He started for the city hall with the intention of reporting to the mayor that the bird had already flown, but as he neared the building he chanced to encounter his young friend Gale.
The latter smiled dubiously when he heard of Hawley’s supposed departure. “I wouldn’t be too sure that he’s gone, if I were you, chief,” he remarked. “Although I haven’t any use for Hawley, I’ve got to admit that he has plenty of nerve; it wouldn’t be at all like him to run away at this time. Besides, I’ve got good reason to believe that he’s still in Oldham. I’ve made a discovery.”
“You have?” exclaimed Hodgins eagerly. “What is it?”
“As perhaps you are aware, Hawley came to town on a motor cycle, which he borrowed from the friend with whom he is stopping up in the mountains. I have discovered that the motor cycle is still in the garage on Main Street, where Hawley checked it. While it remains there, isn’t it reasonable to assume that he is still in town?”
“Not necessarily,” Hodgins replied. “He may have forgotten it; or he may have notified his friend to send for it.”
“Very true,” Gale admitted. “Both of those theories are plausible, of course; but still, I think that it is a clew well worth following. If I were you, chief, I’d assign a detective to watch that garage, in the hope that Hawley may come for the wheel.”
Hodgins nodded. “That’s not a half bad idea, young feller,” he graciously declared. “I can see that you’re your father’s son, all right. Cleverness surely does run in the Gale family. I am going to do as you suggest.”
So instead of going to the city hall, Hodgins turned about and went to police headquarters. Picking out two of his best detectives, he assigned them to watch the Invincible Garage, on Main Street, and to shadow whoever came there to claim a certain motor cycle. If it was Hawley himself who came for the wheel, the detectives were instructed to grab him, and notify Chief Hodgins immediately.
Several hours later, the chief had good cause to congratulate himself upon this move, for one of the detec[Pg 46]tives called up on the telephone, and informed him that they had captured the Camera Chap.
“He came for the motor cycle himself,” the detective explained over the wire. “The chump walked right into our hands, boss. Mike is holding him now, while I’m telephoning.”