(This interesting story was commenced in No. 153 ofNick Carter Stories. Back numbers can always be obtained from your news dealer or the publishers.)
Before the hour for going to press arrived, two more attempts were made to prevent the Bulletin’s snapshots from reaching the public. The first of these was an endeavor to persuade Carroll’s printers and pressmen to go on strike. The men were approached by a local politician, who offered them tempting cash inducements to refuse to get out the paper. But both the composing-room and pressroom forces indignantly refused to listen to this sinister suggestion. They all liked their young employer, and admired him for the plucky fight he was making. There was not a man of them whose loyalty could be shaken. So this attempt proved as futile as had been the effort to bribe theBulletin’sphoto-engraver.
The other attempt was of a more violent nature. Just as the paper was going to press, a gang of hoodlums endeavored to force their way into the Bulletin Building, with the obvious intention of invading the pressroom, and smashing the forms. But Carroll barred the doors, and from a window of the editorial rooms addressed the band of toughs, displaying a revolver, and threatening to shoot the first man who dared to set foot within the premises. There was a note in his voice which caused them to believe that he meant business, and kept them back.
This last effort of the enemy having failed, like the others, nothing else occurred to interfere with the getting out theBulletin, and a few hours later, the citizens of Oldham were chuckling over Hawley’s snapshots, and warmly praising Carroll’s newspaper for its enterprise and fearlessness.
The success of theBulletin’sexposé was even greater than the Camera Chap had predicted. Not only was the entire issue sold out, but the name of Carroll’s newspaper was on every tongue, which, of course, was a fine thing from the standpoint of future circulation; for the more a newspaper is talked about, the more it is read.[Pg 42]In fact, many persons who found it impossible to obtain copies of the paper, on account of the unprecedented demand, called at theBulletinoffice that day, and paid for a year’s subscription, so as to guard against the possibility of such a thing happening again.
Letters of congratulation came pouring in by every mail. “Constant Reader,” “Pro Bono Publico,” “Vox Populi,” and a host of others eagerly wrote to thank the editor of theBulletinfor the public service which he had rendered.
For while, as has been said above, Hawley’s snapshots appealed to the sense of humor of many, and were provocative of chuckles, there were as many more who saw the serious side of the situation, and were stirred to righteous wrath by the shameful conditions which theBulletinhad revealed to them.
These good people were in the habit of going to bed early, and therefore never would have discovered that the city was not being properly and faithfully policed at night if Carroll’s newspaper had not opened their eyes.
A delegation of taxpayers, thirty strong, called at the city hall that morning, and demanded an audience with the mayor.
Each of them had a copy of the current issue of theBulletinin his hand, and each of them had fire in his eye. When they were ushered into the mayor’s private office they proceeded to deliver themselves of utterances so forceful and to the point that his honor squirmed in his chair as he listened.
As soon as they had gone, Mayor Henkel reached for the telephone on his desk, and called up police headquarters.
“Is that you, Hodgins?” he growled into the transmitter.
“Yes, Mr. Mayor.” Chief Hodgins’ voice was very meek, and a trifle unsteady. He, too, had seen theBulletinthat morning.
“Come on over here at once!” snarled his honor. “I want to see you.”
The chief lost no time in getting over to the city hall. Not that he was intensely eager for this interview, but he gathered the impression from the tone of the mayor’s voice over the wire that its owner was more than a trifle peevish, and he knew better than to keep him waiting when he was in such a mood.
“I suppose you’ve seen theBulletin?” snapped the mayor, as Hodgins stepped into the room.
“Yes, Mr. Mayor. Of course, I don’t make a practice of readin’ that disreputable sheet, but somebody happened to hand me a copy this mornin’, and called my attention to the—ahem—dastardly outrage on the front page. Ain’t it fierce, Mr. Mayor?”
His honor glared at him. “Yes, it’s fierce, all right!” he growled. “But it’s only what we’ve got to expect when we’ve got a bonehead like you at the head of the department.”
The chief’s round face turned purple. “Now, see here, Mr. Mayor,” he said plaintively, “is it fair to blame me when you——”
“Never mind that now,” his honor interrupted curtly. “I’ll attend to your case later on—and to all those others who have gone and got my administration in bad by getting their pictures in that confounded newspaper. I’m going to teach you all a lesson you won’t forget in a hurry, I promise you. But that’ll keep for a little while.[Pg 43]There’s something else that I want to attend to first. Do you know who took those snapshots for theBulletin?”
“I am told that it was that young loafer from New York named Hawley, who——” began the chief.
“So it was he, was it? I suspected as much,” Mayor Henkle muttered. “Do you know where he is at this moment, Hodgins?”
“No, I don’t,” replied the chief of police, with a scowl. “But I guess I can find him, all right. I am going to court as soon as I leave here, to swear out a warrant for his arrest; and then I——”
“You’re going to do nothing of the kind,” his honor broke in, with much vehemence. “You big, blundering boob, haven’t you got enough sense to realize that we can’t arrest him?”
“Why not?” demanded Hodgins in great astonishment. “He took those snapshots without a license, didn’t he? That’s a clear violation of the law. It seems to me that here’s a fine opportunity to put the scamp behind bars for six months. He can’t beat the case this time.”
“Oh, it seems that way to you, does it?” sneered his honor. “Well, maybe if you stop to think for a minute, you’ll realize what effect it would have upon the people of this town if we were to send that chap to jail for taking those pictures. It would be regarded as a piece of spite work, and public sentiment would be dead against us. I don’t want that.”
“What do you propose to do, then?” inquired Hodgins, making no effort to conceal his disappointment.
“Go and find that camera man, and bring him to me,” the mayor commanded. “Don’t arrest him. Persuade him to come here under a flag of truce. I want to talk with him.”
Although Carroll tried hard to persuade him to make an abrupt exit from the town of Oldham immediately after the publication of the sensational snapshots, Hawley persisted in lingering in theBulletinoffice.
“I want to see the fun, Fred,” he explained. “The sight of the populace pouring in to buy papers and shower congratulations upon the editor is such a great treat that I can’t tear myself away. Just let me hang around and watch the harvest, and I’ll promise to keep quiet, and not get in your way.”
