The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1915-04-01

me even so much in the case. But
you haven't heard the latest"
What is it?" he asked with provok-
ing ealmness.
Taylor Dodge" I blurted out, has
the clue Tomorrow he will track down
the mani"
Kennedy fairly jumped as l repeat
ed the news.
How long has he known" he de-
handed 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.
'1mpossible!" l calculated.
Kennedy paid no attention to the OBJ
lection. Come, Walter" he urged
We must hurry before the trail gets
cold"
There was something positively I'M
canny about Kennedys assurance. l
doubted-yet l 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 not
SO much so that he did not recognize
me- He was about to bang the door
shut when Kennedy interposed his
foot.
Where is Mr.. Dodge?" asked Ken
nedy. rs he all right?'
"Of course he is-in bed" replied
the butler.
Just then we heard faint cry, like
nothing exactly human. Or was it our
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, fiat
topped desk of heavy mahogany. 1t
was brilliantly lighted.
At one end of the desk was tele-
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on the
floor at that end of the desk-perfeet-
| ly rigid-his face distorted-a CHASTITY
figure. A pet dog ran over, shifted
frantically at his masters legs and
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 into
the library, dropping beside the dead
man, without seeming to notice us at
all.
Father" shrieked woman's voice,
heart broken. "Fatheri Oh-my God
-he-he is dead"
1t was Elaine Dodge.
With a mighty effort, the heroic girl
seemed to pull herself together
Jennings" she cried, call Mr.. Ben
nett-imme diately!'
From the one-sided, excited CONVEX
sation of the butler over the telephone,
l gathered that Bennett had been in
the process of disrobing in his own
apartment uptown, and would be right
down.
Together. Kennedy, Elaine and N.Y.
self lifted Dodge to sofa and Elaine's
aunt, Josephine, with whom she lived,
appeared on the scene, trying to quiet
the sobbing girl.
Kennedy and withdrew little way,
| and he looked about curiously.
What was it," | whispered WAS
it natural, an accident, or-or MUIR
der?" The word seemed to stick in
my throat. If it was a murder, what
was the motive? Could it have been
to get the evidence which Dodge had
that would incriminate the master
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and ex-
amined the body of Dodge. When he
rose his face had a peculiar look.
"Terrible!" he whispered to me.
/
his accustomed place at the desk when
the telephone rang. He rose and
crossed over to it. See! That brought
his 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. 1t shows the
characteristic electric burn"
"The motive?" | queried.
Evidently his pockets had been
gone through, though none of the valu-
desk show that 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, depressing the emotions of
strong man, he turned to Elaine, and
in low voice exclaimed: "The
Clutched Hand did this. | shall conse-
crate my life to bring this man to JUS
tice!"
He spoke tensely, and Elaine. look
ing up into his face, as if imploring his
help in her hour of need, unable to
speak, merely grasped his hand.
Kennedy, who, in the meantime, had
stood apart from the rest of us, was
examining the telephone carefully.
"a clever crook" l heard him NUT
ter between his teeth. He must have
worn gloves. Not a finger print-at
least here"