Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-10
How


| could not make it out
Kennedy impatiently worked the receiver W
and down, repeating the number "Heo-hello,'
he repeated. "Yes-hello. Is Mss--oh-good
morning Miss Dodge"
He was hurrying along If to give her no
chance to cut him off. 81 have just received
letter. Miss Dodge telling that you don't want
me to continue investigating your fathers death
and not to try to you again about
He stopped. / could hear the reply, as some
times one can when the telephone wire conditions
are certain way the quality of the voice of the
speaker certain kind.
"Why--no-Mr. Kennedy, have written you
no letter."
The look of mingled relief and surprs Sc that
crossed Craigs face spoke volumes.
Miss Dodge" he almost shouted, this is a
rev trick Of the 'Clutching Hand III be right
over"
Craig hung up the receiver and turned from
the telephone. Evidently he thinking deeply.
Suddenly his face seemed to light up. He made up
his mind to something, and moment later he
opened the cabinet-that inexhaustible storehouse
from which he seemed to draw weird and curious
instruments that met the problems which
his strange profession brought to him.
I watched curiously. He took out bottle and
what looked like little hypodermic and, for once,
obvious to my very existence deliberately walked
out of the laboratory.
did not propose to be thus cavaliery dis
missed. 1 suppose it would have looked ridiculous
to third party, but followed him hastily il
he had tried to shut the door on his own shadow.
We arrived at the corner above the Dodge
house just in time to see another vsitor-Bennett
ENTER. Craig quickened his pace. Jennings had
by this time become quite reconciled to our
presence and a moment later we we're entering the
drawing room, too.
Elaine there, hooking loveIier than eVer IN
the plain black dress which set off the rosy fresh
of her face.
And, Perry" heard her say, as we were
ushered in, some one has forged my name
the handwriting and everything-telling Mr. Ken
nedy to drop the case-and knew"
She stopped as we entered. We bowed and
shook hands with Bennett Elaines Aunt Jo-
sephiRe was in the room, a perfect duenna.
That's the limit" exclaimed Bennett. Miss
Dodge has just been telling me-
YES" interrupted Craig. Look, Miss Dodge,
this is it"
He handed her the letter. She almost seized it,
examining it carefully her large eyes opening
wider in wonder.
This is certainly my writing and my note
PAPER" she murmured. but never wrote tho
letter'
Craig looked from the letter to her, keenly No
one said word. For moment Kennedy hest
tated thinking.
Might I-er-see your room, Miss Dodge?" he
asked at length.
Aunt Josephine frowned. Bennett and could
rot conceal our surprise.
why. certainly" nodded Elaine as she led the
way upstairs.
It was a dainty little room, breathing the spirit
of its mistress. In fact, it seemed sort OF pro-
family we all followed in after her. For a mo-
ment Kennedy stood still. then he carefully looked
about. At the side of the bed, the head, he
stopped and picked up something which he held in
the palm of his hand. 1 bent over. Something
cleaned in the morning sunshine-some little thin
pieces of glass; AS he tried defty to fit the tiny
little bits together he seemed absorbed in thought
Quickly he raised 1t to his nose il to smell it,
Ethyl chloride!" he muttered, wrapping the
pieces carefully in paper and putting them into
his pocket.
An instant later he crossed the room to tho
window and examined it.
Look" he exclaimed.
There. plainly, marks of jimmy which
had been inserted near the lock to pry it open.
miss Dodge" he asked. might might
trouble you to let me see your arm?"
Wonderingly she did So and Kennedy bent al
most reverently over her plump arms examining it,
On it was small, dark discoloration around
which was a slight redness and tenderness
THAT" he said slowly "is the mark of a hypo-
dermic needle"
AS he finished examining Elaine's arm he drew
the letter from his pocket Still facing her. he said
il low tone:
Miss Dodge, you did write this letter. but un-
der the influence of the new twilight Sleep"
We looked at one another amazed
Outside, If we had been at the door in the hall
way. we might have the sinister-faced Michael
listening He turned and slipped away quietly
why, Craig exclaimed exctedly what do
ou mean?"
Exactly what say. With Miss Dodge's per.
Iaission shall show you. By small administra-
ton Of the drug. which will injure you in no way
Miss Dodge, think bring back the memory
Of all. that occurred to you last night win vo,
allow- w-me?"
Mercy, no." protested Aunt Josephine
Craig and Elaine faced each other as they had
done the day before when she had asked him