The Dickinson press., 1915-03-27

me even. so much In the case. "bu'
you haven't heard the latest
What is it," he asked with proVok
ing calmness.
"Taylor Dodge" blurted out, nat
the clue. Tomorrow he will track do"r
the mani"
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!" ne
exclaimed, throwing off his acid.staineo
laboratory jacket, and hurrying into
his street clothes.
"Impossible!" I 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 un
canny about Kennedy's assurance. I!
doubted-yet I feared.
| It was we'll 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 sleepily, but moi
so much so that he did not recognize
me. He was about to bang the doU
shut when Kennedy interposed his
foot.
"Where is Mr.. Dodge?" asked Ken
nedy. "Is he all right?"
| "Of course he is-in bed" repl1eo
the butler.
Just then we heard faint cry, like
nothing exactly human. Or was 1t ou1
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 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 large
room. In the center stood big, Hat
topped desk Of heavy mahogany. II
was brilliantly lighted.
At one end of the desk was a tele'
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, snlffed
frantically at his masters legs anc
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 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
'FFather!" shrieked woman's voice,
heart-broken. Father! Oh-my God
-he-he is dead!"
1t was Elaine Dodge.
With mighty effort, the heroic girl
seemed to pull herself together.
Jennings" she cried, "call Mr.. Ben.
nett-immediately!"
From the one.sided, excited conver
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
lown.
Together, Kennedy, Elaine and my
self lifted Dodge to a sofa and Elaine's
aunt, Josephine, with whom she lived,
appeared on the scene, trying to quiet
the sobbing girl.
Kennedy and I withdrew little way,
and he looked about curiously.
"What was it," I whispered. "Was
t natural, an accident, or-or muir
ler" The word seemed to stick in
ny throat. If it was a murder, what
was the motive? Could it have been
20 get the evidence which Dodge had
hat would incriminate the master
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and ex'
amined the body Of Dodge. When he
| tOS0 Ills ldCo udu q peCuAIaA Aooh'
"Terrible!" he whispered to me.
Apparently he had been working at
mis- accustomed place at the desk when
the telephone rang. He rose and
crossed over to it. See! That brought
mis- feet on this register let into the
floor. As he took the telephone re-
ceiver down a flash Of light must have
shot from it to his ear. It shows the
characteristic electric burn"
:The motive?" I queried.
"Evidently his pockets had been
gone through, though none of the valu
ables were missing. Things on his
desk show that q hasty search has
been made"
Just then the door opened and Ben,
nett. burst in.
| AS he stood over the body, gazing
down at it, repressing the emotions OF
a strong man, he turned to Elaine, and