ROUND-UP

“Heard you rounded up the Four Aces mob,” said Tom Howard, sinking into a chair in the Professor’s study. “Nice work. Tell me about it.”

“Not much to it, really,” replied Fordney.

“Don’t be so modest. Give,” commanded the criminologist’s old friend.

“Delighted.” Fordney lit a cigar. “The Four Aces,” he said, “are Avis Monroe, Dick Graver, Al Toliver and Lou Jackson.

“1. Saturday night I followed them, in slight disguise, to Ox Burkam’s notorious nightclub. The four had a drink and the gang leader left. Shortly afterwards Lou Jackson and the mob’s front went to another table and drank champagne with two businessmen. When the leader returned he was informed of this, smacked the lovely Lou in the face, and accused her of setting up a private shakedown.

2. Later I heard the leader tell Avis Monroe he’d break Lou’s jaw if she tried anything on her own.

3. Suddenly Al Toliver and the front spotted me. The lights went out. The four escaped. But later that night Sergeant Bill Jopke and I closed in on Avis and her mob boyfriend at the Amazon. Sunday I received a tip that the other two mobsters were at the Hotel Minerva. I went down and got ’em.”

“That’s all?” asked Howard.

“4. Yes, except I forgot to mention that the leader has black hair, the front is blond and Dick Graver’s eyes are blue. And so,” chuckled Fordney, “you now know, of course, who the leader is and who is the front.”

Tom Howard blinked and reached for his drink.

Who is the leader? Who is the front? Turn page for solution.