“Who has come down in the last ten minutes?” Flash inquired.
“No one—that is, not in the elevator. I saw a photographer take the stairway. He rung for me and then didn’t wait.”
“A photographer!” Flash exclaimed. “Who do you mean?”
“I don’t know his last name. I’ve heard him called Fred.”
“Fred Orris!” Flash completed, and his voice was hard.
“Now don’t jump to conclusions,” Wells broke in quickly. “I was talking to Orris myself as I came into the building.”
“No. I know how you feel about him, but you’re wrong this time.”
Flash turned and entered the elevator. “Third floor,” he said briefly.
Wells followed him into the cage. “Where’s Herm?” he asked the elevator man.
“Haven’t seen him,” was the reply. “He’s probably around somewhere punchin’ bells. I wish I had a soft job like that.”
“Let’s see if we can find Old Herm,” Wells suggested, turning to Flash.
“No use. I think I’ll get my hat and go home.”
Wells did not speak until the two had been let off at the third floor.
“I know what you’re thinking, Flash,” he said. “But you have Orris all wrong. He’s surly, and there’s no denying he’s been unpleasant to you, but he’s not the type to hit a man with a blackjack or steal films!”
“Let’s skip it, then. The pictures are gone, and that’s all that counts. I’ll have some fancy explaining to do, especially to the police.”
Flash was irritated because his friend deliberately had withheld information from him. But he felt duly grateful when Wells went with him to the night editor, supporting his story as to what had happened in the darkroom.
The ordeal, while embarrassing, was not as hard a one as he had anticipated. Although disappointment over the loss of the picture was keen, Wells’ theory that Flash had been attacked by a member of the arson ring, received credence. And he could not be blamed for having fallen down upon an assignment since the work had been extra.
It was not so easy to explain to the police officer who came later for the promised picture. Flash was given to understand that he had thwarted justice, and that the policeman who had permitted him to keep the film very likely would be reprimanded. He was asked a number of sharp questions. At first, the officer seemed rather suspicious, and after that, plainly disgusted.