The Ordway new era., 1915-04-09

It has gone. Jameson-the most alarm
ing and inexplicable series of murders
that has ever happened In this coun-
try. And nothing but this uncanny
hand to trace them by"
The editor paused moment. then
exclaimed: why. this fellow seems
to take diabolical-I might almost
say pathological-pleasure In crimes
Of violence, revenge. avarice and self
protection. Sometimes 1t seems as II
he delights in the pure deviltry of the
thing. 1t is weird"
He leaned over and spoke in q low,
tense tone. "Strangest Of all, the tip
has Just come to us that Fletcher, Hax-
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 cos" ;"
had naturally thought first OF Ken
nedy, but there was no time now to
call him up and. besides, l must see
Dodge Immediately.
Dodge, discovered over the tele.
phOuCs Woo AOI dl hoiuC uoE ot dAy III
the clubs to which he belonged. Late
though It was concluded that he was
at his office. No amount Of persuasion
could get me past the door, and.
though I 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 found the story
to get the more wanted 1t.
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 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"
Summoning up what assurance
had, which is sometimes considerable,
I followed the butler down the hall as
he bore my card. AS he opened the
door OF the drawing-room, caught q
vision of 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 tango, table talk and tea.
Near her recognized from his pic
lures Harry Bennett. the rising young
corporation lawyer, mighty good
looking fellow. with an affable, pleas
ing way about him, perhaps thirty-five
years old or SO, but already prominent
and quite friendly with Dodge.
'Who is it. 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." he added deferentially to her.
'diss 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 very brave
young man." she rippled with Yoguish
look at Benefits discontinue over the
interruption of the tete-a-tete.
There was note of seriousness in
1t, 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.
! was about to prolc lg the waiting
time by some jolly about such stun
ming girl not having by any possibil-
ity such cannibal of a parent, when
the rattle Of the changing gears of a
car outside tcld 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? l missed you SO much at
dinner. Ill 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 bit unnerved. for he
sank rather heavily into q chair.
brushed his face with his handkerchief
and breathed heavily. Elaine lowered
over him solicitously, repeating her
question.
With mighty effort he seemed to
get himself together. He rose and
turned to Bennett