How can
that be?"

"That's all I know, ma'am," said Rogers, soberly. "Even if I did know
anything more, I guess maybe I oughtn't to be saying anything about it.
I'm an officer, you see. But here's the district attorney. Maybe
he'll be able to tell you what you want."

He pointed to a tall, thin man who was talking earnestly to Holmes, and
who came over when Rogers beckoned to him.

"This is Mr. Niles, Miss Mercer," said Rogers. "I'll leave you with
him."

"Glad to meet you, Miss Mercer," said Niles, heartily, "though I'm
sorry to have dragged you away from your good times at Long Lake.
These, I suppose, are the young ladies who were kidnapped?"

"Yes, though of course they weren't really kidnapped, because they got
away before any real harm was done," Eleanor replied. "But, Mr. Niles,
what is this absurd story about my cousin, Mr. Jamieson? Mr. Rogers
said something about his having been arrested."

Niles grew grave.

"I hope you're right--I hope it is absurd, my dear young lady," he
said. "Your cousin, you say? Dear me, that's most distressing--most
distressing, upon my word! However, you will understand I had nothing
to do with the matter.

"I have to take cognizance, in my official capacity, of any charges
that are made, but I am allowed to have my own opinion as to the guilt
or innocence of those accused--yes, indeed! And I am quite sure that
Mr. Jamieson had nothing to do with this attempted kidnapping!"

"What?" gasped Eleanor. "Do you mean to say that it is on such a
charge as that that he has been arrested?"

She laughed, in sheer relief. The absurdity of such an accusation, she
was sure, would carry proof in itself that Charlie was innocent. No
matter who was trying to spoil his reputation, they could not possibly
succeed with such a flimsy and silly charge.

"I'm glad it seems so funny to you, Miss Mercer," said Niles, stiffly.
"I'll confess that it looked serious to me, although, as I say, I do
not believe in Mr. Jamieson's guilt. However, he will have to clear
himself, of course, just as anyone else accused of a crime must do.
Where I have jurisdiction, no favors are shown.

"The poor are on a basis of equality with the rich; I would send a
guilty millionaire to prison with a light heart, and on the same day I
would move heaven and earth to secure the freedom of an innocent
beggar, though men of wealth were trying to railroad him to jail!"

He finished that peroration with a s