"Well, I don't know about that," returned the judge. "In fact, all that I do know about him is what I have heard others say. He seems to be a pretty desperate character, but it would hardly do to hang a man on hearsay evidence." "Well, he's certainly a hard character," said Ben, with emphasis. "Do you know him?" asked the judge. "Yes," was the reply. "I know him better than any one else in the world. I happen to be the gentleman myself!" The judge stared in blank amazement. "Will you do me the favor and read these letters?" continued Ben. Finding that Hogan was not after all so terrible a person to meet with, the judge proceeded to give him some points as to how he might get out of his present scrape. Acting upon these hints, Ben furnished straw bail, which was the best he could do. The men who had really been responsible for the arrests were Golden, and one Christy--a lawyer not overburdened with clients. Naturally enough, Ben and his companions entertained no very friendly feelings toward Golden and Christy, and at a later day they took occasion to square up accounts. While the case was progressing, Ben and Charley Green put up at Reynold's Hotel, where they dealt a quiet little game of faro in their room, and made three hundred dollars during the night. It was encouraging for the indicted gentlemen to find that some of the court officials were their best customers. The upshot of the trial was that all the parties under arrest signed a contract not to open a free-and-easy in the town within three months. It is only justice to add that Booke had in no way been connected with either of the establishments, and that he had simply been drawn into the matter with a view to extorting money from him. All the persons concerned in the case left Parker's, with the exception of Ben. How he managed to live up to his contract, and at the same time to run a free-and-easy, will be explained in another chapter. CHAPTER XIII. The "Floating Palace"--A Wonderful Institution--The Girls and the Patrons--Scenes of Revelry--How Nights were Passed--The Loss of the "Palace." Of all Hogan's enterprises, none perhaps ever became more widely known than did the famous "Floating Palace." It has been explained in the preceding chapter how Ben bound himself not to engage in any free-and-easy project in the town of Parker's Landing. It occurred to him, however, that he might keep within the letter of his agreement, and at the same time carry on his business on an enlarged scale. This is how he accomplished his purpose: