“Great work!” Hawley exclaimed joyously. “How long do you think it will be before poor Carroll is free, Mr. Hands?”
“Not more than a couple of days,” was the encouraging reply. “The grand jury meets to-morrow. I’m going to make it my business to see that they hear the real facts about this case. When they learn the truth, there’ll be no indictment against Carroll.”
Hawley’s face lighted up. “You’ve certainly done us a great service,” he said feelingly. “If ever I get a chance to show my gratitude——”
“You’ve got a chance now,” the lawyer interrupted, with a smile.
“How?” Hawley demanded, with an eagerness which was ample proof of his sincerity.
“By agreeing to return with me to New York,” the lawyer explained. “Mr. Paxton, your managing editor, made me promise that I would bring you back with me. He says he thinks you’ve had quite enough of the peace and quiet of the picturesque Catskills.”
Hawley laughed. “I guess he’s right about that,” he said. “I think I can promise to return to New York with you, Mr. Hands, as soon as Fred is set free. I don’t suppose he’ll need my services any longer. When the Bulletin publishes the truth about the Chronicle explosion, there’ll be such a wave of public sentiment in Fred’s favor that he’s sure to win at the coming election. I predict, too, a big boom in the Bulletin’s circulation from now on.[Pg 48]”
CHAPTER XXXIX.
BACK ON PARK ROW.
As Lawyer Hands had confidently expected, the grand jury, after considering all the facts pertaining to the Chronicle’s explosion case, refused to find an indictment against Fred Carroll.
As soon as the proprietor of the Bulletin was set free, the Camera Chap accompanied the lawyer back to New York, and received a warm welcome from Managing Editor Paxton and the Sentinel staff.