The proprietor of theBulletinsmiled deprecatingly. “Of course, you’re not in my way, old man,” he said. “Don’t talk rot. It’s only because of the danger to yourself that I’m anxious to get rid of you. Don’t you realize that every minute you remain in this town you run the risk of being nabbed by the police and railroaded to jail? You can be sure Hodgins has already gone to court and sworn out a warrant for your arrest. I’m surprised that he or some of his men haven’t been around here before now, looking for you. But no doubt they’ll be here soon. Take my advice, Frank, and get away before it is too late.”
“Oh, I guess there’s no danger,” the Camera Chap replied coolly. “If they do come here with a warrant, there must be lots of places in this building in which I can hide while they’re searching. But the chances are they won’t come here; they’ll figure that I’ve skipped out of town. It is always——”
He did not complete the remark, for just then Miggsy stepped up and addressed them excitedly.[Pg 44]
“Chief Hodgins is comin’ up the stairs,” the boy announced breathlessly. “Beat it quick, Mr. Hawley, if you don’t want to get pinched!”
The Camera Chap jumped hastily to his feet, and glanced about the big editorial room in search of a means of escape.
“Use that stairway over there, Frank,” exclaimed Carroll. “It leads to the pressroom. You’ll find some place to hide in down there. Don’t attempt to leave the building just yet. He may have the place surrounded with his men.”
As Hawley dashed down this private stairway, Carroll rushed toward the door of the editorial room, with the intention of barricading it by dragging a desk in front of it, for there was no lock.
But before he could do this, the portly form of the chief of police was in the doorway.
“Well, sir, what do you wish?” demanded the proprietor of theBulletin, stepping in front of the police official. “You can’t come in here. Nobody but members of the staff are permitted in this room.”
Carroll had no hope of being able to keep Hodgins out, for he believed that the latter was armed with a warrant. He was merely sparring for time in order to give the Camera Chap a chance to reach the pressroom in the basement.
There was a scowl upon the chief’s face. It went very much against his grain to pay this visit to the office of the newspaper which he so cordially hated; but he had been ordered to find the Camera Chap and bring him to the city hall immediately, and, fearful of the mayor’s wrath if he failed, he thought it best to attend to the matter himself.
“I want that feller Hawley,” he announced brusquely. “Where is he?”
Carroll shrugged his shoulders. “Ask me an easier one. Surely you didn’t expect to find him here? I should think you’d give him credit for more sense than that. Hasn’t he already given you proof that he possesses intelligence?”
The scowl on Hodgins’ face deepened. “Aw, cut it out!” he growled. “You know where he is, all right. I ain’t goin’ to do him any harm. If you’ll produce him, I’ll promise you that I won’t place him under arrest.”
Carroll laughed ironically. “Oh, no; of course not,” he sneered. “You wish merely to shake him by the hand, and compliment him upon the excellence of his snapshots in to-day’sBulletin. I understand.”
The face of the chief of police turned the color of a ripe plum.
“If I had my way, I’d march him to jail so quick that it’d make his head swim,” he said furiously. “And I’d do the same with you, too, you fresh young muckraker. But I’m telling you the truth,” he added more mildly. “I ain’t come here now to arrest him. I’m here to invite him to come over to the city hall and see the mayor. His honor wants to have a talk with him—a friendly chat. If you don’t believe that’s on the level, you can get the mayor on the phone and ask him.”
“Oh, I guess I won’t bother,” said Carroll, still incredulous. “Tell the mayor that if he wants to see Mr. Hawley he’ll have to go to New York.”
“Do you mean to say that he’s gone back to New York?” exclaimed Hodgins uneasily.[Pg 45]
“If he’s followed my advice, he must be on his way there by this time,” was the guarded reply.
The chief seemed to be stunned by this information. For a full minute he stood there, silent and frowning. And then, greatly to Carroll’s astonishment, he swung on his heel and departed without a word.
Unable to believe that he had got rid of him so easily, and suspecting some trick, Carroll stepped to a window of the editorial room, which commanded a view of the entrance to the Bulletin Building. He saw Hodgins emerge from the building, and walk slowly up the street toward the city hall, without once looking back.
“Looks as if he’s really gone,” the proprietor of theBulletinmuttered. “Queer that he didn’t insist upon searching.”
Then he went downstairs to the pressroom to assure the Camera Chap that for the time being, at least, the danger was passed.
Chief Hodgins had gone away really convinced that Hawley had gone back to New York. It was just what a young man placed in the Camera Chap’s position might be expected to do, he thought; so he was quite ready to believe it.
He started for the city hall with the intention of reporting to the mayor that the bird had already flown, but as he neared the building he chanced to encounter his young friend Gale.
The latter smiled dubiously when he heard of Hawley’s supposed departure. “I wouldn’t be too sure that he’s gone, if I were you, chief,” he remarked. “Although I haven’t any use for Hawley, I’ve got to admit that he has plenty of nerve; it wouldn’t be at all like him to run away at this time. Besides, I’ve got good reason to believe that he’s still in Oldham. I’ve made a discovery.”
“You have?” exclaimed Hodgins eagerly. “What is it?”
“As perhaps you are aware, Hawley came to town on a motor cycle, which he borrowed from the friend with whom he is stopping up in the mountains. I have discovered that the motor cycle is still in the garage on Main Street, where Hawley checked it. While it remains there, isn’t it reasonable to assume that he is still in town?”
“Not necessarily,” Hodgins replied. “He may have forgotten it; or he may have notified his friend to send for it.”
“Very true,” Gale admitted. “Both of those theories are plausible, of course; but still, I think that it is a clew well worth following. If I were you, chief, I’d assign a detective to watch that garage, in the hope that Hawley may come for the wheel.”
Hodgins nodded. “That’s not a half bad idea, young feller,” he graciously declared. “I can see that you’re your father’s son, all right. Cleverness surely does run in the Gale family. I am going to do as you suggest.”
So instead of going to the city hall, Hodgins turned about and went to police headquarters. Picking out two of his best detectives, he assigned them to watch the Invincible Garage, on Main Street, and to shadow whoever came there to claim a certain motor cycle. If it was Hawley himself who came for the wheel, the detectives were instructed to grab him, and notify Chief Hodgins immediately.
Several hours later, the chief had good cause to congratulate himself upon this move, for one of the detec[Pg 46]tives called up on the telephone, and informed him that they had captured the Camera Chap.
