The Camera Chap would scarcely have been human if he had been able to refrain from staring at the latter. Naturally, he was curious to see what the fellow looked like.
And, as the bicyclist drew near, Hawley experienced another great surprise.
This young man who was hastening to meet Miss Melba Gale, niece of the proprietor of the Oldham Daily Chronicle, was no stranger to him.
It was his friend, Fred Carroll, proprietor of the Chronicle’s bitter rival, the Oldham Daily Bulletin.
CHAPTER IX.
TIMELY WARNING.
“Hello, Frank!” exclaimed Carroll, in an astonished tone as he jumped from his wheel. “I certainly didn’t expect to find you here.”
“I am equally surprised to see you, old man,” the Camera Chap replied dryly. Then he added, a twinkle in his eye: “I didn’t know you were in the habit of going bicycle riding during office hours.”
“I don’t make a habit of it,” Carroll returned, with a guilty grin. “The fact is—— Why, hang it all, Hawley, you infernal old busybody! What business is it of yours, anyway?”
As the Camera Chap’s name was mentioned, the girl’s brown eyes opened wide with surprise, and she uttered a faint exclamation; but neither of the young men heard it.
“It’s none of my business at all, old scout,” Hawley admitted, laughing. “And, moreover, I’m going to make myself scarce immediately. I’ve got a hunch that this is one of those cases where two is company and three is a tremendously big crowd. Besides, I have a pressing engagement in town and have got to get a move on.”