CHAPTER V
A TANGLED NET
"Arrested?" cried Eleanor, startled. "Why, what do you mean? 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.