“He came for the motor cycle himself,” the detective explained over the wire. “The chump walked right into our hands, boss. Mike is holding him now, while I’m telephoning.”
“All right; I’ll be right over,” said Hodgins. “Hold him tight until I get there. If you let him get away it will cost both of you your shields.”
That the Camera Chap had been captured was indeed true. After lingering in theBulletinoffice for several hours after the visit of the chief of police, he had gone to the garage with the intention of taking his motor cycle and returning to his host’s mountain retreat.
He realized that he ran some danger of being recognized as he walked along Main Street, but the distance from theBulletinoffice to the Invincible Garage was so short that he thought he could safely risk it.
The possibility of the place being watched by some of Hodgins’ men, in expectation of his coming, did not enter his mind, and, therefore, when he reached the garage without being challenged, he considered himself out of danger.
It was a great shock to him when, just as he was wheeling the motor cycle out to the street, the two detectives pounced upon him, and told him fiercely that if he preferred a whole skin to a broken one he had better keep very still, and give them no trouble.
Those men were big and brawny, and they were so sore at their captive for the injury he had done Oldham’s police force that they would have been well pleased if he had offered resistance so they would have had justification for using violence. But Hawley disappointed them in this respect. He accepted the situation with a rueful smile. He fully believed that he was booked for jail, and the prospect was not pleasant, but he saw no use in making a fuss about it.
Chief Hodgins arrived at the garage a few minutes later, and took personal charge of the prisoner.
Greatly to the latter’s astonishment, he was not taken to police headquarters. He was marched to the city hall, and conducted by Hodgins into the private office of the mayor.
And what astonished him still more was the fact that the mayor received him with a pleasant smile.
So friendly was the mayor’s greeting that the Camera Chap thought, at first, that his honor could not be aware of the identity of his visitor. Surely the head of Oldham’s government could have no reason for feeling kindly disposed toward the chap who had given that government such a severe jolt.
Great, then, was Hawley’s amazement when Mayor Henkle, after beaming beatifically upon him, turned to Chief Hodgins and said pleasantly:
“So this is the young man whose snapshots in this morning’sBulletinhave created such a stir in town?”
The chief of police scowled. “Yes, this is the—er—this is the young man.” He had intended to end the sentence differently, but a warning glance from his honor caused him to modify his words.
Mayor Henkle leaned forward in his chair, and extended[Pg 47]a huge hand, the back of which was as hairy as a gorilla’s paw, toward the Camera Chap.
“Mr. Hawley, let me congratulate you upon that achievement,” he said. “Those pictures are great—simply immense.”
“Glad you liked them, Mr. Mayor,” said Hawley, as he grasped the outstretched hand. To himself he said: “Now, I wonder what the deuce can be the meaning of this taffy?”
The Camera Chap was not the only person whose curiosity was aroused by the Honorable Martin Henkle’s demeanor. Chief Hodgins’ eyes opened wide with wonder as he heard his boss congratulating the author of those snapshots. Hodgins knew that the mayor, though a gruff, bullying type of man, could be as smooth and urbane as a courtier when it suited his purpose to be so; but the chief was at a loss to imagine what the mayor’s purpose could be in the present instance.
It looked as if his curiosity would have to go unsatisfied, however, for he was not permitted to hear the rest of the conversation.
“I guess we won’t detain you any longer, chief,” said the mayor, waving his hand toward the door. “I realize that your time is valuable; besides, Mr. Hawley and I wish to have a little confidential chat together.”
Hodgins saluted stiffly, and started to withdraw, but as he neared the doorway he thought of something which caused him to hesitate.
“Aren’t you going—don’t you wish me to take charge of this—er—young man when you get through with him?” he inquired anxiously.
“Certainly not,” replied his honor indignantly. “Mr. Hawley is not a prisoner. He is here as my guest. When this interview is over, he will be free to depart, and I’ll make it hot for anybody that interferes with him. I thought that I had thoroughly impressed that fact upon your mind, chief.”
“Now, I wonder what the deuce can be the meaning of this?” said the Camera Chap to himself once more. “It certainly sounds too good to be true.”
“Yes, Mr. Hawley, those pictures in this morning’sBulletinwere a remarkably clever piece of work,” Mayor Henkle declared, as the door closed behind the chief of police. “As soon as I saw them I made up my mind that I was going to send for the man who took them, and tell him what I thought of them. I can appreciate pluck and skill, Mr. Hawley, even when they are directed against myself. The fact that those snapshots of yours are somewhat of a black eye to my administration, doesn’t prevent me from being glad to shake hands with you.”
“You are certainly broad-minded, Mr. Mayor,” the Camera Chap said politely.
“Well, yes; I guess I am,” the Honorable Martin Henkle admitted. “A man has got to be broad-minded, I guess, in order to get along in public life. By the way, Mr. Hawley, how long do you intend to honor us with your presence in Oldham?”
“I can’t say exactly,” the Camera Chap answered, somewhat astonished at the abruptness of the question. “It all depends.”
“Depends upon what?” the mayor inquired eagerly.
“Upon how long a leave of absence I can get from my managing editor. I am on the staff of the New YorkSentinel, you know. I am here merely on a vacation. I came here originally with the intention of staying only a[Pg 48]few days, but I am thinking of writing to Mr. Paxton—he’s the managing editor of theSentinel—to ask if he won’t let me remain for several weeks longer.”
“Humph! And what is your reason for wanting to remain?”
“Oh, there are several reasons, Mr. Mayor. For one thing, I like the climate. I took this vacation on account of my health, you know, and this bracing air does me a world of good.”
The mayor frowned. “Give me another reason.”
“Well, to be quite candid with you, I want to stay and help my friend Fred Carroll get out theBulletin,” the Camera Chap replied.
The frown upon the mayor’s face deepened. “You haven’t written that letter to your managing editor yet, have you, Mr. Hawley?” he inquired.
“Not yet. I intend to write it this evening.”
“I wouldn’t, if I were you.”
“Why not?”
“Because,” Mayor Henkle replied slowly, “even if your editor is willing to extend your leave of absence, you’re not going to stay here. You’re going back to New York immediately, Mr. Hawley.”
The Camera Chap grinned. “You mean you’re going to banish me from Oldham, Mr. Mayor?”
“That’s an ugly way of putting it,” protested his honor, with a deprecating smile. “We won’t call it being banished. I am going to ask you, as a favor to me, to cut your vacation short, and return to New York.”
