The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-03-25

4 Nv NhANoA Iahofu a ilblliNAts AtAfi
exclaimed: why, this fellow seems
to take n diabolical-i might almost
say NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In crimes
OF violence. revenge. avaricc and self
protection. Sometimes IL seems as II
he delights In the pure deviltry of the
thing. 1t is weird"
lie leaned over and spoke In n low.
tense tone. "Strangest OF all. the tip
has just come To us hat Fletcher, Hax.
worth. Sherburne and all the rest of
these wealthy men were insured In
the Consolidated Mutual Life. Now,
Jameson, | want you 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 to
call him up and. besides, | must sec
Dodge Immediately.
Dodge, | 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 he was
at his office. Nc amount OF persuasion
could get me past the door. and,
though ! found out later and shall tell
soon what was going IN 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 | found the story
to get the more | wanted Il.
With some misgivings about being
admitted. | rang the bell OF the splen.
did. though not very modern. Dodge
residence. An English butler. with a
nose that must have been his fortune,
opened the door and gravoly 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 laughter 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"
Summoning up what assurance !
1 AAhN 20 SbAAl'AlliN'o hpl't
| followed the iutlcr down the hall as
he bore my carl. As he opened the
door of the drawing.room. | caught a
vision OF a slip OF u 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 tango, table talk and tea.
Near her ! recognized from his pic.
lures Harry Bennett, the rising young
corporation lawyer, a mighty good.
looking fellow, with an affable. pleas.
ing way about him, perhaps t~hirty.fve
years old or so, but already prominent
and quite friendly with Dodge.
"Who is Il. Jcnnings?" she asked.
"A reporter. Miss Dodge" answered
! the butler, glanclng supcrciliously back
at me. And you know how your father
dislikes to see anyone here nt tho
house. he added ~deferentially to her.
Miss Dodge" | pleaded. bowling as
II / had known them all my life, i've
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 n very brave
young man" she rippled with Il roguish
look at BENEFITS discontinue over the
interruption OF the tete.a.tete.
| ThaRa urno N uoVa 90 ..la.. L..
Il. too. that made me ask quickly.
Why"
The smile fitted from her face. and
In its place anne n frank earnest eX.
preston. which | later learned TO like
and respect very much. my father has
declared he will "A tho very next re.
porter who tries TO interview him
here she answered.
was about TO p~rolong tho waiting
time by some jolly about such a stun,
ming girl not having by any possibil.
ity such a cannibal OF a parent, when
the rattle OF the changing gears OF a
car outside told OF the approach OF a
limousine.
The big front door opened and
Elaine flung herself In the arms OF an
elderly. stern.faced, gray.haired man.
Why, dad" she cried. where have
you been? | 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 Is
1t that worries you now?"
noticed then that Dodge seemed
wrought up and a bit unnerved. for he
sank rather heavily into n chair,
brushed his face with his handkerchief
and breathed heavily. Elaine lowered
over him solicitously, repeating her
question.
With a mighty effort he seemed 10
get himself together. lie rose aud
turned TO Bennett.
Harry he exclaimed, "Tve got the
Clutching Hand"
The two men stared ut each other.
"Yes,' continued Dodge. I've found
out how To trace II. and tomorrow |
am going to set the alarms OF the city