This had so thoroughly frightened Joggi that he had moaned constantly ever since; he would not eat or sleep, but sat crouched in a corner, fearing that they would come to kill him.
The police came to see him a few days after his imprisonment, and promised him their protection if he would confess the truth to them. He said that he had looked in at the window and had seen the joiner lying on the floor. He went in, he said, and touched him with his foot and saw that he was dead. Then he saw the gold piece on the floor and picked it up a moment before the miller's son came in; other people soon came after that. This was his simple story, and every one was inclined to believe it, but Joggi did not get over his fright.
CHAPTER VII
BRIGHTER DAYS FOR THE PATIENT AND FOR SOME ONE ELSE
Since the day that Colonel Ritter had called with the physician to see the joiner after his recovery, Mrs. Ritter had daily visited the patient, and she rejoiced to see how rapidly he was gaining strength. Otto and Miezi had been over twice and taken their friend everything they could think of that might please him. They were glad to have the joiner tell them that a king could not have had better care.
One day the doctor was just leaving his patient, when the colonel came. "The joiner is doing well," said the doctor. "Your wife has spared Trina so long that she ought to go back now, but the poor fellow needs to have somebody with him a while longer. What a pity that he has no relatives! I have been wondering if Mrs. Ritter might not know of some one that we could get to take Trina's place for a couple of weeks."
"I will ask her as soon as I go back, although I am sure that she will be in no haste about taking Trina away."