“Oh, no! I shan’t bother,” Hawley replied. “I think their disappointment is punishment enough for them. I had the last laugh, and I’m quite satisfied. As far as I’m concerned, the case is closed. Of course, though, it’s possible that the magistrate may deem it his duty to take up the matter on his own hook.”
“There’s not much chance of that,” said Carroll, with a laugh. “Wall and Hodgins are good friends. I guess the judge will be only too glad to let the matter drop, if you don’t press it.
“And I’m mighty glad to hear you say you don’t intend to do so, old man,” the proprietor of the Bulletin declared. “On Melba’s account, I mean. She hasn’t much use for her cousin; but still, she’d be greatly distressed, I guess, if he were sent to jail. She’s a very sensitive girl, and no doubt would feel the disgrace keenly.”
“If I had any desire to prosecute those fellows—which I haven’t—that argument would be quite sufficient to stop me,” the Camera Chap declared. “I wouldn’t for worlds do anything to distress Miss Gale. She’s one of the nicest girls I’ve ever met. You are, indeed, to be congratulated, Fred.”
“Who? Me?” exclaimed Carroll, making a clumsy attempt to appear bewildered. “What the dickens are you talking about, Frank?”
Hawley laughed. “Say, do you think I’m blind? Don’t you suppose I got wise to the situation as soon as I saw you two together to-day? You might as well ’fess up, old scout.”
“I suppose I might as well,” the other answered, grinning sheepishly. “Yes, Frank, you’ve hit it right—though how the deuce you guessed it, you infernal old wizard, I can’t imagine—Melba and I are secretly engaged. She’s the finest girl in the world, and——”
“Why secretly engaged?” the Camera Chap broke in hastily. He had had experience with fellows in love before, and he knew that once they get to talking about the fair one’s charms it is mighty hard to get them to stop.
“I should think you’d be glad to proclaim your engagement to all the world,” he added. “Why on earth are you keeping it a secret?”
“Because Melba insists upon it,” Carroll explained. “You see, poor little girl, she’s an orphan, and her uncle and cousin are the only kin she has. She doesn’t want to be turned out of her uncle’s home, and she has an idea that that’s what would happen if the fact of our engagement were to become known to that old fox.[Pg 44]”