“There is one other alternative, Mr. Hawley. An idea has just presented itself to me which seems to me a vast improvement on my original plan of forcing you to leave town. If you wish, you can remain in Oldham--without going to jail--and earn fifty dollars besides.” “That sounds much more agreeable,” declared the Camera Chap laughingly. “What have I got to do to earn that alluring sum?” “Something very easy. You will merely have to make a short affidavit.” “To what effect?” “That those snapshots which the _Bulletin_ published this morning were fakes.” Hawley arched his eyebrows. “Fakes? I don’t quite get you, Mr. Mayor. How could those pictures be fakes?” “I don’t know how they could be,” was the mayor’s reply. “I don’t understand much about photography. But I feel confident that an expert like yourself will be able to dope out an explanation which will sound convincing. I shall leave the details of the affidavit entirely to you.” Hawley grinned. “I guess I get you now, Mr. Mayor. May I inquire what you intend to do with this affidavit, provided you get it?” “I intend to publish it on the front page of to-morrow’s _Bulletin_.” The start of surprise which the Camera Chap gave at this answer was genuine. “The _Bulletin_? You mean the _Chronicle_, don’t you, Mr. Mayor?” he inquired. “I mean the _Bulletin_. It will be published in the _Chronicle_, also--I want it to have as much publicity as possible--but to get it on the front page of the _Bulletin_ is the main thing. I want everybody who saw those pictures to-day to learn that they are fakes when they see the paper to-morrow.” Hawley was so amused by this amazing proposal that he forgot to be indignant. “And may I ask how you propose to get it into the _Bulletin_, Mr. Mayor?” he inquired, with an ironical smile. “Are you going to request my friend Carroll to print it as a personal favor to you?” “Yes, I am,” was the astonishing reply. “And I guess your friend Carroll will be ready enough to do me the favor when he hears my proposition. I’m going to offer to bury the hatchet. He’s gone pretty far with that confounded sheet of his. There are some things he’s done that lots of men in public life would never forgive or forget. But, as you have remarked, Mr. Hawley, I’m broad-minded. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. You can go and tell Carroll that if he wants to come over to the city hall and shake hands with me, he’ll find me ready.” “I’ll tell him,” said the Camera Chap dryly, “but I doubt very much if he’ll come, Mr. Mayor. My friend Carroll is a peculiar fellow.”