Then Judge Jennings said, "According to the law, if you cannot pay the fine, you must go to jail."
Whereupon the guilty one drawled, "'Ain't got 'n' jail." This also was true.
The one building in town which had a few times been officially dubbed a jail, was now, in the stress of the emergency of a crowded convention time, turned into a temporary boardinghouse. In other words, the jail was full of statesmen!
There was no room in it for Jerry.
The crowd stirred. Some showed pride in this state of affairs; some were plainly disgusted; others amused. Doby didn't know what to think.
Then said the judge to Jerry, "I may release you on your own cognizance."
"'Ain't got 'n' cone-ans," objected the stupid Jerry.
The judge explained: "That means the sentence is suspended. You may be a free man as long as you do not steal any more."
Then the judge gave to his audience a short lecture on honest citizenship and loyalty to the new State. It was so simple that Doby understood its every word, and so earnest that it brought the ready tears to his eyes as he stood close beside the judge, looking up at him.