Then we told him about losing our dinners and following the robbers through Plunkett's woods, and about the queer looking track made by the bandaged foot. "I'd know that footprint in China," said Bill, "and I found one just like it in the alley back of Green's store. The man with the lame foot made it. I 'most know he did." "Say, William, you are a regular sleuth," said the marshal. "I have a notion to put you on the force." But he didn't guy us any more after that. He put on his coat and walked downtown with us. After he had looked at the footprint he covered it up again so that nobody would step on it. "That's the one all right," Hank told him. "There were two of them. I heard them say something about robbing, when I was taking their pictures." "Taking their pictures! They don't go around breaking into stores with an official photographer along, do they?" "I don't know what they go around with," Hank said, "but I crept up close behind them and lay back of a bush where I could hear them talking, although I couldn't understand much of what they said. I thought it would be fun to take their pictures when they didn't know anything about it." "They stood up when Hank threw a stone and looked right at the camera, only they didn't know it was there," Benny explained. "Great Scott, boy! Do you mean to tell me that you took a photograph of the rascals?" "I snapped them all right," Hank told him, "but I won't know whether I got a good picture or not until I develop the roll. I haven't done it yet." "Well, you develop it right away, or, better still, get your camera and we'll have Marsh, the photographer, do it and make sure of things. He'll do it, if it is Sunday." Hank hung back. "Can't you wait a while?" he asked. "I've got five shots left in the camera and don't want to waste them. They cost money." The marshal looked disgusted. "Waste them! How much did they cost?" "Twenty-five cents a roll; six in a roll." The marshal pulled a quarter out of his pocket and handed it to him. "You'll be a rich man some day," said he. "Now that roll of films belongs to me and that picture is going to be developed before you are an hour older. Can you do the job or shall I look up Marsh?" "I can do it all right, if there is any picture to develop." "Very well, go ahead with it and bring it down to my office just as soon as you can. And I'll tell you further, young fellow, if we catch those burglars through your help, you'll get part of the reward." Hank looked at us a moment with his eyes shining. Then he drew himself up. "I'm a Scout," said he, "and Scouts are not looking for rewards. 'A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.' The book says so." It made us all feel proud to have Hank say that. The marshal gave a surprised whistle. "If that is the case," said he, laughing, "give me back my quarter." But Hank wouldn't do that, although Skinny nudged him. I don't suppose you can learn to be a Scout all at once. CHAPTER IV