“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 he’s in this frame of mind.”
And so Jake, whining and protesting, was taken away. As soon as he was out of sight and hearing Trenwith’s manner changed.
“By George,” he said, excitedly, “that’s a good piece of work! There’s something mighty interesting coming off here pretty soon. I’m not at liberty to tell you what it is yet, but I had a long talk on the telephone with Charlie just before you called me, Eleanor, and there are going to be ructions!”
“Oh, I suppose we mustn’t ask you to tell us, if you’ve promised not to do it,” said Eleanor, “but I do wish we knew!”
She didn’t seem to notice that he had called her by her first name–a privilege that was not accorded, as a rule, to those who had no more of an acquaintance with her than Billy Trenwith. But he had done it so naturally, and with so little thought, that she could hardly have resented it, anyway. But Dolly noticed it, and nudged Bessie mischievously.
“Then you really think we’re going to find something out from Jake, Mr. Trenwith?” asked Dolly.
“We’ll find a way to make him talk, never fear,” said Trenwith. “The boy’s a natural born coward. He’ll do anything to save his own skin if he finds he’s in real trouble and that the others of his gang can’t help him. I don’t think he’s naturally bad or vicious–I think he’s just weak. He was spoiled by his mother, wasn’t he? He acts the way a good many boys do who have been treated that way. He’s not got enough strength of character to keep him from taking the easiest path. If a thing seems safe, he’s willing to do it to avoid trouble.”