Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1915-06-04
The Exploits
Of Elaine
A Detective Novel and Motion Picture Drama

Ing anu lueApilChDlS SeFleh Oh muTuSTS
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 hological-pleAsure in crimes
OF violence, revenge, avarice and self
protection. Sometimes It seems as II
he delights in the pure deviltry Of the
thing. 1t is weird"
He leaned over anu spoke In 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, 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 see
Dodge Immediately.
Dodge, / discovered over the tele-
phone, was not at home nor at any of
the clubs to which he belonged. Late
though 1t 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, l 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
| tn ON hfo until
morning. The harder found the story
to get the more / 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
a chance of interesting her and seeing
her father, writing on the bottom of
| thO WOuiu ihC W iheCA VIC w
Mr.. Dodge regarding Clutching Hand"
Summoning up what assurance
had. which is sometimes considerable,
followed the butler down the hall as
he bore my card. AS he opened the
door of the drawing-room, l caught a
} vision of slip of girl in evening
clothes. "
EIotpa 10 L.
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 thirty-five
years old or so, but already prominent
and quite friendly with Dodge.
who is 1t, Jennings?" she asked.
"A reporter, Miss Dodge" answered
the butler, glancing superciliously bacl
. at me. "And you know how your father
dislikes to- see anyone here at the
house," he added deferentially to her
miss Dodge" I pleaded. bowling as
If ! had known them all my life, Eve
! been trying to find your father all the
evening. It's very important"
She looked up at me surprised and II
doubt whether to laugh or stamp hel
pretty little foot in indignation at my
stupendous nerve.
She laughed. you are very brave
young man." she rippled with a roguisf
look at Benefits discontinue over the
interruption Of the tete-a-tete.
There was a note of seriousness II
1t, too, that made me ask quickly
: "Why?"
The smile fitted from her face. ant
: in its place came a frank earnest ex
preston, which / later learned to lik,
and respect very much. my father hal
| declared he will eat the very next re
porter who tries to. interview hin
here" she answered.
I was about to prolong the waiting
time by some jolly about such stun
ming girl not having by any possibil
ity such a cannibal of q parent, whei
the rattle of the changing gears of
car outside told of the approach OF
limousine.
The big front door opened an,
Elaine flung herself In the arms OF al
elderly, stern-faced. gray-haired man
why, dad" she cried. where hav,
you been? l missed you so much a
: dinner. I'll be so glad when this ter
rible business gets cleared up. Tell
me. What is on your mind? What Il
1t that worries you now?"
noticed then that Dodge SCENE,
wrought up and bit unnerved. for h,
sank rather heavily into a chair
brushed his face with his handkerchie
and breathed heavily. Elaine hovere,
over him solicitously. repeating he
: question.
: With mighty effort he seemed I,
get himself together. He rose an,
turned TO Bennett.
: Harry he exclaimed, "Pve got tn,
Clutching Hand!"-~
The two men stared at each other.
: "Yes," continued Dodge, I've foun,
out how to trace II, and tomorrow
: am going to set the alarms of the cit.