He was a nervous, bustling man, with an expression of acuteness, and a
trick of rubbing his head with a circular motion, as if he were trying
to effect a tonsure by force of friction. He nodded a recognition of
Wilder and his men, and sent a look of surprise at Von Rittenheim,
whose appearance was not what was usual in the prisoners brought before
him, although his dress seemed to indicate the mountaineer.

"What for?" he asked Wilder, gruffly, when he was at liberty to attend
to them.

"Retailing," returned the deputy-marshal, and proceeded to tell a story
in which the details of his method of purchasing the liquor were
meagre, but the account of the German's resistance to the officers was
full.

Baron von Rittenheim pleaded guilty to the charge against him, and
listened to the exaggerated tale of the arrest without comment, though
with a look of disgust that did not escape Mr. Weaver. Perhaps he knew
his man in Wilder. At any rate, a few trenchant questions brought out
the fact that Friedrich had resisted only when an attempt was made to
handcuff him.

"Really, Wilder," said the commissioner, sharply, "you make me tired.
Haven't you got good sense? Do you suppose a fellow like that is going
to run away?"

"No knowing what these cussed foreigners won't do," growled Wilder, and
added something about being blown up before his prisoner, that brought
a frown to Mr. Weaver's brow.

He was puzzled about von Rittenheim, and he felt sure that there was
something in the case that was not in evidence; but the man had pleaded
guilty, and there was nothing to do but to hold him for the Grand Jury.

"Who'll go on your bond?" he asked, taking up his pen.

"Bond?"

"You must give a justified bond for your appearance before the United
States Court in May."

"Oh, I see. I do not know. I have no fr-riends."

"It's only two hundred dollars."

"It might be only two hundred cents, still would it be the same.
Yesterday I thought I had fr-riends, but to-day----"

He broke off abruptly, and again Weaver gave a perplexed rub to the top
of his head. He opened a door and spoke to a negro boy who passed a
waiting life in the anteroom.

"Sam, ask Mr. Gudger to step here, if he's in the building."

Mr. Gudger was a professional bondsman who added this calling to that
of real-estate dealer and insurance agent, and interwove the three
occupations with some talent and much success.

Von Rittenheim's farm served to secure Gudge