“If he can not furnish the bail, or a satisfactory bondsman, who owns property worth at least twice the amount of the bail, I shall have to commit the prisoner to jail. Court is adjourned.”
CHAPTER XVI
A FRIEND IN NEED
Dan was bitterly disappointed. He thought when Mr. Harrison had brought out the evidence so clearly, and when it was testified that he was far away from the scene of the robbery, that the justice would give a verdict of “not guilty.”
“What does it mean?” asked the boy, much bewildered.
“It means ye’ll have t’ go back t’ jail, that’s what it means,” declared Constable Walker vindictively.
“Yes, an’ stay there ’till yer regular trial at th’ county court house,” added Constable Wolff.
“That is unless you can get some one to go on your bond for a thousand dollars,” explained Justice Perkfell, not so gruffly as he had spoken before. He was well satisfied with himself, and the way he had conducted the case.
“You mean if I can get some one to sign a paper I can go free until my regular trial?”
“That’s it, but whoever signs the paper must be worth at least two thousand dollars. He would be security for your appearance to be tried, that is if the Grand Jury finds an indictment against you. If you should run away in the meanwhile, whoever went on your bond would have to pay a thousand dollars.”
Dan naturally thought of his employer, who was quite wealthy. Certainly he was worth two thousand dollars.