Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-02-06


that has ever happened in this coun-
try. And nothing but this uncanny
hand to trace them by"
The editor paused a moment, then
exclaimed: why, this fellow seems
to take a diabolical-I might almost
say NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in crimes
Of violence, revenge, avarice and self
protection. Sometimes it seems as if
he delights in the pure deviltry of the
thing. 1t is weird"
He leaned over and spoke in a low,
tense tone. "Strangest of all, the tip
| has just come TO us that Fletcher, Hax-
worth. Sherburne and all the rest of
/ these wealthy men were insured in
/ the Consolidated Mutual Life Now,
/ jameson, I 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, l must see
Dodge Immediately.
Dodge, l discovered over the tele-
phone, was not at home nor at any Of
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 | 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, if l had
to camp on his front doorstep until
morning. The harder found the story
to get the more l wanted it.
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, l 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 |
chance of Interesting her and seeing |
her father, writing on the bottom of |
the card: Would like - interview |
Mr.. Dodge regarding Clutching Hand"
Summoning up what assurance / |
had, which is sometimes considerable. |
l followed the butler down the hall as
he bore my card. AS he opened the
door or the drawing-room, caught a
vision of a 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 l recognized from his pic
lures Harry Bennett, the rising young
lawyer, a mighty good
looking fellow, with an affable. pleas
ing way about him, perhaps thirty-fye
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
1islikes to see anyone here at the
house," he addedsdeferentially to her.
Miss Dodge" pleaded, bowling as
L 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 ,
ioubt whether to laugh or stamp her ]
pretty little foot in indignation at my
'tupendous nerve.
She laughed. You are a very brave {
'oung man." she rippled with a roguish
ook at BENEFITS discontinue over the I
Interruption of the tete-a-tete.
There was a note of seriousness in ,
t, too, that made me ask quickly.
Why?"
The smile fitted from her face, and Z
n its place came a frank earnest ex-
'ression. which l later learned to like
nd respect very much. my father has )
declared he will eat the very next re- :
'orter who tries to interview him
ere," she answered.
/ was about to prolong the waiting
ime by some jolly about such a stun
mo GIL hOI hdNlHS ny dIy POSSIBLE G
ty such cannibal of a parent, when
he rattle of the changing gears of a .
ar outside tCld of the approach of a .
limousine.
The big front door opened and
.laine flung herself in the arms of an
lderly, stern-faced, gray-haired man. 7
Why, dad" she cried, where have
GU been? | missed you so much at
inner. I'll be so glad when this ter
bile business gets cleared up. Tell n
lie. What is on your mind? What is 4
that worries you now"
/ noticed then that Dodge seemed r
rought up and bit unnerved, for he r,
ank rather heavily into a chair. C
his face with his handkerchief
nd breathed heavily. Elaine lowered IL
yer him solicitously. repeating her
uestion. r.
With a mighty effort he seemed to
ct himself together. He rose and CT
irned to Bennett. I,
Harry he exclaimed. i've got the m