The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-01-29

ing calmness.
Taylor Dodge" blurted out, has
the clue. Tomorrow he will track down
the mani"
Kennedy fairly jumped as repeat
ed the news.
"How long has he known?" he de-
nanded 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.
'Tmpossiblel" ! calculated.
Kennedy paid no attention to the OBJ
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.
doubted-yet feared.
1t was we'll 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 moi
so much so that he did not recognize
me. He was about to bang the dool
shut when Kennedy interposed his
foot.
"Where is Mr.. Dodge?' asked Ken
| nedy. as he all right?"
"Of course he is--in bed" replied
the butler.
Just then we heard faint cry, Ike
nothing exactly human. Or was 1t oul
heightened imaginations, under the
spell of the darkness?
"Listen!" cautioned Kennedy.
We did, standing there now in thu
hall. Kennedy was the only one of vi
who was cool. Jennings face blanehed
then he turned tremblingly and wen
down to the library door, whence th'
sounds had seemed to come.
He called, but there was no answer
He turned the knob and opened tn
door. The Dodge library was a larg'
room. In the center stood a big, hat
topped desk of heavy mahogany
was brilliantly lighted.
; At one end of the desk was tele
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on tn
floor at that end of the desk-perfect
ly rigid-his face distorted--a ghastl,
figure. A pet dog ran over, sniffe'
frantically at his masters legs AM
: 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 int
the library, dropping beside the dea
man, without seeming to notice us
all.
Father" shrieked a woman's voice
heartbroken. Father! oh-my Go
-he--he is dead!"
It was Elaine Dodge.
With a mighty effort, the heroic gil
seemed to pull herself together.
Jennings" she cried, "call Mr.. Der
nett-immediately!"
From the one-sided, excited CONVEX
sation of the butler over the telephone
gathered that Bennett had been i
the process of disrobing in his ow
apartment uptown, and would be RICH
| down.
Together, Kennedy, Elaine and my
| self lifted Dodge to q sofa and Elaine
/ aunt, Josephine, with whom she livet
i appeared on the scene, trying to quie
/ the sobbing girl.
Il Kennedy and withdrew little wa.
H and he looked about curiously.
'What was it?' whispered. "Wa
" it natural, an accident, orr-or mu
=, der?" The word seemed to stick
, my throat. If 1t was a murder, whf
- was the motive? Could it have bee
;. to get the evidence which Dodge ha
y that would incriminate the mastt
criminal?
y Kennedy moved over quietly and e,
: amined the body OF Dodge. When b
rose his face had peculiar look.
"Terrible!" he whispered to m
apparently he had been working {
;. his accustomed place at the desk whe
" the telephone rang. He rose ar
crossed over to it. See! That brougl
10 his feet on this register let into Il
q floor. AS he took the telephone T
ceiver down flash of light must hay
r. shot from it to his ear. 1t shows Il
T. characteristic electric burn"
le "The motive?" queried.
L Evidently his pockets had bee
gone through, though none of the val
lg ables were missing. Things on h
n desk show that hasty search h;
" been made"
C. Just then the door opened and Be
III nett burst in.
70 As he stood over the body, gazir
down at 1t, depressing the emotions
a strong man, he turned to Elaine, al
l in low voice exclaimed: "Tl
ct Clutched Hand did this. shall cons
! crate my life to bring this man to ju
y. ticel"
On He spoke tensely, and Elaine, loo
er ino nm into his face as IL impIoring n