"You must come around to my office some time, and let me show you a thing or two," said Mr. Anderson affably.
Jack was careful to accept the invitation as casually as it was given. "I sure will some time," he said.
They parted.
Jack went his way thinking with satisfaction: "There's my second line started, all right."
Mr. Pitman's business was now done for the day, and Jack thought it was high time Mr. Robinson re-embodied himself to look after his employer. But before he changed back he had a strong desire to test his disguise on some one who knew him better than Anderson. He thought of Kate. By this time she must be in the thick of her preparations to open her house.
To think of it was to turn his steps in that direction. In ten minutes he was at the foot of the steps. Sure enough the house was already transformed; wooden shutters taken down, doors and windows flung open, and a small army of workmen and cleaners visible inside.
"Verily, Kate is a wonder!" he said to himself.
Mounting the steps, he rang the bell with twinkling eyes. Kate herself answered the door. Jack, seeing her come through the dark hall, experienced a rush of delight. With her capable, businesslike air she was more adorable than ever. Jack longed to fling his arms around her to see how the business woman would take it—but fortunately restrained himself from an act so rash. She fronted him with a polite, inquiring look. It gives one a queer turn to meet that look on a familiar face.
"Is this Miss Storer?" he asked as polite as herself, though he was bubbling inside.
Kate had stoutly denied the necessity of her taking an assumed name.