Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-03

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 | 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 of his acid-stained
laboratory jacket, and hurrying into
his street clothes.
Impossible" | calculated.
Kennedy paid no attention to the OBJ
4 lection. Come. Walter" he urged
1--WE must hurry before the trail gets
cold"
There was something positively I'M
canny about Kennedy's assurance J
doubted--yet feared
Il 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 sleeplly, but not
so much so that he did not recognize
me. He was about to bang the door
shut when Kennedy interposed his
7 foot.
"Where Is Mr.. Dodge?" asked Ken
nedy. is he all rightg"
"Of course he is--in bed" replied
4 the butler.
Just then we heard faint cry, like
nothing exactly human. Or was i 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 trembllngly 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. In the center stood big. fiat
topped desk of heavy mahogany. II
was brilliantly lighted
At one end of the desk was tele
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on the
floor at that end OF the desk-perfect
ly rigid--his face distorted-a CHASTITY
figure. A pet dog ran over, smiled
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 woman's voice,
heart.broken. 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 OWE
apartment uptown, and would be right
down.
Together, Kennedy, Elaine and my
self lifted Dodge to sofa and Elaine's
aunt, Josephine, with whom she lived
appeared on the scene, trying to quiet
the sobbng girl.
Kennedy and withdrew little way
and he looked about curiously.
what was it?" ] whispered. WAS
it natural. an accident. or-.or muir
der?p The word seemed to stick II
my throat. II 1t was a murder, what
was the motive? Could it have beer
to get the evidence which Dodge had
that would incrfminate the master
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and ex
amined the body of Dodge. When he
rose his face had a peculiar look
'Terrible!" he whispered to me
Apparently he had been working al
his accustomed place at the desk wher
the telephone rang. He rose anC
crossed over to it. Seel That brought
his feet on this register let into the
floor. AS he took the telephone re
ceiver down flash of light must have
shot from 1t to his ear. It shows the
characteristic electric burn"
"The motive?" queried.
Evidently his pockets had beer
gone through, though none OF the vaIu
ables were missing. Things on his
desk show that a hasty search has
been made"
Just then the door opened and Ben
nett burst in.
AS he stood over the body gazinl
down " it, depressing the emotions Of
strong man, he turned to Elaine. ant
in low voice exclaimed "Tht
~Clutched Hand did this. shall conse
crate my life to bring this man to JUS
tice!"
He spoke tensely. and Elaine look
ing up into his face, as If imploring bis
help in her hour OF need, unable Il