“And suppose I refuse to go?”
“You won’t refuse,” was the grim reply. “You impress me as being a sensible young man. I suppose you realize, Mr. Hawley, that we can send you to jail, right now, for taking those snapshots without a license. We have a clear case against you.”
The Camera Chap nodded. “Yes, I suppose you have.”
“But I don’t want to send you to jail,” the mayor continued. “I like you, and, as I said before, I admire the pluck and cleverness you displayed in getting those pictures. I think it would be a great pity to put such a talented man behind bars. So I am giving you this chance.”
He glanced at the clock on the wall. “It is just four p. m. There is a train for New York at seven. I guess you ought to be able to get ready in three hours. Will you promise me to leave on that train, Mr. Hawley?”
The Camera Chap smiled ruefully.
“I suppose I have no choice in the matter. I hate to leave Oldham, but, of course, I’d rather do that than go to jail.”
There was a long pause. The mayor seemed to be turning something over in his mind. His keen gaze was fixed searchingly upon the Camera Chap’s face, and twice his lips moved, as though he were about to speak, but each time the words remained unspoken.
Then, with sudden decision, he leaned forward in his chair, and said quietly:
“There is one other alternative, Mr. Hawley. An idea has just presented itself to me which seems to me a vast improvement on my original plan of forcing you to leave town. If you wish, you can remain in Oldham—without going to jail—and earn fifty dollars besides.”
“That sounds much more agreeable,” declared the Camera Chap laughingly. “What have I got to do to earn that alluring sum?[Pg 49]”
“Something very easy. You will merely have to make a short affidavit.”
“To what effect?”
“That those snapshots which theBulletinpublished this morning were fakes.”
Hawley arched his eyebrows. “Fakes? I don’t quite get you, Mr. Mayor. How could those pictures be fakes?”
“I don’t know how they could be,” was the mayor’s reply. “I don’t understand much about photography. But I feel confident that an expert like yourself will be able to dope out an explanation which will sound convincing. I shall leave the details of the affidavit entirely to you.”
Hawley grinned. “I guess I get you now, Mr. Mayor. May I inquire what you intend to do with this affidavit, provided you get it?”
“I intend to publish it on the front page of to-morrow’sBulletin.”
The start of surprise which the Camera Chap gave at this answer was genuine.
“TheBulletin? You mean theChronicle, don’t you, Mr. Mayor?” he inquired.
“I mean theBulletin. It will be published in theChronicle, also—I want it to have as much publicity as possible—but to get it on the front page of theBulletinis the main thing. I want everybody who saw those pictures to-day to learn that they are fakes when they see the paper to-morrow.”
Hawley was so amused by this amazing proposal that he forgot to be indignant. “And may I ask how you propose to get it into theBulletin, Mr. Mayor?” he inquired, with an ironical smile. “Are you going to request my friend Carroll to print it as a personal favor to you?”
“Yes, I am,” was the astonishing reply. “And I guess your friend Carroll will be ready enough to do me the favor when he hears my proposition. I’m going to offer to bury the hatchet. He’s gone pretty far with that confounded sheet of his. There are some things he’s done that lots of men in public life would never forgive or forget. But, as you have remarked, Mr. Hawley, I’m broad-minded. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. You can go and tell Carroll that if he wants to come over to the city hall and shake hands with me, he’ll find me ready.”
“I’ll tell him,” said the Camera Chap dryly, “but I doubt very much if he’ll come, Mr. Mayor. My friend Carroll is a peculiar fellow.”
“Oh, he’ll come, all right!” the Honorable Martin Henkle declared confidently. “You just whisper in his ear that as soon as theBulletinmakes itself right with the administration, that bunch of advertising goes back into its columns, and I’ll bet my bank roll he’ll hurry over. You can tell him, too, that as soon as we’re friends, theBulletinwill get all the news at police headquarters and the other public departments, same as it used to before the scrap.”
“All right; I’ll tell him,” said the Camera Chap, taking a step toward the door. “But I still doubt very much if he’ll come, Mr. Mayor. TheBulletinis going to have so very much big advertising that he probably wouldn’t be able to find room for that piker bunch of ads you caused to be taken out, and which you are now offering to put back again.
“And as for the news at police headquarters, and the other public departments,” Hawley went on, taking another step toward the door, “why, I’m afraid he won’t have much room for that, either. You see, Mr. Mayor, the[Pg 50]Bulletin’scolumns are going to be so taken up the next few months booming the People’s Party candidate for mayor, that there won’t be space for much else.”
Mayor Henkle frowned. “The People’s Party candidate for mayor, eh? Who is he?”
“Fred Carroll,” Hawley answered solemnly. “After much persuasion, my friend Carroll has consented to run at the coming election. He is going to announce it in to-morrow’sBulletin.”
The mayor’s frown changed into a derisive sneer. “The People’s Party!” he sneered. “Who are they? I never heard of ’em before.”
“To be quite frank with you, Mr. Mayor,” the Camera Chap replied, with a smile, “neither did I. The party hasn’t been formed yet. Carroll is going to organize it himself out of theBulletin’sreaders.”
Martin Henkle shrugged his shoulders. “If Carroll wants to make an idiot of himself, I can’t stop him, of course,” he growled. “But if he’s got an ounce of sense he’ll accept my proposition, and turn that lean, hungry paper of his into a profitable sheet. You put it up to him, Mr. Hawley, and see what he thinks about it.”
“Very well, Mr. Mayor,” said the Camera Chap politely. “I’ll make it a point to see him before I take the seven o’clock train to New York.”
The latter part of this answer seemed to astonish the mayor. “But you’re not going to take the seven o’clock train to New York,” he protested. “You’re going to stay in Oldham and earn that fifty dollars by making the affidavit.”
“I think not,” the Camera Chap rejoined quietly.
“Suppose we make it a hundred dollars instead of fifty?”
Hawley shook his head. “Not if you were to make it a hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Mayor!” he declared.
The tone in which he said it ought to have convinced Martin Henkle that it was useless to attempt to alter his decision, but the latter did not quite give up hope of getting that affidavit. He knew that newspaper photographers were poorly paid, as a rule, and, not supposing that Hawley was any exception to that rule, he thought that a hundred dollars must look like a lot of money to him. Even though he refused it now, he no doubt would change his mind after he had had a little time to consider the many things he could do with that sum.
