The High School Left End | Page 5

a frown on the journalistic face.

CHAPTER II
THE START OF THE DODGE MYSTERY
"This is the way it always goes," jerked out Bradley, as the two High
School boys hurried into the office after him.
"One of my men is sick, and the other two are somewhere---where, I
can't find out."

"All" his men sounded large enough; as a matter of fact, the only
reporters "The Blade" employed were three young men on salary, and
Dick Prescott, mainly as gleaner of school news. Dick didn't receive
any salary, but was paid a dollar a column.
"What's happening, anyway?" Dick asked coolly.
"You know Theodore Dodge?" demanded Mr. Bradley.
"I know him when I see him; he never talks with me," Prescott replied.
"Theodore Dodge is the father of a fellow in our senior class at High
School," Dave put in, adding under his breath, "and the son is one of
our football 'soreheads.'"
"Dodge has vanished," continued Bradley. "He went out early this
morning, and hasn't been seen since. Tonight, just after dark, a man
walking by the river, up above the bend, picked up a coat and hat on the
bank. Letters in the pocket showed the coat to be Mr. Dodge's. The
finder of the coat hurried to the Dodge house, and Mrs. Dodge
hurriedly notified the police, asking Chief Coy to keep the whole
matter quiet. Jerry (Chief Coy) doesn't know that we have a blessed
word about this. But Jerry, his plain clothes man, Hemingway, and two
other officers are out on the case. They have been on the job for nearly
three hours. So far they haven't learned a word. They can't drag the
river until daylight comes. Now, Prescott, what occurs to you as the
thing to do?"
"I guess the only thing," replied Dick quietly, "is to find Theodore
Dodge."
Mr. Bradley gasped.
"Well, yes; you have the right idea, young man. But can you find
Dodge, Dick?"
"When do you go to press?"

"Latest at four o'clock in the morning."
"I think I can either find Theodore Dodge, or else find where he went
to," Prescott replied, slowly. "Of course, that's brag---not promise."
"You get us the story---straight and in detail," cried Bradley, eagerly,
"and there'll probably be a bit extra in it for you---a good bit, perhaps.
If Dodge doesn't turn up without sensation this is going to be our big
story for a week. Dodge, you know, is vice-president and actual head of
the Second National Bank."
"Whew!" thought Dave Darrin, to himself. "It's easy enough for any
suspicious person to imagine a story! But it might not be the right one."
"Some time ago," asked Dick thoughtfully, "didn't you publish a story
about some of the big amounts of insurance carried by local rich men?"
"Yes," nodded Bradley.
"I think you stated that Theodore Dodge carried more than any other
citizen of Gridley."
"Yes; he carries a quarter of a million dollars of insurance."
"Is the insurance payable to his widow, or others---or to his estate?"
"I don't know," mused News Editor Bradley, a very thoughtful look
coming into his face.
"Well, it's worth while finding out," pursued Dick. "See here, suppose
Dodge has been using the bank's funds, and found himself in a corner
that he couldn't get out of? Then, if the insurance money goes to his
widow, it would be hers, and no court could take it from her for the
benefit of his creditors. If it goes to the estate, instead, then the
insurance money, when paid over, could be seized and applied to cover
any shortage of the missing man at the bank."
"So that-----?" interrogated the news editor, his own eyes twinkling
shrewdly.

"Why, in case---just in case, you understand---that Mr. Dodge has gone
and gotten himself into trouble over the bank's funds, then it's probable
that he has done one of two things. Either, in despair he has killed
himself, so that either his widow or the bank will be protected. If the
missing man didn't do away with himself, then probably he has put up
the appearance of suicide in the hope that the officers of the law will be
fooled of his trail, and that either a wronged bank or a deserted wife
might get the insurance money. Of course, Mrs. Dodge might even be a
party to a contemplated fraud, though that's not a fair inference against
her unless something turns up to make it seem highly probable."
"My boy," cried Mr. Bradley admiringly, "you've all the instincts and
qualities of the good newspaper man. I hope you'll take up the work
when you get through the High School. But now to business!"
"Where do you want me to go? Where do you want me to take up the
trail?