Elaine, now
very much embarrassed, looked about, wondering at the rapid-fire
change. Miss Statistix smiled pityingly.
"Such innocence!" she murmured sadly shaking her head as she lead
Elaine to the door. "Don't you know better than to try to help
anybody without INVESTIGATING?"
Elaine departed, speechless, properly squelched, followed by her
chauffeur.
. . . . . . . .
Meanwhile, a closed car, such as had stood across from the
laboratory, had drawn up not far from the Dodge house. Near it was
a man in rather shabby clothes and a visored cap on which were the
words in dull gold lettering, "Metropolitan Window Cleaning Co."
He carried a bucket and a small extension ladder.
In the darkened recesses of the car was the Clutching Hand
himself, masked as usual. He had his watch in his hand and was
giving most minute instructions to the window cleaner about
something. As the latter turned to go, a sharp observer would have
noted that it was Dan the Dude, still further disguised.
A few moments later, Dan appeared at the servants' entrance of the
Dodge house and rang the bell. Jennings, who happened to be down
there, came to the door.
"Man to clean the windows," saluted the bogus cleaner, touching
his hat in a way quietly to call attention to the words on it and
drawing from his pocket a faked written order.
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