“Well, think it over, Mr. Hawley,” the mayor said. “No use deciding hastily. If you change your mind before the New York train leaves, drop in here again and let me know. I’ll be at the city hall until then. Remember, you get that hundred just as soon as you put your signature to the affidavit.”
Fred Carroll’s joy over the success of theBulletin’spolice exposé was marred by the thought that the girl he loved was likely to suffer for the part she had played in it.
If it had not been for Melba, theBulletincould not have published the snapshots which had created such a great stir in Oldham. No doubt Melba’s uncle and cousin, realizing this fact, would do their utmost to make the girl regret the devoted service which she had rendered their enemy.[Pg 51]
This thought worried Carroll exceedingly. So anxious was he concerning her that, at length, he decided to send a messenger to her with a note, urging her to let him know immediately how things were going with her at home.
He would have called up the Gale residence on the telephone, but Melba had cautioned him that such a proceeding was dangerous, as the telephone at the house was a double one, and Martha, her uncle’s shrewish old housekeeper, was in the habit of listening at the extension instrument upstairs whenever she, Melba, spoke over the wire downstairs. Such conversations Martha always reported in detail to her master when he came home.
Carroll thought that it would be safe to risk sending a note to the house. He intended to make Miggsy its bearer, and that youngster had on several occasions demonstrated his ability to deliver notes to Miss Gale without running foul of the housekeeper’s sharp old eyes.
However, the missive was never sent; for, just as he was writing it, Melba entered theBulletin’seditorial room, and, unannounced, stepped up to his desk.
“Congratulations, Fred!” she exclaimed brightly. “Your editorial and Mr. Hawley’s snapshots have certainly made a great hit. They’re the talk of the town. The wordBulletinwas on the lips of every second person I passed on my way here.”
Carroll was greatly relieved to see that she was smiling, and apparently quite at ease. Evidently she had not as yet been visited with her uncle’s and cousin’s displeasure; or, if she had, at least she didn’t seem to be any the worse for it.
“Yes,” he responded, as he dragged a chair toward her, “I guess we’ve stirred the town up some; and, what’s more important, we’re reaping the harvest. Our circulation department has been doing a land-office business; our entire edition is completely sold out, and I’ve got a bunch of new subscriptions. Several ads have come in to-day, too. They’re only small ones, but they’re ready money. The outlook begins to look encouraging. And I owe it all to you, little girl. If it hadn’t been for your pluck and cleverness in getting those films away from——”
“Hush!” she interrupted laughingly, putting her gloved hand over his mouth. “If you’re going to talk like that, Fred, I’m going right out. I thought I’d drop in to congratulate you, and tell you a piece of news—two pieces of news, in fact—but I won’t stay if you say another word in that strain.”
“Well, it’s the truth,” he insisted, looking at her fondly. “Tell me how your uncle and cousin have been treating you since they found out how you beat them at their own game. I’ve been so anxious about you that I was just writing you a note.”
“They didn’t say a word to me about it—not even a gentle reproach from either of them,” Melba answered.
“That’s queer!” Carroll exclaimed in astonishment. “Can it be possible that they don’t know that it was you who got the films away from their photo-engraving room? If so, isn’t it highly imprudent of you to come here now, Melba? If they should learn about this visit, they might possibly put two and two together, you know.”
“Oh, they must know of the trick I played them,” the girl declared. “They couldn’t help finding it out. The man up in their photo-engraving room knew me, and he must have told them what happened.[Pg 52]”
“And yet you say they didn’t raise a fuss?” Carroll’s tone was almost incredulous.
“Not the slightest, Fred. Isn’t it odd? On the contrary, my uncle’s manner to me last night and this morning was unusually kind and gentle; and as for my cousin—well, that’s one of the startling items of news that I’ve come to tell you.” Melba laughed softly, “Would it be a shock to you, Freddie, to learn that you have a rival?”
“A rival?” he repeated questioningly.
“Yes; a rival in love. My cousin asked me to marry him last night, Fred.”
“What!” Carroll was so astonished that he fairly shouted the monosyllable.
“It’s a fact, Fred,” said Melba, smiling at his vehemence; “and he appeared to be very much in earnest, too.”
“But I thought you told me the other day that he hated you?” Carroll reminded her.
“He has always given me that impression. He and I never got along well together, even as children. He has never taken any pains to conceal his dislike for me. Since his return from New York, his attitude toward me has been particularly mean—until last night.”
Carroll scowled. “Well, if that’s the case, what on earth made him propose to you?”
“That’s what I’m anxious to know,” Melba answered. “The more I think of the incident, Fred, the more it puzzles me. I was in hopes you might be able to suggest a reason for his sudden change. Ah! Here’s some one who may be able to help us.”
She pointed, as she spoke, toward Hawley, who came in at that moment to tell Carroll of his experience at the city hall.
“We want your advice, Mr. Hawley,” the girl said, as the Camera Chap stepped up. “My cousin has asked me to marry him. Can you imagine a reason?”
“I can imagine a hundred reasons,” the Camera Chap replied gallantly. “If you’ll glance in a mirror, Miss Gale, you’ll discover a lot of them for yourself. With all his faults, your cousin is human, you know—and he isn’t blind.”
“Thank you!” said Melba, laughing and blushing. “But I am really serious, Mr. Hawley. I am quite sure that my cousin isn’t in love with me—in fact, as I was just saying to Fred, he cordially dislikes me. Besides, I happen to know that he’s in love with another girl—an actress in New York. He’s got her picture tacked on the wall in his room, and he writes to her every day. Now, what can be his object in proposing to me?”
“Oh, I guess that’s easily explained,” Hawley answered. “No doubt spite is his motive. He wants to win you away from Fred.”
Carroll nodded. “Yes; that’s it, of course. Wasn’t our engagement mentioned during the conversation, girlie?”
“Not a word about it,” Melba replied. “He didn’t even mention your name, Fred. When I told him that it was quite out of the question for me to marry him, he merely said that he was sorry I felt that way about it, but that he was going to keep on trying until he persuaded me to change my mind.”
Carroll was not at all pleased to hear this. “I suppose that means that he’ll keep annoying you by forcing his attentions upon you,” he said grimly.
