The Camp Fire Girls in the Mountains; Or, Bessie King's Strange Adventure

startled. "Why, what do y

e, I guess maybe I oughtn't to be saying anything about it. I'm an officer, you se

talking earnestly to Holmes, and who

Mercer," said Rogers. "

'm sorry to have dragged you away from your good times at Long L

y real harm was done," Eleanor replied. "But, Mr. Niles, what is this absurd story ab

grew

ur cousin, you say? Dear me, that's most distressing-most distressing, upon

m allowed to have my own opinion as to the guilt or innocence of those accused-yes, indeed

n to say that it is on such a charg

ld carry proof in itself that Charlie was innocent. No matter who was trying to spoi

to me, although, as I say, I do not believe in Mr. Jamieson's guilt. However, he will have to clear himsel

prison with a light heart, and on the same day I would move heaven and earth to secure th

d bow. And then he stopped, thunder-struck, as a clear,

so funny, and he didn't know it! As if anyone would

hough at first she was disposed to agree with Dolly, and had, indeed, had difficulty in keeping a straight face herself while he

urse he will be able to arrange for his own release on bail as soon as he finds some friend who owns property in this county. But I have given orders that he

e, girls! Mr. Niles, I am sure, will find a place wher

to the room where, a prisoner, he was sitting near a win

ve ever been in jail. It's intended as a little object lesson of what he can do when he once start

u, who have done everything possible for those girls, would do such an insane th

hat Holmes is starting this as a sort of backfire. He thinks we're going to

at good it can

oving my own innocence, he figures that I'll have less time to get after him. It's a good move. The more chance he has to work on those gypsies

got off the train this morning. I've sent out a lot of telegrams, asking fellows to come up here and

He said that he doesn't bel

s is using him just as he likes, and Niles hasn't got sense enough to see it. He's

ghed at the

aid. "I'm glad of that, Charlie. I was afraid at first that he might be j

e's doing things for pay, he'll always stop just short of a certain danger point. He won't risk more than so much for anyone. But with this chap it's different. He'

he'll think he's do

eally he'll just be carrying out their own suggestions. We've got to find some way to spike his guns, or else Holmes will w

ng to do is to get

s really nothing to be done now but just wait-and I'd ra

over all that land up in the woods around Long Lake that he owns to me. So

e'll get him to approve this right now. Then we'll get the judge to sign the bail bond, and

ent out to find Niles, and retu

ested it, knowing that you would not try to evade the issue, Mr. Jamieson. We have heard of you, sir, even u

was evident the

but there seems to be some doubt as to this. You have not

ds are here, are they not? Certain

hook hi

must have the

ight, at least. But suddenly Eleanor remembered old Andrew and his offer to hel

n working here, and I've put it all into land. I know these woods, you see, and I know

gure on being able to keep me here until to-morrow, at least. They've got some scheme on foot-they've got a card up their sleeves that they want to be able to play while I'm not watching them. I

to make some protest, there was nothing to be done. He and his lawyers had no official standing in the case-they could only consult with and advise Niles in an unofficial fashion. And, though Niles held a long conference with Holmes

the court house. And there he found a strange state of affairs. Holmes had brought with him from the city two lawyers, though Isaac Brack, the shyster, was not one of them. And the l

rate his refusal. But Charlie had other sources of information, and an hour after his release, meeting Eleanor, wh

ed, you know, for kidnapping. Now Curtin has got a writ of habeas corpus, and h

eanor. "I don't know as much ab

naged to fix things so that they'll get off without ever going before a jury at all! Niles isn't handling the case right. He's allowe

laughed

look here, Charlie-isn't this proof?" And she handed him the letter found on John, the

d excitedly wh

yet. But I think I can use it to scare our friend Niles. If I'm right, and he's only a fool, and not

Eleanor, and a cold nod for Jamieson. Bu

District Attorney?" he asked. "Are you goin

"I am informed by counsel for the defense that there are a number of witnesses to prove an

not yet been named? Hold on, Mr. Niles, you have been tricked in this case. I don't hold it against you, but I warn you that if you do

of the prisoners in this case to addres

n, grimly. "I mean just what I say. And unless you want to be lined up with your friend Curtin in disbarment proceedings

med to be

you know that

t known it; he had only made a shre

than even I can understand and they have simply tried to use you as a tool. I knew that once you had a

ttery was thoroughly effective. Charlie was using the same sort of w

Mr. Jamieson. As I told Miss Mercer, I was sure from the beginning that you

gger prisoner than you ever tho