As he held it up to the light and scrutinized it intently, the gaze of Gale and Chief Hodgins was fixed searching upon his face. It was rather an anxious moment for them. But sneers curled their lips as they observed the baffled expression which came to Hawley’s countenance. It was quite evident that he had found nothing which would enable him to prove that he was the victim of a frame-up. The Camera Chap was just about to hand back the film to the court officer and prepare to take his medicine, when suddenly Hodgins and Gale saw him start violently. Then once more he held the negative up to the light, and, with sudden apprehension, they observed the grim look on his face give way to a broad grin. “Your honor,” the Camera Chap cried excitedly, “you ask if I have anything to say before you pass sentence upon me. I have a few words to say now. I wish to point out to your honor that it was two p. m. when I was placed under arrest, and a quarter past two when I arrived at police headquarters and was locked in a cell. The police blotter will prove that.” “The chief of police has testified as to the time of your arrest,” said the magistrate testily. “It was two p. m., as you say. But what has that to do with the case? I don’t see the significance of that fact.” The Camera Chap’s grin broadened. “I think your honor will see the significance when I point out that this photograph was taken at three p. m., and, consequently, could not have been taken by me.” “What nonsense is this?” his honor snapped. “It will do you no good to trifle with the court, young man.” “I am not trifling with the court,” Hawley replied. “There can’t be any question about the time this snapshot was taken, your honor. If you will hold the negative up to the light, as I have done, you will see plainly that the hands of the clock in the tower of the city hall are pointing to three o’clock. Evidently the gentlemen responsible for this frame-up overlooked that small detail. If they had thought of it, it would have been easy for them to have touched up the negative a bit so as to have spoiled the face of that clock.” The faces of Gale and Chief Hodgins had turned quite pale. Their pallor increased when Judge Wall examined the negative, and, in a tone of great astonishment, confirmed the defendant’s statement. “The hands of the clock in this picture certainly are pointing to three o’clock,” his honor declared. “What does it mean, chief?” “The clock must have been fast,” suggested Hodgins, in an agitated tone. The judge glanced out of the courtroom window, from which the white clock tower of the city hall was visible. Then he consulted his watch, and the timepiece on the wall of the courtroom. “The city-hall clock is not fast--it is exactly right!” he declared sharply. “Moreover, I have never heard of that clock being wrong. I don’t believe it has gained or lost a minute in ten years. I can’t understand this thing at all, chief.”