“Why not?” demanded Hodgins in great astonishment. “He took those snapshots without a license, didn’t he? That’s a clear violation of the law. It seems to me that here’s a fine opportunity to put the scamp behind bars for six months. He can’t beat the case this time.” “Oh, it seems that way to you, does it?” sneered his honor. “Well, maybe if you stop to think for a minute, you’ll realize what effect it would have upon the people of this town if we were to send that chap to jail for taking those pictures. It would be regarded as a piece of spite work, and public sentiment would be dead against us. I don’t want that.” “What do you propose to do, then?” inquired Hodgins, making no effort to conceal his disappointment. “Go and find that camera man, and bring him to me,” the mayor commanded. “Don’t arrest him. Persuade him to come here under a flag of truce. I want to talk with him.” CHAPTER XXVII. A SHREWD SUGGESTION. Although Carroll tried hard to persuade him to make an abrupt exit from the town of Oldham immediately after the publication of the sensational snapshots, Hawley persisted in lingering in the _Bulletin_ office. “I want to see the fun, Fred,” he explained. “The sight of the populace pouring in to buy papers and shower congratulations upon the editor is such a great treat that I can’t tear myself away. Just let me hang around and watch the harvest, and I’ll promise to keep quiet, and not get in your way.” The proprietor of the _Bulletin_ smiled deprecatingly. “Of course, you’re not in my way, old man,” he said. “Don’t talk rot. It’s only because of the danger to yourself that I’m anxious to get rid of you. Don’t you realize that every minute you remain in this town you run the risk of being nabbed by the police and railroaded to jail? You can be sure Hodgins has already gone to court and sworn out a warrant for your arrest. I’m surprised that he or some of his men haven’t been around here before now, looking for you. But no doubt they’ll be here soon. Take my advice, Frank, and get away before it is too late.” “Oh, I guess there’s no danger,” the Camera Chap replied coolly. “If they do come here with a warrant, there must be lots of places in this building in which I can hide while they’re searching. But the chances are they won’t come here; they’ll figure that I’ve skipped out of town. It is always----” He did not complete the remark, for just then Miggsy stepped up and addressed them excitedly. “Chief Hodgins is comin’ up the stairs,” the boy announced breathlessly. “Beat it quick, Mr. Hawley, if you don’t want to get pinched!” The Camera Chap jumped hastily to his feet, and glanced about the big editorial room in search of a means of escape. “Use that stairway over there, Frank,” exclaimed Carroll. “It leads to the pressroom. You’ll find some place to hide in down there. Don’t attempt to leave the building just yet. He may have the place surrounded with his men.”