Hodgins saluted stiffly, and started to withdraw, but as he neared the doorway he thought of something which caused him to hesitate.
“Aren’t you going—don’t you wish me to take charge of this—er—young man when you get through with him?” he inquired anxiously.
“Certainly not,” replied his honor indignantly. “Mr. Hawley is not a prisoner. He is here as my guest. When this interview is over, he will be free to depart, and I’ll make it hot for anybody that interferes with him. I thought that I had thoroughly impressed that fact upon your mind, chief.”
“Now, I wonder what the deuce can be the meaning of this?” said the Camera Chap to himself once more. “It certainly sounds too good to be true.”
“Yes, Mr. Hawley, those pictures in this morning’s Bulletin were a remarkably clever piece of work,” Mayor Henkle declared, as the door closed behind the chief of police. “As soon as I saw them I made up my mind that I was going to send for the man who took them, and tell him what I thought of them. I can appreciate pluck and skill, Mr. Hawley, even when they are directed against myself. The fact that those snapshots of yours are somewhat of a black eye to my administration, doesn’t prevent me from being glad to shake hands with you.”
“You are certainly broad-minded, Mr. Mayor,” the Camera Chap said politely.
“Well, yes; I guess I am,” the Honorable Martin Henkle admitted. “A man has got to be broad-minded, I guess, in order to get along in public life. By the way, Mr. Hawley, how long do you intend to honor us with your presence in Oldham?”
“I can’t say exactly,” the Camera Chap answered, somewhat astonished at the abruptness of the question. “It all depends.”
“Depends upon what?” the mayor inquired eagerly.
“Upon how long a leave of absence I can get from my managing editor. I am on the staff of the New York Sentinel, you know. I am here merely on a vacation. I came here originally with the intention of staying only a[Pg 48] few days, but I am thinking of writing to Mr. Paxton—he’s the managing editor of the Sentinel—to ask if he won’t let me remain for several weeks longer.”