Chapter 12
PUZZLES AND PLANSChief Fleck had spent a sleepless night trying to put two and
two together. Instead of the answer being "four" as it should have
been each time he completed his figuring the result was "zero."
Time and again he mustered the facts into columns, only to succeed
in puzzling himself the more.
Two German spies, the Hoffs, had set out together in their motor
on their usual mysterious Wednesday mission. Two other persons, two
of his most intelligent operatives, Thomas Dean and Jane Strong,
had set out on a motorcycle to shadow them.
What had happened?
Otto Hoff had returned to his apartment on foot, hours before
his usual time, seemingly much perturbed about something.
Frederic Hoff had arrived back at the apartment, also on foot,
some hours later than us
