You see, I had
an engagement with another client and I'm already late."
He took his hat and coat and, with a reluctant farewell, moved
toward the hallway.
A moment later Elaine and Craig followed, while Jennings finished
restoring the armor as nearly as possible as it had been.
. . . . . . . .
It was late that night that a masked figure succeeded in raising
itself to the narrow ornamental ledge under Elaine's bedroom
window.
Elaine was a light sleeper and, besides, Rusty, her faithful
collie, now fully recovered from the poison, was in her room.
Rusty growled and the sudden noise wakened her.
Startled, Elaine instantly thought of the automatic. She reached
under her pillow, keeping very quiet, and drew forth the gun that
Craig had given her. Stealthily concealing her actions under the
covers, she levelled the automatic at the figure silhouetted in
her window and fired three times.
The figure fell back.
Down in the street, below, the assistant of the Clutching Hand who
had waited while Taylor Dodge was electrocuted, was waiting now as
his confederate, "Pitts Slim"--which indicated that he was both
wiry in stature and libellous in delegating his nativity--made the
attempt.
As Slim came tumbling down, having fallen back from the window
above, mortally wounded, the confederate lifted him up and carried
him out of sight hurriedly.
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