Gale was by no means a slow-witted young man. The probable origin of that flash of light immediately suggested itself to him. There arose in his mind also a suspicion of the identity of at least one of the three occupants of the big black automobile. “Didn’t one of those fellows have a camera in his hand, John?” he inquired excitedly. “I didn’t notice any camera at the time,” replied the policeman, with a scowl; “but I guess they must have had one, all right. For, although I never suspected it--otherwise you can be sure I’d have chased that automobile--I have learned since that it was a flash-light picture of me the rascals was after.” “Of course it was,” said Gale, with a laugh. “How long did it take you to get wise to that fact?” “It was not until a few minutes ago that I found it out,” the policeman admitted. “I thought at the time that that flash of light was caused by a fuse blowin’ out in the car, or somethin’ of that sort. You see, I don’t know much about automobiles. And I might have gone on thinking that if it hadn’t been for me meetin’ Patrolman Tony Debbs at headquarters just now, and his tellin’ me what happened to him last night.” “And what happened to Tony Debbs?” inquired Gale, greatly interested. “He was taking a nap in a lumber yard on his beat, and first thing he knows he gets woke up by a flash of light in his eyes--the same kind of a flash that I got. Tony jumps up quick, and there was a young feller standin’ there with a camera in his hand. Imagine the nerve of him!” “Did Debbs catch him?” Gale inquired eagerly. “No; he wasn’t quite quick enough. The scamp got away in a big black touring car containing two other young men. From Tony’s description of the automobile and the rascals inside, I’m pretty sure it was the same bunch that I was up against.” “Undoubtedly,” Gale agreed. “But do you mean to say, John, that neither Debbs nor you recognized any of those fellows?” “No; we didn’t. You see, they wore goggles--the kind that automobilists wear, you know--and them things are pretty much of a disguise. Who do you suppose those rascals was, Mr. Gale? And what do you think they wanted our pictures for? I tell you, it’s got me worried. And Tony’s worried, too. He’s got an idea that that rag of a _Bulletin_ is behind it all. Do you think he’s right?” “I certainly do, John,” Gale replied. “There isn’t the slightest doubt in my mind that those pictures were taken for the _Bulletin_, and will be prominently displayed on the front page of that disreputable sheet to-morrow morning. And I shouldn’t be surprised,” he added sagaciously, “to find other pictures there, too. You can depend upon it, John, that you and Debbs weren’t the only cops those chaps caught napping last night. The fact that they hired an automobile indicates that they were out for a big killing.”