CHAPTER XXVIII.

RELEASED ON BAIL.

Encouraged by the kind words of Mr. Montague, Evaline Oglesby began at once to tell the story Jack Carboy had told her, piecing together the parts the old sailor had described in his broken, graphic manner.

“Stop, Miss Eva,” broke in the lawyer, as he listened with rapt interest to her straightforward recital. “You say Jack detected the fumes of some drug?”

“Didn’t you say so, Jack?” asked Eva.

“Rock o’ Gibraltar! it struck my bowsprit and knocked me over seas!”

“There were indications that some one had set the fire?”

“Beyond doubt, Mr. Montague. And the fumes that so nearly overpowered Jack came from chloroform, which had been used to overcome Dean.”

“So you think he was carried off?”

“I do, Mr. Montague.”

“Who could have done it?”

“I cannot tell, sir.”

“How can we find out?”

“I would suggest that you go and see Dean and hear his story, Mr. Montague.”

“But last night’s work looks bad.”

“Does it look reasonable that he would come back here to rob his old friend? Does it look reasonable that Dean Mercer has turned to a common burglar?”

“I cannot tell. I never thought he would burn the steamer of his best friend.”

“Has it been proved that he did?”

“Miss Eva, you should have been a lawyer. I see your idea. You would have me see Dean Mercer and get his account of the affair?”

“Yes.”

“What then?”

“Will he be tried to-day?”

“He will doubtless be given a preliminary hearing and if found guilty bound over to appear at the higher court.”

“And put back in jail?”

“If he does not get bail.”

“If he should get bail?”

“He would be allowed his freedom until the time the court sits.”

“Will you go and see him?”

“Certainly. The State will allow him a lawyer. I will take care of his case.”

“Please accept my thanks, Mr. Montague. I shall want to see you as soon as you return.”

“You can see me here if you wish. I will not be gone over half an hour.”

With these words Mr. Montague put on his hat and left the office to go upon his errand.

He may not have been gone more than the specified thirty minutes, but they seemed long ones to the impatient waiters, but Eva saw by the look of satisfaction upon the old lawyer’s countenance that he had good news to impart before he had spoken a word.

“Well, Mr. Montague?” she asked.

“I am glad I went,” he replied. “The boy was glad to see me and I am to defend him.”

“What about his account of the burning of the _Spray_?” she asked eagerly.

“It is not as clear as I could wish it to be. He does not seem to have any idea of what happened to him until he found himself miles away from Springfield.”

“Which shows that my theory was correct. He was drugged and kidnapped. Didn’t it prove so?”

“Ye--es. He has been through some thrilling experiences, but got into an uncomfortable association with a couple of bad men according to his story. He appears innocent.”

“He is. And I am going to make father furnish his bail.”

“If you will I will do all in my power to save him.”

“I thank you, Mr. Montague. I hope you did not tell him that I sent you to see him.”

“Not exactly that, Miss Eva. But I did tell him you thought he was innocent, and that seemed to give him new courage. The boy has been through a trying ordeal.”

“When will the hearing come off?”

“At ten o’clock.”

“Then I have no time to lose. I will see you as soon as I have won father over to our side.”

“I wish you success.”

As the old lawyer watched his departing visitors, he murmured to himself:

“She is a brave girl, but she has undertaken more now than she can accomplish. Get Judge Oglesby to sign Dean Mercer’s bond! The idea is absurd, though I am beginning to think the boy is not guilty of any wrongdoing.”

“We shall succeed in getting father interested; we must!” declared Eva, as she hastened homeward after leaving Mr. Montague. But she preferred to see her father alone, so Jack and Manly remained in the background while she sought the judge in his library.

It was nearly an hour before Eva reappeared to join her anxious companions, and then her countenance, radiant with a look of happiness, told before she had spoken that she had been successful.

“I had a long tussle with papa,” she said, “before he would listen to such ‘a silly idea,’ as he expressed it. But when I had gone through all of your story, Jack, and showed him how unreasonable it was to think that Dean had come back here to rob us, he relented.”

“And he will save him?” asked Manly hopefully.

“He will furnish his bail, which will give Dean his liberty for a time. I am so anxious to hear his story.”

A good-sized crowd gathered at the hearing of Dean Mercer, expecting a sensation in its developments. Those that did were disappointed, while his friends were treated to a genuine surprise.

Mr. Montague appeared as his counsel, and simply pleaded “not guilty,” waived an examination, with an appeal to the higher court. Bond was then fixed at one thousand dollars, when the most unexpected thing happened.

Judge Oglesby, who had caused his arrest and was the complainant, promptly furnished the bail which gave Dean his freedom.

The public was agog then, wondering what it meant.

Dean was the most surprised person of them all.

“You have only Eva to thank,” said the judge, as Dean pressed forward to his side to express his thanks for the other’s generous act. “If you are innocent, as she believes, you have thirty days in which to prove it.”

“Thank you, sir, I will.”

If Dean had desired to speak for a moment with his deliverer he was accorded the privilege, for he had no sooner escaped the crowd than he was met by Eva, Manly and Jack Carboy, all of whom were profuse in their congratulations.

“I could not think you did it, Dean,” declared Eva.

“I did not, Miss Oglesby, and what is more I hope to prove it.”

“I do hope you will. You must not blame father for still feeling that you are guilty. You must remember it has cost him dear, for besides losing the money that was to pay for the steamer he has lost the boat itself. I finally got him to sign your bail, and he has done it so you may have time to prove your innocence.”

“You are both very kind. I appreciate it. I am so sorry to have caused you so much trouble and anxiety. But within a month I believe I shall be able to clear up the whole mystery.”

“You have my wishes for your success.”

The others expressed their pleasure, and Dean knew Jack Carboy felt disappointed when he gently declined his aid in his effort to ferret out his enemies.

He felt that he could work better alone, though he did promise to call on Jack the moment he should be needed.

Some of the people came forward to speak to him and Dean was glad when he could break away and truly feel that he was free.

The vital question for him to decide upon then was his method or way of proceeding.