“I suppose so,” said Melba. “And, being under the same roof with him, that’s going to be decidedly unpleasant. I almost think I’d prefer to have him treat me in[Pg 53]his usual disagreeable manner. Probably my uncle, too, will pester me with arguments why I should marry his son. I can see myself having a pleasant time.”
“If only I could afford to marry you now, and take you away from such distasteful surroundings!” Carroll said wistfully. “It’s the dickens to be poor!”
Melba laughed heartily. “Never mind, Fred,” she said soothingly. “Things will be coming our way soon. Judging from the hit your paper has made, you’re not going to be poor much longer, is he, Mr. Hawley?”
“I hope not,” the Camera Chap replied. “By the way, Fred, I’ve got a proposition to put up to you. It’s from your friend Mayor Henkle. If you’re tired of being poor, maybe you’ll be glad to accept the offer that he makes.”
With a twinkle in his eye, he proceeded to narrate his experience at the city hall, and Carroll received the news with great joy.
“So he wants to call off the fight, does he?” he chuckled. “I’m mighty glad to hear that, Frank. This is indeed good tidings.”
“Why, Fred!” cried Melba in a shocked tone. “Surely you’re not thinking of accepting that offer? I wouldn’t believe——”
“Accepting it! I should say not!” was the indignant reply. “What do you take me for? All the money in the world couldn’t make theBulletinstop fighting Henkle and his gang. But I’m mighty glad to hear the news which Frank has brought. It shows that we’ve got that grafter worried. He must be dead scared, or he wouldn’t have made these overtures of peace.”
The Camera Chap nodded. “Yes, it certainly looks as if he has begun to see ‘the writing on the wall.’ He realizes that the power of theBulletinis growing, and that it means the finish of him and his gang unless he can swing us over to his side.”
“By the way, Fred,” he added, with a chuckle. “I’ve launched your boom as candidate for the mayoralty of Oldham.”
“Who—what?” exclaimed Carroll in great astonishment.
“Yes; I told Henkle that you intend to be his successor in the city hall.”
The proprietor of theBulletinstared at him dazedly.
“Well, I’ll be jiggered!” he ejaculated. “What on earth put such an idea into your head?”
“I don’t know,” the Camera Chap replied, with a grin. “It came to me like a flash. I wanted to get his goat, and it seemed to me that would be a good way of going about it. I wasn’t wrong, either. He certainly appeared somewhat jarred by my announcement.”
“Oh, I see,” said Carroll. “It was merely a joke?”
“Not at all,” the Camera Chap rejoined. “Now that I’ve launched your boom, Fred, you’ve got to run. Just think what a fine thing it would be for theBulletinif its proprietor were the mayor of the town!”
“Nonsense!” Carroll protested. “Don’t talk like an idiot, Frank. It’s quite out of the question.”
It was at this point that Melba suddenly recollected something. “Oh, that reminds me, Fred, of the other piece of news I have to tell you!” she exclaimed. “You know, I said I had two pieces of news to communicate. My uncle announced at the supper table last night that he expects to be the next mayor of Oldham.”
“Your uncle!” cried Hawley and Carroll in a chorus of astonishment.[Pg 54]
“Yes; he said that Mayor Henkle promised to make him his successor. Mr. Henkle has decided not to be a candidate for reëlection, and he thinks that Uncle Delancey’s faithful services to the party entitle him to the place. My uncle is tickled pink. He has already made plans of what he is going to do when he gets into the city hall.”
The Camera Chap looked at Carroll, and chuckled. There was a flash in the latter’s eyes, and his lower jaw was thrust forward aggressively.
“Frank,” he cried, “you’re a true prophet! I am going to announce my candidacy in the next issue of theBulletin, in the largest type we’ve got in the shop.”
When the seven o’clock train for New York steamed out of Oldham, Chief of Police Hodgins stood on the station platform. He was there by order of the mayor. He saw Hawley get on the train, and, after waiting until the train was under way, to make sure that the Camera Chap did not get off again, he went to the city hall to report to his honor.
Mayor Henkle was bitterly disappointed. Until the last minute he had been hopeful that the Camera Chap would fall for the lure of that hundred-dollar bill. In fact, he had stayed at the city hall long after his usual hour in expectation that Hawley would return to make that much-desired affidavit.
The mayor was greatly disappointed, too, because Carroll did not come over to the city hall to shake hands with him and accept his terms of peace. Had the proprietor of theBulletinresponded to his overtures, the Honorable Martin Henkle had in mind a nifty little plan, which, when put in operation, would have come as a great shock to that editor. In fact, his honor had intended to hand Carroll a nice juicy lemon. He had no more intention of making friends with theBulletinthan he had of making friends with his neighbor’s cat—and the mayor hated cats.
His idea was to beguile Carroll and Hawley into confessing that those police snapshots were fakes; then, as soon as that humiliating confession was published in theBulletin, he intended to declare war once more on that newspaper. He figured that Carroll would be so discredited in the eyes of the public that he would have nothing more to fear from him or his newspaper. Therefore, the Honorable Martin Henkle was exceedingly chagrined that neither Hawley nor Carroll had fallen for his little game.
Still, he derived some satisfaction from Chief Hodgins’ report that the Camera Chap had left town on the seven o’clock train for New York. He realized that had the Camera Chap refused to go voluntarily he would have had no legal right to force him to leave Oldham. In that event, he would have had to carry out his threat to send Hawley to jail, for he was determined to get rid of him; but he was strongly opposed to taking that step, for fear of the adverse public sentiment which it was likely to arouse.
With the Camera Chap out of the way, the mayor felt confident that he would soon be able to put theBulletinout of business. The sudden spurt of success displayed by Carroll’s newspaper he attributed entirely to the aid[Pg 55]which Hawley had given with his camera. Now that the Camera Chap had gone back to New York, theBulletin’scirculation would soon dwindle.
Possibly his honor would not have felt so confident if he had overheard Hawley’s words as he took leave of his friend Carroll.
“I have promised to leave on the seven o’clock train,” the Camera Chap said, with a smile, “and, of course, I shall keep that promise. I have some business to attend to in New York, anyway, Fred, so the time consumed by the trip will not be wasted.”
“But,” he added, with a chuckle, “I have not promised my friend the mayor that I would not come back. Very careless of him to overlook that point, wasn’t it? I shall stop in New York only a few hours; then I shall return to resume my job as staff photographer of theBulletin.”
