He was not in the habit
of making decisions without proof.
"We found," said Fleck, his keen eyes fixed on her face as if trying to
read her innermost thoughts, "a British officer's uniform hanging in
Frederic Hoff's closet, proof positive that he is a dangerous spy."
"And," said Carter, pointing to the two clippings lying on Fleck's desk,
"in the old man's waste-paper basket we found those."
Jane picked up the clippings and examined them curiously.
"What are they?" she asked, looking from one to the other; "cipher
messages of some sort?"
"We think so," said Carter. "We don't know yet."
"I've noticed these peculiar advertisements often," said Jane, studying
the clippings, "but I never thought of connecting them with the Hoffs. I
wonder--" Fleck and Carter had their heads together and were talking in
low tones.
"I wonder," said the chief, "what young Hoff is up to. He must have
known the girl was there to spy on him. I can't understand his not
quizzing her."
"He's a cagey bird," Carter replied. "They are both of them expert at
throwing off shadowers. Both of them know, I think, they are
being watched."
"Oh, listen," interrupted Jane, all excitement. "I believe I can read
this cipher. The number of letters in the word in big type at the
beginning of the advertisement is the key.
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