Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-01-16

you haven't heard the latest
What Is it," he asked with provok-
ing calmness.
Taylor Dodge" I blurted out. has
the clue. Tomorrow he will rack down
the mani"
Kennedy fairly jumped as repeat
ed the news.
How long has he known he de
handed eagerly.
Perhaps three or four hours" ! haz-
arded.
Kennedy gazed nj me fxcdly.
"'rhen Taylor Dodge II dead" he
exclaimed, throwing on his a~cid-stained
laboratory jacket. and hurrying into
his street clothes.
Impossible" / CALCULATED.
Kennedy paid 40 attention TO the OBJ
lection. Come. Walter he urged
I'VE must hurry before the trail gets
cold"
There was something positively un-
canny about kennedy's assurance. l
doubted yet ] feared.
Ii was well past the middle Of the
night when We pulled up In a night
hawk taxicab before the Dodge house.
mounted the steps and rams the bell.
Jennings answered sleepily. but not
90 much so that he did not recognize
me. lie was about to bang the DOR
shut when Kennedy i~nterposed his
foot.
where 4. Mr.. Dodge" asked Ken
nedy. rs ne all right"
"Of course he is-in bed replied
the butler.
Just then We heard a faint cry. like
nothing exactly human. Or was II our
heightened imaginations. under the
spell of the darkness?
"Listenl" cautioned Kennedy.
We did. standing there now in the
hall. Kennedy was the only n Of us
who was cool. Jennings face blanched
then he turned tremblingly and went
down TO the library door. whence the
sounds had seemed 10 come.
He called. but there was no answer
lie turned the knob and opened he
door. The Dodge library was a large
room. In the center stood a big. fiat
topped desk OF heavy mahogany. II
was brilliantly lighted.
Al n 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 CHASTITY
figure. A pet dog ran over. shifted
fra~ntically ., 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
ali.
Father" shrieked a woman's voice.
heart broken. Father, Oh-my God
-he-he Is dead"
II was Elaine Dodge.
With a mighty effort. the heroic girl
seemed TO pull herself together.
Jennings" she cried. call Mr.. Ben
nett-inmediately!"
From the one-sided. excited CONVEX
sation Of the butler over the telephone.
! gathered that Bennett had been in
the process OF disrobing In his
apartment uptown. and would be right
down.
Together. Kennedy. Elaine and my
self lifted Dodge 20 a sofa and Elaine's
aunt. Josephine. with whom she lived.
appeared on the scene. trying to quiet
the sobbing girl.
Kennedy and ! Withdrew a little way.
and he looked about ~curiously.
What was it," | whispered. Was
DER" The word seemed TO stick in
my throat. II N was a murder. what
was the motive? Could il have been
10 get the evidence which Dodge had
that would incriminate the master
criminal?
Kennedy moved over quietly and ex-
amined the body al Dodge. When he
rose his face had a peculiar look.
"Tcrrible," he whispered to me.
Apparently he had been working al
his accustomed place at the desk when
the telephone rang. He rose and
crossed over 10 IL. See! That brought
his feet on this register let into the
floor. As he took the telephone re-
ceiver down a fash Of light must have
shot from II 70 his ear. II shows the
characteristic electric burn"
"The motive?" | queried.
Evidently his pockets had been
gone through. though none Of the valu-
ables were missing. Things on his
desk show hat a hasty search has
been made"
Just then the door opened and Ben
nett burst in.
As he stood over the body. gazing
down at il. depressing the emotions 81
a strong man. he turned { Elaine. and
In a low voice exclaimed: The
Clutchcd Hand did this. 1 shall conse-
crate my life TO bring this man to jus
tice."
He spoke tensely. and Elaine. look
ing up into his face. as IL imploring his
help IN her hour ~ need. unable "a