As it turned out, the Camera Chap had cause to feel very grateful to Mayor Henkle for sending him back to New York on the seven o’clock train. For on that train he made the acquaintance of a man who was a friend of the younger Gale. As a result of this, Hawley was enabled to solve the mystery of Gale’s sudden desire to marry his Cousin Melba.
His meeting with this man was not quite accidental, although the Camera Chap took pains to make it appear so. It came about in this manner: Just as the train was about to pull out of the station, two men came down the platform and stopped at the coach in which Hawley sat. One was Gale. The other was a tall blond man, whose face was exceedingly flushed, and who walked somewhat unsteadily. The Camera Chap’s attention was attracted to the pair by the voice of Gale’s companion, which was pitched far above its normal register. He was taking leave of Gale, who evidently had come there merely to see him off.
“Well, s’long, old scout!” he shouted, shaking Gale’s hand vigorously. “See yer again next time I hit this little old town. Hope by that time you’ll be married to——”
He didn’t finish the sentence, for Gale hastily cut him short by saying something to him in a tone so low that Hawley could not catch the words. Then Gale and a guard assisted the wabbly young man aboard the coach, and the train started.
The Camera Chap had heard enough to cause him to desire to learn more. The sentence which had been cut short so abruptly caused him to think of what Melba Gale had told him regarding her cousin’s proposal. He wondered if it was to her that the man with the flushed face had been about to refer when Gale checked his noisy speech. Determined to find this out, if possible, he decided to become acquainted with Gale’s friend.
The latter had taken a seat at the other end of the coach. Hawley waited until the train had been under way a short time, then changed his seat for one beside that of the man, taking care not to betray any special interest in his neighbor.
The latter stared at him for a while; then, being in a conversational mood, he began to talk.
“Hello!” he exclaimed. “Where’d you get on the train?”
Hawley answered that he had got on at Oldham.
“Oldham? Tha’s funny. Tha’s where I got on myself,” the man with the flushed face exclaimed, as excited as though this coincidence were the most amazing thing that[Pg 56]had ever happened. “Great little old town, isn’t it? Know anybody there?”
“A few people.”
“Happen to know my frien’ Gale?”
“Do I?” exclaimed Hawley in a tone which implied that he and Gale had shared the same feeding bottle as infants.
“Tha’s funny—tha’s awful funny. Gale’s great frien’ mine, too. Shake hands! Any frien’ of a frien’ of mine is a frien’ of mine, too. So you know good old Gale, eh?”
“Oh, sure,” Hawley responded, with an enthusiasm that was well feigned. “By the way, old man, I suppose you’ve heard that he’s going to be married?”
The man with the flushed face looked at him in astonishment. “I thought it was a secret.”
The Camera Chap laughed noncommittally. “Nice girl, isn’t she?” he said lightly.
“Nice? She’s regular peach!” The man winked at Hawley. “And rich, too—that’s more important than being nice. My frien’ Gale’s lucky fellow.”
The Camera Chap was amazed to hear this. Evidently, then, the girl to whom his talkative neighbor referred was not Melba. But the other’s next utterance caused him to change his mind.
“Don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t marry her, if she is his cousin,” the man exclaimed. “Nothing wrong in cousins marrying—especially when girl’s so rich.”
Hawley’s face was a complete mask to his emotions.
“Yes, I guess she’s rich, all right,” he remarked casually. “Let’s see; how much do they say she’s worth?”
The young man looked at him in amazement. “Watcher talkin’ about? She ain’t worth anything now, of course. She won’t get the money until old Leggett’s death. Guess you mean how much is she mentioned for in the will, eh?”
“Sure,” the Camera Chap assented. “That’s exactly what I meant.”
“Well, tha’s funny—tha’s awful funny!” the man muttered, regarding Hawley with sudden suspicion. “How the deuce do you know anything about that will? I thought I was the only one who was wise to it—and I haven’t told anybody in Oldham a word about it, ’cept my friend Gale. Old Sam Leggett’s got her down in his will for fifty thousand dollars. Pretty soft for our friend Gale, eh?”
Hawley had difficulty in concealing his astonishment. So Fred Carroll’s fiancée, instead of being a penniless orphan, was really an heiress. Here was good news, indeed. The Camera Chap was glad that he had set out on this trip to New York. He had already learned enough to enable him to understand Gale’s motive for suddenly desiring to marry his cousin. But there were several things he still wanted to know. By adroit questioning, he succeeded in eliciting these details from his babbling acquaintance.
Samuel Leggett, a New York merchant, he learned, was a distant relative of Melba Gale on her mother’s side. The old man was worth millions, and, having no near kin, had made a will leaving most of his money to various charities and institutions in which he was interested. Remembering the existence of his young kinswoman, however, he had mentioned her in his will to the extent of fifty thousand dollars. It was a small amount compared[Pg 57]with some of the other bequests, but old Leggett had not been on particularly good terms with that branch of the family from which Melba was descended; otherwise she would have been heiress to millions instead of thousands.
Fifty thousand dollars, however, was a big enough fortune to appeal to the cupidity of old Delancey Gale and his son. They had learned about his legacy from the man with the flushed face, who was a clerk in the office of the lawyer who had drawn up Leggett’s will, and who had thus had a chance to see that document.
Happening to be in Oldham on some business for his employer, this man had called on his friend Gale, whom he had known when the latter was a reporter on the New YorkDaily News, and had told him of Melba’s prospective good fortune.
Gale had been greatly interested, and had urged him not to talk about the will to his Cousin Melba, nor to anybody else in Oldham. Gale had confided to him that he and Melba were secretly engaged—so the garrulous law clerk informed the Camera Chap—and had explained with seeming ingenuousness that if the girl learned that she was an heiress to fifty thousand dollars she might get an idea into her head that he—Gale—was not good enough for her.
“Modest fellow, our friend Gale, isn’t he?” remarked the law clerk to Hawley, at this point in the narrative.
“Oh, very!” the Camera Chap agreed dryly. “Just one more question, old man: Is Mr. Leggett in good health?”
The law clerk grinned. “You bet he is! He’s as hard as nails, and, although he’s past seventy, is as spry as a man of forty. Comes of a long-lived family, too, I understand. His father was nearly ninety before he cashed in. Poor Gale may have to wait a long time, after all, before he gets his hands on that money.”
