The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-04-20

"AIl right" / exclaimed, q little
nettled that he should have anticipated
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" 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-
manded eagerly.
Perhaps three or four hours" haz-
arded.
Kennedy gazed at me fixedly.
Then Taylor Dodge is dead!" he
exclaimed. throwing OF his acid-stained
laboratory jacket, and hurrying into
his street clothes.
"Impossiblel" ] calculated.
Kennedy paid no attention to the OBJ
lection. Come, Walter" he urged
1--WE must hurry before the trail gets
cold"
There was something positively un-
canny about Kennedy's assurance. |
doubted-yet l feared.
It was well past the middle Of the
night when we pulled up in night
hawk taxicab before the Dodge house.
mounted the steps and rang the bell.
Jennings answered sleepily. but not
80 much so that he did not recognize
mo ua MOS about ~ hang tho door
shut when Kennedy interposed his
foot,
Where is Mr.. Dodge?" asked Ken
nedy, "Is 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. fat
topped desk of heavy mahogany. It
was brilliantly lighted.
At one end of the desk was a tele-
phone. Taylor Dodge was lying on the
floor at that end of the desk-perfect-
ly rigid-his face distorted CHASTITY
figure. A pet dog ran over. shifted
frantically at his masters legs and
suddenly began to howl dismally.
Dodge was dead!
"Helpi" 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. "Fatherl Oh-my God
--he-he is deadl"
1t was Elaine Dodge.
With q mighty effort, the heroic girl
seemed to pub herself together.
Jennings" she cried, call Mr.. Ben
nett-immediatelyi"
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 own
apartment uptown, and would be right
down.
Together, Kennedy, Elaine and my
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 O little way,
and be looked about curiously.
"What was it?" whispered. "Was
it natural. an accident. or-or muir
der2" The word seemed to stick in
nay throat. II 1t was a murder, what
was the motive? Could 1t have been
to get the evidence which Dodge had
that would incriminate the master
criminal?