Drew nodded.
“Go on. Tell us what happened.”
“We saw them take this boy’s pocketbook. They saw us and made a break for it. We nabbed them. That’s all. What this boy told you is true, as far as we saw it.”
“It must be,” agreed the judge. “They don’t even deny it.
“What have you got to say?” He turned a poker face toward the prisoners.
The larger one answered, “It’s the police, Judge, and the detectives. I was goin’ to tell you, Judge. They won’t leave us alone. We been out of the jug six months. Been goin’ straight.”
“Call picking pockets going straight?” the judge flashed.
“We wouldn’t have done it, Judge, only them college boy detectives made us.”
He glared at Drew Lane.
“Your Honor,” a flicker of a smile hovered about Drew Lane’s mouth, “I object to being called a college kid. I’ve been out of college four years, and been in the service all that time.”