The Camera Chap drew his chair nearer, and lowered his voice almost to a whisper: “Do you remember, Fred, that stunt the _Sentinel_ pulled off several years ago, when we were roasting the New York police department? I mean those automobiles filled with reporters which the _Sentinel_ sent out one night to tour the entire city and count the number of cops who were loafing instead of patrolling their beats?” “Do I remember it!” exclaimed Carroll, with a reminiscent chuckle. “I should say I do! It was just after I joined the _Sentinel_ staff. I was one of the reporters assigned to the story. I shall never forget that automobile ride. We rode a hundred blocks, and in all that distance only encountered one policeman who was conscientiously attending to business. The exposé the _Sentinel_ published the next day created a whopping big scandal, and resulted in the biggest shake-up in the history of the New York police department.” “That’s right,” said Hawley. “Well, what’s the matter, Fred, with pulling off something on those lines right here in Oldham? I’ve got a hunch that this city isn’t being patrolled any too well during the night hours. With a lazy, incompetent fathead like Hodgins at the head of the force, it’s a pretty safe guess that there isn’t much discipline among the rank and file. A tour of the city by night probably would reveal some interesting facts about the Oldham police department.” Carroll nodded vigorously. “You bet it would. You are quite right in supposing that the cops of this burg are a pretty punk lot. The great majority of them got their appointments to the force by political pull, and--well, as you can readily imagine, they’re not by any means the best material that could have been found for the job. Yes, your suggestion is a mighty good one, Hawley, old man. I deserve to be kicked for not having thought of it myself long ago. An exposé of that sort ought to sell a lot of _Bulletins_.” “Sure it would!” declared the Camera Chap enthusiastically. “I’m glad you approve. Thought you’d look at it in that light. Guess there’s no sense in wasting any time,” he added. “I might as well get busy this very night.” The proprietor of the _Bulletin_ looked at him in astonishment. “You get busy? Why, what is there for you to do, old man! This’ll be a reporter’s task. Pictures, of course, will be quite out of the question.” “Oh, will they, though?” chuckled Hawley. “I don’t agree with you there. The pictures will be the main feature of this exposé. Of course, we’ll have a story, too--a couple of columns or so of reading matter to go with the snapshots--but, with all modesty, I think I can say that it will be my camera which will give the people of Oldham the most graphic idea of what the police force is doing while the town slumbers.” “Nonsense!” Carroll expostulated. “This will be at night. How can you take pictures----”