantly lighted
At one end of the desk was tcle-
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on the
floor at that end of the desk-perfect-
~ rigid-his face distorted-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 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 a woman's voice, |
Father! Oh-my God |
-he-he is dead"
1t was Elaine Dodge
With a mighty effort, the heroic girl |
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 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,
on the scene, trying to quiet
he sobbing girl
Kennedy and withdrew little way,
md he looked about curiously.
What was it?" l whispered "Was
t natural, an accident, or-or MUIR
ler?" The word seemed to stick in
ny throat. If it was a murder, what
vas the motive? Could it have been
o get the evidence which Dodge had
hat would incriminate the master
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and ex-
mined the body of Dodge. When he
ose his face had peculiar look.
''Terrible!" he whispered to me.
he had been working at
lis accustomed place at the desk when
he telephone rang. He rose and
rossed over to it. Seei That brought
is feet on this register let into the
loor. AS he took the telephone re-
eiver down flash Of light must have
hot from it to his ear 1t shows the ,
electric burn"
"The motive?" l queried. ,
Evidently his pockets had been !
one through, though none of the valu- ,
bles were missing. Things on his Z
esk show that a hasty search has
cen made"
Just then the door opened and Ben i
EFT burst in. I
AS he stood over the body, gazing
own at it, depressing the emotions of
strong man, he turned to Elaine, and /
l low voice exclaimed: THE =
lutched Hand did this | shall conse- =,