“Thank you, young man,” he said, bowing. “I am sorry to have taken so much of your valuable time, and I appreciate your efforts.”
Nodding in Penny’s direction, Mr. Blake left the studio, closing the door behind him.
“Queer duck,” commented Salt. “His picture on the front page would be no break for our readers!”
“I can’t understand why Mr. Blake became so provoked,” Penny said thoughtfully. “That excuse about his arm seemed a flimsy one.”
“Let’s develop the film and see what it looks like,” Salt suggested, starting for the darkroom. “It was just an ordinary shot though.”
Penny followed the young photographer into the developing room, watching as he ran the film through the various trays. In exactly six minutes the picture was ready, and he held it beneath the ruby light for her to see.
“Nothing unusual about it,” he repeated. “Blake’s right arm looks a bit shorter than the left, but we could have blocked that off.”
Salt tossed the damp picture into a wastepaper basket, only to have Penny promptly rescue it.
“I wish you would save this,” she requested. “Put it in an envelope and file it away somewhere in the office.”
“What’s the big idea, Penny?”