The Amateur Detective

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Jane and Pat, her policeman admirer, whom she has taught to believe himself a second Sherlock Holmes, think that they have discovered a black hand plot against Mr. Wise, Jane's employer. In reality the mysterious signs they have seen on the back fence are Jack's secret language to Betty, his sweetheart, whom Father Wise considers too young to have beaux. Betty and Jack find out that Jane has mistaken their innocent hieroglyphics for black hand signals, so they scheme to get father worried, to have Jack masquerade as a detective, subdue a bogus black hand gang, and then, throwing off his disguise, claim Betty as his reward. Pat precipitates matters, however, by arresting the young hero prematurely. Jack is obliged to unmask. But Mr. Wise, seeing the joke, gives Betty to Jack.