“You’re sure of that?” Penny demanded excitedly.
“Yes, I heard the men talking about it. The boss has been worried for fear that picture will show up and convict him.”
“Now I’m beginning to understand,” Penny murmured. “It explains why the Star photography room was broken into several times. Someone was after those plates which weren’t there!”
“What became of the pictures?” Captain Bricker asked. “They’ll prove valuable evidence.”
“Why, Salt Sommers has the camera and plates in the press car. Of course, we don’t know what the plates will show until they’re developed.”
“We must have them at once,” the captain said. He turned again to Ben. “Now did you know any of the men who attacked you?”
“Not a one. But I can give you a fairly good description of most of them. They’re waterfront riff-raff.”
“In that case some of them may have their pictures in our files,” the captain said. “I’ll issue orders to round up all loiterers in this neighborhood. You should be able to identify most of them in a police line-up.”
“I’m sure I can.”
“Now about the higher-up, who engineered the scheme. You said you had an idea who he is.”