didn't
do something to keep you here with us, you'd run away again. But I did
it as much for your sake as for Bessie's."

"Yes, you did--not!" said Jake. "Why shouldn't you let me go now, then,
if that is so?"

"Listen to me, my buck," said Trenwith, sternly. "You're not going to do
yourself any good by getting fresh to this lady, I can tell you that.
You're pretty well scared, aren't you? You told her that you were afraid
of what Holmes would do to you?"

But Jake, alarmed by Trenwith's mention of the name of the man he
feared, shut his lips obstinately, and wouldn't say a word in answer.
Trenwith smiled cheerfully.

"Oh, you needn't talk now, unless you want to," he said. "I know all you
could tell me about that, anyhow. You've been up to some mischief, and
they've kept on telling you that if you didn't behave yourself they'd
give you away."

Jake's hangdog look showed that to be true, although he still maintained
his obstinate silence.

"Well, I happen to be charged with enforcing the law around here, and
it's my duty to see that criminals are brought to justice. I don't know
just what you've done, but I'll find out, and I'll see that you are
turned over to the proper authorities--unless you can do something that
will make it worth while to let you off. So, you see, you've got just as
much reason to be afraid of us as of the gang you've been training with.

"They won't be able to help you now, either, even if they should want
to--and I don't believe they want to, when it comes to that. I've always
found that crooks will desert their best friends if it seems to them
that they'll get something out of doing it. So if you're trusting to
them to get you out of this scrape, you're making a big mistake."

"You'd better listen to what Mr. Trenwith says, Jake," said Eleanor.
"You think I've led you into a trap here. Well, I have, in a way. You'll
have to go to jail for a little while, anyhow. But you're safer there
than you would be if you were free. We're all willing to be your
friends, for your father's sake. If we can, we'll get you out of this
trouble you are in. But you will have to help us. Think it over."

"What's the use?" said Jake, sullenly. "I ain't got nothin' to tell you,
because I don't know nothin'. An' if I did--"

"You'd better take him along, Jones," said Trenwith to the policeman.
"It's quite evident that we'll get nothing out of him to-night. And I
don't see any use wasting time on him while h