The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-29
VOLUME e---NO. ii.


the morning, his cheeks rosy as from rapid
ride, his eyes dancing with excitement.
His father and mother stood speechless and
bewildered, filled with new alarm. But the
boy was too busy with his own thoughts to OBJ
serve his reception. Thick ahd fast came his
words, questions waiting for no answers, and
narrative never pausing for comment.
"What is this Bixby shouted to me when I
met him, about robbers? And what is there
such a crowd at the bank about? Did come
sooner than you expected me? We had glo-
rious time at Tinborough, you know, and when
we were through dancing 1 decided to drive
home at once. And few miles out met
silas in his gig, driving like mad, and he shout
not catch one word in dozen. But before
anything else, I want to beg your pardon for
my roughness last night. am old enough to
know better, but I was angry when I spoke;
and have been thoroughly ashamed of myself
ever since. You will forgive and forget, father,
won't you? Halo. 1 didn't suppose you felt so
badly about it, mother darling."
Mary Houghton was clasping her sons neck,
crying as she had not cried that night. But
the cashier, slower in seeing his way, as usual,
stood, passing his hand across his bro~s for
moment. Then he spoke
"Harry, where is your grandfathers watch W
L
to get it back before you discovered it was gone.
I will have it after breakfast. The fact is
was not myself when left the house last night,
with temper, and Harrison Fry offered me two
hundred dollars for it, to be paid next week,
and in my temper let him have it to bind the
bargain. I was crazy for money, and sold
him my pistol, too. regretted about the
watch before had fairly quit the village; but
he broke his engagement and did not go with
us to Tinborough after all, so l have not had
chance to get it back again till now"
Harrison Fryp exclaimed Foster Hough-
ton; and his hands clasped and his lips moved
in thankful prayer.
"But if YOU don't tell me what is all this ex-
citement in the village shall run out and find
out for myself" cried the boy impatiently.
"You never would stand here asking me ques-
tions about trifes, if the bank had been broken
open in the night"
Foster Houghton put his hands on his boys
shoulders and kissed him, as he had not done
since his sons childhood. Then he took from
its hiding-place the watcfr and hung it on Har-
ry's neck, his manifest emotion checking the
expression Of the lads astonishments ..
"There is much to tell you, Harry" he said,
"and perhaps you will think have to ask
your forgiveness rather than you mine. But
YOUR heart is too full for word till after
prayers. Let's 60 down."
Then the three went down the stairs, the
mother clinging to the boys hand, which she
had never relinquished since her first embrace.
Foster Houghton took the massive Bible, as
was his daily custom, and read the chapter upon
which rested the mark left the morning before
but his voice choked and his eyes filled again
when he came to the lines:
"For this my son was dead and is alive again
he was lost and is found"
Silas Bixby galloped into Tinborough two
minutes late for the down train and the fagi-
tive was too sharp to be caught by the detec-
tives who were put on the watch for him by
telegraphic messages. In few hours all Elm
field had discovered that Harrison Fry was
missing, and had made up its mind that hewas
the escaped confederate in the burglary. The
Blue River National Bank offered reward for
him, but he has never been found. The Jealous
constable found compensation for the loss of
one prisoner in the discovery that the other
two were a couple of the most skillful and
slippery of the metropolitan cracksmen, known
among other aliases as Gentlemen Graves and
Toffey. Bixby's courage and discretion re-
ceived due tribute from counsel, press and pub
lie during the trial the next month in the Tin
borough court house; and by some influence it
was so managed that Mrs. Houghton was not
called to the stand, nor was Foster Houghton
closely questioned in regard to the manner in
which the third robber had escaped from his
custody on the steps of the bank.
Harry Houghton went to Lake George that
Summer, starting day after the departure of
Grace Chamberlin; but this year they go to-
gether and the programme of the tour includes
Niagara and Quebec.