"I—I'm afraid, your honor——"
"Policeman Johnson, go to the complaint clerk and swear to two short complaints charging Dabner and his estimable friend with vagrancy."
Johnson changed color swiftly three or four times, but he went in a daze to carry out his instructions.
As for Bill Dabner and his friend, they looked as though they were seeing ghosts. They did not attempt to speak until they were ordered to step into the pen and be sworn.
Then Policeman Johnson was called to the stand. Reluctantly he testified that the new prisoners were well known to be loafers, making a living mainly by their wits.
Dabner and his friend were then asked to testify in their own behalf, but they were too badly overwhelmed to be able to say much.
"Prisoners," said Judge Guffey, gazing at them in sheer disgust, "it would give me great pleasure to bind you over for the grand jury on charges of perjury committed this morning. But I feel disinclined to take any action that may drag these young soldiers away from their own duties. Therefore, on the charge of vagrancy, I sentence you each to two years in the workhouse. Take those prisoners below at once."
Bill and his crony seemed barely able to walk when they were forced below.
"Policeman Johnson, come forward! Do you desire to offer any denial of the evidence concerning the charge that Dr. McKenzie made against you a few minutes ago!"
Johnson opened his mouth to speak, but under the stern gaze of the police magistrate he found it impossible to persist in his denial.