"I don't know anything about it. I know I was locked up for nothing at all, and I escaped at the first chance offered."
"There was no chance offered at all, judge," broke in Booth, fearful of having a reflection cast upon his character. "He just went and ripped the hull floor up, that's what he did."
"Silence, Booth! Come upstairs and we will hear the particulars."
In a moment we were in Judge Penfold's office. I was told to take a seat on a bench, with Booth on one side of me and Parsons on the other.
Then Mr. Woodward introduced John Stumpy as a friend from San Antonio, Texas, and the two told their story, corroborated at its end by Farmer Decker, who trembled from head to foot at the idea of addressing as high a dignitary as Judge Penfold.
"What have you to say to this, Strong?" I was asked.
In a plain, straightforward way I told my story from beginning to end, told it in a manner that did not fail to impress nearly every one in the court-room but the judge and my accusers.
Of course Mr. Woodward and John Stumpy stoutly denied all I said, and their denial carried the day.
"Until we can have a real trial I will send you back to jail," said Judge Penfold.
"Why don't you send John Stumpy to jail, too?" I asked. "He is as much accused as I."