It was not long afterward that a knock sounded at the door of the new headquarters of the Clutching Hand. LeCroix and the secretary were there, as well as a couple of others.
"The Chief!" exclaimed one.
The secretary opened the door, and, sure enough, the Clutching Hand entered.
"Well, how did your infra-red rays work?" he asked LeCroix.
"Fine."
"And they're gone?"
"Yes. The flowers were in the window yesterday. Two of our men saw them on the boat."
There came another knock. This time, as the door opened, it was Thomas,
Bennett's faithless valet, who entered.
"Say," blurted out the informer, "do you know Kennedy and Jameson are back?"
"Back?" cried the crooks.