Though we had not realized it, our return had been anticipated.
Suddenly, from a closet projected a magazine gun and before we
could move, the Clutching Hand himself slowly appeared, behind us.
"Ah!" he exclaimed with mock politeness, "so, you thought you'd
fool me, did you? Well!"
Just then, two other crooks, who had let themselves in by the
skeleton key through the basement jumped into the room through
that door covering us.
We started to our feet, but in an instant found ourselves both
sprawling on the floor.
In the cabinet, beneath the laboratory table, another crook had
been hidden and he tackled us with all the skill of an old
football player against whom we had no defence.
Four of them were upon us instantly.
. . . . . . . .
At the same time, Thomas, the faithless valet of Bennett, had been
dispatched by the Clutching Hand to commandeer his master's
roadster in his absence, and, carrying out the instructions, he
had driven up before Elaine's house at the very moment when she
was going out for a walk.
Thomas jumped out of the car and touched his hat deferentially.
"A message from Mr. Bennett, ma'am," he explained. "Mr. Kennedy
and Mr. Bennett have sent me to ask you to come over to the
laboratory."
Unsuspecting, Elaine stepped into the car and drove off.
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