ows
looked directly out on a busy scene.

"That'll be just the place, and the sort of scene Mr. Ringold wants,"
declared Blake. "Let's set the camera there on the sill and see what it
gets. The light is good to-day."

It was, the sun shining brightly, and being directly back of the camera,
which would insure the proper illumination.

They adjusted the machine, and set the mechanism to go off about an hour
after they had left the room. Then they went to find the shipping agent,
to see if they could get any news of Joe's father.

But, to their disappointment, he was out, and none of the clerks could
tell them what they wanted to know. They were directed to return the
next day.

"More disappointment!" exclaimed Joe. "It does seem as if I was up
against it, Blake."

"Oh, don't worry. To-morrow will do just as well as to-day. And you
don't want to get in C. C.'s habit, you know."

"No, that's right. Well, what shall we do?"

"Let's look around a bit, and then go see how the camera is working."

They found so much to interest them in the streets of San Francisco that
they did not go back to the hotel as soon as they had intended. When
they did reach the street on which it stood they saw a crowd gathered.

"Look at that!" cried Blake.

"Yes! Maybe it's a fire!" exclaimed Joe. "Our camera----"

"There's no fire, or else we'd see some smoke," answered his chum. "But
we'll see what it is. There's been some sort of an accident, that's
sure."

They broke into a run, pushing their way through the throng about the
front doors of the hotel. As they entered the lobby, they were surprised
to see the clerk point his finger at them, and exclaim:

"There are the two lads now!"

Everyone turned to look at Joe and Blake, and a man, dressed in some
sort of uniform, approached them.

"Are you the lads that have rooms sixty-six and sixty-seven?" he asked,
sharply.

"Yes," replied Blake.

"Why, has anything happened there?" asked Joe.

"Well, yes, there has, and we thought perhaps you could explain."

"Have we been robbed?" burst out Blake.

"Robbed? No," answered the clerk. "But----"

"Perhaps I had better explain," put in the uniformed man. "I think I
shall have to ask you boys to come with me," he went on.

"Come where?" Joe wanted to know.

"To police headquarters."

"What for?" burst out Blake. "We haven't done anything! We only came
here to----"

"Be careful," warned the man in uniform. "Whatever you say