Flash still was thinking about the matter when he went to work the next morning. He rode up the elevator with Joe Wells and they entered the photography department together.
“You haven’t solved the darkroom mystery yet?” the older photographer asked jokingly. “Who slugged you and why?”
Flash shook his head.
“Not yet, but I have a few clues. You know, I’m becoming convinced Old Herm might have had something to do with it.”
Wells laughed. “Any evidence?”
“I’ve learned Herm has been neglecting his duties here. Now and then he slips off home while he’s supposed to be at work.”
Wells showed surprise at the information, but he did not interpret the matter as Flash had expected.
“Old Herm will lose his job if you spread the story around,” he replied.
“And doesn’t he deserve it?”
“Maybe,” Wells shrugged, “but if Herm lost this job he’d never get another. As far as watching the building is concerned, he never was any good. But he’s a fixture at the Ledger. All the boys like him.”