He denied knowing anything about the affair when he was first arrested, but when told that Colonel Ritter had weighty evidence against him, he inferred that he must have been recognized after all. He lost his temper, and said that of course those "aristocrats" would like to make trouble for him. In answer to questions he said that he had just returned from service in the Neapolitan War; and that he had intended to go to his brother to borrow some money, but finding him with the large sum before him, he saw the opportunity to get it all. It had been his intention merely to knock his brother senseless, so that he could make his escape, and he protested that he had never wished to kill him.
Fortunately, most of the money was still in George's possession. It was recovered, and he was put in prison.
This story caused quite a commotion in the little town, especially among the school children.
Several nights after George had been arrested, Otto came home very much excited. Although Joggi had been set free as soon as George had confessed, he was still too frightened to take advantage of his liberty. He thought that he should be killed if he went out. Finally the police authorities turned him out by force, but he ran quickly to a near-by barn where he hid himself in the farthest corner. Here he had remained for three days, and the farmer had threatened to take the pitchfork to him if he did not go away soon.
"That is very sad indeed," said Mrs. Ritter, when Otto had finished telling her about it. "The poor fellow suffers because his mind is too feeble to understand what is said to him. It is hard that an innocent man should be made so miserable. If you had told me that night about what had happened to Miezi, we should not have caused Joggi so much suffering. You had better try to do something for him, since you might have spared him all this."
"I will give him my red candy rooster," said Miezi, sympathetically.
"A red candy rooster to a grown-up man!" laughed Otto. "You had better keep it, since you are so fond of it."
"They say he has had no food, mother," Otto continued. "I shall be glad to take him some dinner."
Mrs. Ritter gave her consent, so the children packed a basket with good things to eat, and started for the barn to find Joggi. He was there, crouched in the corner as they had supposed.
Otto opened the basket for him to see and said, "Come out here, Joggi, and you shall have all there is in this basket."