The hummer. (Houston, Miss.) 1914-19??, 1915-06-18

that has ever happened 10 this coun.
try. And nothing but this uncanny
hand 70 trace them by"
The editor paused a moment, then
exclaimed: why, this fellow seems
to take a dlabolical-I might almost
say pathological-pleasure in crimes
Of violence. revenge. avarics and self
protection. Sometimes Il seems as II
he delights in the pure deviltry Of the
thing. It is weird"
He leaned over and spoke IN a low,
tense tone. "strangest Of an, the tip
has Just come TO US that Fletcher, Hax-
worth. sherburne and all the rest Of
these wealthy men were insured IN
the Consolidated Mutual Life Now,
Jameson, want yoI 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 20
call him up and. besides, I 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 II was concluded that be 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, de-
termined, about nine o'clock. that the
best way to get at Dodge was to go to
his house on Fifth avenue, II had
] to camp on his front doorstep until
morning. The harder I found the story
to get the more wanted #.
With some misgivings about being
admitted, / rang the bell Of the SPLEEN
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"
Eummoning 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 drawlng-room. l caught
vision Of a slip Of 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 t"ugo, table talk and tea.
Near her recognized from his pic
lures Harry Bennett. the rising young
corporation lawyer, q mighty good
looking fellow, with an affable, pleas
ing way about him, perhaps thirty-ave
years old or so, but already prominent
and quite friendly with Dodge.
"Who Is Il, 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" be added deferentially to her
miss Dodge" I pleaded, bowling as
II had known them all my life, "Tve
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 a 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 its 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 him
here" she answered.
I was about to prolong the waiting
time by some jolly about such a stun
ming girl not having BY any POSSIBLE
ity such cannibal Of a parent, when
the rattle Of the changing gears OF a
car outside told Of the approach Of e
limousine.
The big front door opened and
Elaine flung herself in the arms Of an
elderly, stern-faoed. gray.haired man.
Why. dad. she cried. where have
you been? I missed you so much at
dinner. I'll be so glad when this ter.
rible business gets cleared up. Tell
me. What is on your mind? What ls
Il that worries you now7"
] noticed then that Dodge seemed
wrought up and a BIT unnerved, for he
sank rather heavily into a chair.
brushed his face with his handkerchief
and breathed heavily. Elaine lowered
over him solicitously. repeating her
question.
With a mighty effort he seemed to
get himself together. He rose and
turned to Bennett
Harry, he exclaimed. i've got the
Clutohing Hand"
The two men stared at each other.
Eyes continued rloa1, fsri.s. e...-.H /