“Gale!” the Camera Chap repeated, speaking more to himself than to the girl. “That must be merely a coincidence, of course. Surely you are no relative of Gale, of the _News_?” “Do you mean the New York _Daily News_?” the girl inquired, some astonishment in her tone. “I have a cousin who for several years has been a reporter on that paper. It is with his family that I am living. I am an orphan, and my Uncle Delancey’s house has been my home ever since I was three years old. Do you know my cousin?” she asked, looking at him keenly. “I have met him,” the Camera Chap replied evasively. “In New York?” “Yes.” “Then, perhaps you can tell me,” the girl began. Then she broke off suddenly as, glancing over her shoulder, she caught sight of a young man mounted on a bicycle who was approaching from the direction of Oldham. It needed only one glance at her flushed, radiant face to tell Hawley that this was the lucky man who was expected. 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.” “Wait just one minute, please,” cried Miss Gale, as the Camera Chap was mounting his motor cycle. “Fred, is this Mr. Hawley, the New York _Sentinel’s_ camera man? Because, if so, I am just in time.” “Just in time for what, Melba?” inquired Carroll, while the Camera Chap stared at her wonderingly.