hen they've got all they can,
they'll let you get into any sort of trouble, without lifting a finger
to save you?"

"Do you think they'd do that, Bessie? They promised--"

"What are their promises worth, Jake? You ought to know them well enough
to understand that they don't care what they do. If you're in trouble, I
know someone who will help you. Mr. Jamieson, in the city."

"He--why, he would like to get me into trouble--"

"No, he wouldn't. And if I ask him to help you, I know he'll do it. He
can do more for you than they can, too. You go to him, and tell him the
whole story, and you'll find he will be a good friend, if you make up
your mind to behave yourself after this. We'll forget all the things
you've done, and you shall, too, and start over again. Don't you want to
be friends, Jake?"

"Sure--sure I do, Bessie!" said Jake, looking really repentant. "Do you
mean you'd be willing--that you'd be friends with me, after all the mean
things I've done to you?"

Bessie held out her hand.

"I certainly do, Jake," she said. "Now, you go to Mr. Jamieson, and tell
him everything you know. Everything, do you hear? I can guess what this
latest plot was, but you tell him all you know about it. And you'll find
that they've told you a great many things that aren't so at all. Very
likely they've just tried to frighten you into thinking you were in
danger so that they could make you do what they wanted."

"I'll do it, Bessie!" said Jake.

CHAPTER XI

A NARROW ESCAPE

Despite Dolly's frantic curiosity, Bessie drew Jake aside where there
was no danger of their being overheard by any of the others in the
station, and talked to him earnestly for a long time. Jake seemed to
have changed his whole attitude. He was plainly nervous and frightened,
but Dolly could see that he was listening to Bessie with respect. And
finally he threw up his head with a gesture entirely strange to him,
and, when Bessie held out her hand, shook it happily.

"Here's Mr. Jamieson's address," said Bessie, writing on a piece of
paper which she handed to him. "Now you go straight to him, and do
whatever he tells you. You'll be all right. How soon will you start?"

"There's a train due right now," said Jake, excitedly. "I'll get aboard,
and as soon as I get to town I'll do just as you say, Bessie. Good-bye."

"Good-bye, Jake--and good luck!" said Bessie warmly. "We're going to be
good friends, now."

"Well, I never!" gasped Dolly. She st