INCIDENT OF THE AMAZED HOUSEKEEPER

The Professor sighed. At last he had located one of Herman Hohlman’s addresses. Now it was but a question of time before the suspected Nazi agent would be in custody. But was the well-to-do Gunther family, with whom he roomed, aware of Hohlman’s real identity as Carl Brugg? Were they actively assisting him? Or were they completely innocent? He wouldn’t question the Gunthers when he searched Hohlman’s room. Perhaps close observation would disclose the answer.

* * * *

“I am amazed at what you tell me, Professor,” attractive Mrs. Evelyn Gunther said as the two mounted the stairs. “Mr. Hohlman said he was a traveling accountant. And he seemed such a nice, gentlemanly sort of person we took him in because of the housing shortage. This is his room, though he’s been away for three days and no one has been in it since he left.”

The Professor had hardly begun his search of Hohlman’s room when he was startled by the ringing of a bell attached to the single bed. Its loud peals continued until he discovered it was connected to an alarm clock on the bedside table. He pushed in the alarm button and continued his search. Among other things he found, under the carpet, a faded photograph of a striking girl of about twenty. Was she Mrs. Gunther? Another item aroused his speculation—a tiny hourglass. This he discovered in a secret writing-table drawer. Thoughtfully he went downstairs. Mrs. Gunther had lied to him, therefore she must be involved in Hohlman’s activities.

Why did the Professor suspect Mrs. Gunther? How did he know she had lied? Turn page for solution.