“I’ve an idea that he’ll have to wait a very long time,” the Camera Chap answered grimly.
A day after the arrival of the Camera Chap in New York, a middle-aged man of exceedingly prosperous appearance entered theBulletinoffice, and handed a card to Fred Carroll, on which was printed:
“Mr. Oliver Cheston, the National Advertising Agency, New York, Chicago, San Francisco.”
Carroll wondered that a man of Mr. Cheston’s evident standing in the business world should have such a cheap-looking card, for the pasteboard was printed instead of being engraved, and it looked as if the job had been hastily done, some of the letters being blurred.
Nevertheless, the proprietor of theBulletinreceived his visitor with great politeness. He was enough of a philosopher to realize that a man is not always to be judged by the quality of his stationery.
Mr. Oliver Cheston’s first words took Carroll’s breath away.
“I have come to see you about placing some advertising in your newspaper,” he announced quietly; “about five thousand dollars’ worth.”
“Five thousand dollars’ worth!” the proprietor of theBulletingasped. “Is this a joke?”
The representative of the National Advertising Agency frowned. “Why should you doubt my seriousness, sir?[Pg 58]” he demanded, with great dignity. “My firm is one of the largest agencies in the world. Surely you must have heard of us? We represent most of the big advertisers in the United States, and our specialty is placing ads in small-town newspapers such as yours.”
He drew from his pocket several sheets of paper pinned together. “Here is the copy of the ads which I wish to insert in theBulletin. They are to appear regularly in each issue until further notice. Each ad is to occupy half a page. If you will have the contracts drawn up, I will sign them now.”
Carroll glanced at the pages which his visitor had thrust into his hand. Each sheet was a typewritten draft of an advertisement of some product of world-wide reputation. One was a brand of bottled beer, which, so its manufacturers boasted, had made a certain town famous; another was a breakfast food, the name of which, by dint of persistent advertising, had become a household word throughout the world; a third was a tooth powder which millions of people were using.
Still Carroll was incredulous. This stroke of fortune seemed much too good to be true. He was strongly inclined to ask Mr. Cheston why he had selected theBulletinas a medium for this advertising, but he realized that such a question would be exceedingly undiplomatic, so he refrained from putting it.
“Very well, sir,” he said. “How about payment? It is——”
Before he could go any further, the representative of the National Advertising Agency broke in:
“Payment will be in advance, Mr. Carroll. I shall hand you our check now for five thousand dollars. That will carry us for quite a few issues at your usual rates, I think. By the time that money is used up, we shall be able to judge by the results whether it will be to our advantage to continue to run the ads in theBulletin.”
Carroll was even more strongly inclined to suspect now that the proposition was a hoax. This liberal way of doing business, to his mind, looked decidedly fishy.
However, he proceeded to draw up the contracts, and when Mr. Cheston had departed, leaving a check for five thousand dollars behind him, he took the check over to his bank, although he felt so sure that it was worthless that he was almost ashamed to deposit it.
Great was his amazement and joy when he called at the bank the next day, and was told by the cashier that the check had put through the clearing house, and was perfectly good.
It was not long before Carroll’s enemies in theChronicleoffice and at the city hall heard about this windfall which had come to theBulletin.
The Gales could not understand it at all. They thought it very queer that Mr. Oliver Cheston had not come to them with a view to placing his business in their newspaper. Surely as an advertising expert, he must have known that theChronicle’scirculation was far in advance of that of theBulletin.
It worried them, and it worried Mayor Henkle, too, to see Carroll get that five thousand dollars. They had figured on his lack of finances as the strongest factor in the downfall of theBulletin. Now that he had so unexpectedly come into funds, they realized that his newspaper would have a new lease of life, which, from their standpoint, was very annoying.[Pg 59]
What worried the Gales and the Honorable Martin Henkle even more was the manner in which Carroll’s announcement that he would be a candidate for mayor at the next election had been received by the people of Oldham.
Carroll had published that announcement in large type on the front page of theBulletin. In a ringing editorial, double-leaded, and three columns wide, he explained his reasons for taking this step, and urged the taxpayers of Oldham to rally to his standard, and help in the good work of turning the rascals out of office.
On the front page of that issue, and each succeeding issue, was printed a coupon, which the reader was requested to fill out and bring or mail to theBulletinoffice. By signing this coupon, the reader enrolled himself as a member of the new “People’s Party.”
The response to this appeal was very gratifying—to Carroll and his friends. The coupons, properly filled out, came pouring into theBulletinoffice. Committees of taxpayers called in person to congratulate Carroll upon his decision to run for mayor, and to pledge their enthusiastic support.
Day by day theBulletin’scirculation grew larger and larger. Carroll’s editorials on the subject of his candidacy were the most brilliant his pen had ever turned out. Lots of people bought theBulletinjust to read his roasts of the Honorable Martin Henkle and his gang. Many others bought the paper because of the spirited snapshots which appeared each day upon its front page. For the Camera Chap had come back to Oldham, as he had promised to do, and was once more busy with his kodak and in dodging Chief of Police Hodgins and his minions.
It was this fact which worried Mayor Henkle and the Gales most of all, for they soon learned that Hawley had returned, and was responsible for the daring half tones which theBulletinwas publishing, and which were causing so much amusement in Oldham.
Then one day, about a week after the Camera Chap’s return from New York, old Delancey Gale and his son received another great shock. An Associated Press dispatch from New York came to theChronicleoffice, announcing the death of Mr. Samuel Leggett, a prominent merchant and philanthropist.
“I guess it’s all up now, governor,” said the younger Gale morsely to his father. “Melba will come into that fifty thousand dollars, and she’ll marry Carroll right away—confound him! With all that money to spend, he’s sure to beat you at the polls at the coming election.”
Old Delancey Gale nodded gloomily. “Yes, my son, it certainly looks bad,” he admitted. “It seems to me that the situation calls for desperate measure. I have set my heart on being the mayor of this town, and I am not going to let that young ruffian beat me if there is any way of preventing it.”
For a full hour, father and son sat in the former’s private office, putting their heads together in search of some plan which would bring about the undoing of Carroll.
Suddenly the younger Gale had an inspiration. He explained the scheme to his parent, who gave it his enthusiastic approval. They determined to put it into operation immediately.
TO BE CONTINUED.
[Pg 60]
[Pg 61]