"What did the alligator mean?"
"It iss the sign of a secret society; all Germans in High Ridge know that. It was that snake Hoffmann who stole poor Percy to kill him and hang him up in the room where they had their office."
"How long has Karl been a member of the gang?" asked Mr. Cook.
"Ever since Germany went to war with England," said Heinrich. "Nearly three years."
"But he never talked as though he sided with Germany."
"The ones who mean trouble never do," said Heinrich. "Karl knew enough to keep his mouth shut. You see you never suspected him."
"Tell me about Lena," exclaimed Mr. Cook. "Why was she meeting that man Kraus down town tonight and going around with him if she was not working with the gang?"
"She pretended to Karl Hoffmann that she was working mit them. All the time she was acting as a spy for Mr. Wernberg. Because Karl Hoffmann was in love with her he told her lots of things, and it was in that way we got most of our information."
"Pretty clever, eh?" exclaimed Sergeant Riley, approvingly.
"There's another thing, Heinrich," said Mr. Cook. "Why wouldn't you read what was written on that paper tonight?"