The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-07-29

session"
ingly; "I'll give hundred dollars to get
it off my hands,"
sNo doubt you would, my man; but /
amt took it in that way. My name is
Sniithers, sir, and l live
in Albany; / ana q magistrate, sn, and l
arrest you for child stealing" !.
81 tell you / didp't,stealit. She went OFT
after cup of coffee.
"Don't trouble yourself to repeat that
story again. 1 understand she case fully"
said MIR. Smithers, promptly. "ConductSo!r,
is there place on the train where this
rascal would be any safer than here 2"
"We don't run prison vans" responded
that worthy, sulkily.
"Well, gentlemen" said Mr.. Smithers,
blandly, "you are all men of honor and
have wives, and children, OF ought to have,
and YOU all have feelings of sympathy,
doubtless, for the parents of this unfortu-
nate babe; and depend upon you, gen.
tlemen, to assist me in guarding him until
in the charge of the proper officials. At
the next stopping place I will telegraph
to Bridewell and have constables ready to
take possession of him the moment we ar
rive"
0You shall pay dearly for this" roared
Corban, now fairly infuriated. eyes sir,
I'll take the law on you the moment we
get anywhere where there is any law. Call
me a rascal, indeed %
Just at that moment the sharp signal to
"down breaks" sounded, and in few mo-
ments there was slight shock, and the
train came to sudden stop.
Everybody rushed to ascertain the diff.
Guilty, and it was found that the wheel OF
the engine had broken and the locomotive
was partially off the track.
No one was injured, but it would occupy
some time to get things so that the next
train could run; and in the meantime, Mr..
Corban thought with rapture he could
make his escape He formed the plan OF
dropping the unfortunate baby and fleeing
to the woods. In the hustle and confusion
it could easily be accomplished. But he
had reckoned without his host. Mr.. Smith
ers was right at his elbow. He had no 40
ton of allowing that tempting reward to
slip through his finger, and couple OF
other gentlemen kept guard with him.
And there stood poor Corban holding the
whimpering baby, and expostulating, and
clustering in a way that made all the
ladies decide that he was a monster, and
they gave him and the baby very wide
berth.
Suddenly the whistle of the next train
from Parkersburg was heard. A bright
hope sprang up in Corban's breast. 1t was
possible the baby's mother might be on
board.
He rushed forward, but Mr.. Smithers
seized his arm and held him back.
"Be quiet, sir" said he. Remember
you are under arrest"
The train had been warned of the dcten
tion by the first express, and came to a
halt at little distance behind, and the
moment it did so the door Of one of the
carriages was burst open aud out leaped
the baby's mother.
A cry of Joy came from Corban, and
with one bound he broke the grasp Of Mr.
Smithers upon his arm aud rushed toward
her.
sob, my baby-my precious baby
screamed she, snatching the child from
Corban. "My darling my little angel
darling!" and she fell to kissing it in q
way that set all the ladies round about tc
pulling out their handkerchiets and ex
claiming
s'Did you ever?"
"God bless you'll" cried Corban enthusi
astically. 81 never was SO glad to see any
mortal being betore!"
"Oh, you dear, delightful man." cried
she, shaking hands with him, 81 am SC
much obliged to you for taking care of my
little lamb. You see l got belated a
moment-the coffee was 30 dreadful hot. y
Mr. Smithcrs' face had grown very long.
'Then it is not Mr.. Lewis Roscoe's child:
And it has not been stolen p he asked
obviously.
'I should rather think not" replied the
mother, Indignantly. "It is my child, sir,
all have left of my dear husband, who
gave up his life at Cold Harbor two months
after the baby's birth"
81 mostly heartily beg your pardon, sir, u
said Mr.. Smithers, addressing Mr.. Corban.
"I--I-that is, l didn't think, you see
"Mind your own business, sir" replied
Mr.. Corban, shortly, "and continue mind.
ing it for the rest of your life-that is my
advice, SIR"
Mr. Corban and Mrs. Brent-for that
was the young widows name-got very
friendly and familiar by the time the train
was ready to go on, and MIR. Corban took
the next seat by her side with real feeling
of delight now. She was going on visit
to some friends in the very city where his
business called him, and he obtained per-
mission to call on her, and inquire about
the baby.
Aud in due time-I cannot tell how it
came about, for there is no accounting for