Batman #21 - Story 3
December 10, 1943
"His Lordship's Double"
So for the third story in this anthology issue, we're getting another Alfred-centric and this time it deals with a prank he plays according to the splash page. But let's get into the story...
Bruce receives an invitation to a charity bazaar raising money for the USO. The event is being run by a Lord Hurley Burleigh and his wife. Alfred vouches for the man as his cousin Theobald does gardening work for him. He also asks for the evening off as Bruce will be engaged, which Bruce grants.
Now, there is one thing of note here. For the first time ever in a Batman comic, we get a reference to the past as Dick points out he's not used to the new frame on Alfred or the mustache. And even more interesting is that the editor leaves us a note at the bottom of the panel to the effect that we saw this story in the January issue of Detective Comics. We have not had a direct nod to continuity like this to this point.
When Bruce and Dick arrive at the event, they are shocked to learn that Burleigh is actually Alfred. And more so, he insists he is Burleigh when Bruce presses him. At the end of the evening Batman and Robin hang off Alfred's car as he drives off. But soon, he finds himself forced off the road by armed gunmen. Batman and Robin quickly put a stop to the attack.
Alfred explains that he went to visit his cousin Theobald and found himself face to face with Burleigh. The recluse thought Alfred was an actor sent by an agency to take Burleigh's place at the event. Alfred thought it would be fun to try it and so didn't say a word that Burleigh was wrong. But then there's the matter that someone was out to get Burleigh.
Batman and Robin head to Burleigh's place to warn him of the danger, but he seems to feel there's nothing to it. The two are about to leave when Batman notes all the plants in the house are withered and dying. It's a strange sight when Burleigh is known as a botanist. With this guise revealed, a group of men come out and capture Batman and Robin.
They are left in the basement with the real Burleigh. Burleigh had developed a cheaper process of making rubber from petroleum. His servant Stevens is behind the ruse in the hopes of gaining the secret. They realize Alfred was attacked when the real actor showed up, spooking Stevens who sent his men to attack. Batman comes up with an idea on how to get the gang's attention. He yells out where the plans are hidden.
Stevens comes down with chisels and he and his men begin to hack away at the stone wall. Slivers from the wall land near Batman and Robin who use them to cut away their bonds. They then proceed to attack the gang. Dick Sprang's art for this story is really on point as we see the final fight between the gang and the Dynamic Duo.
