The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-03
HENRY HARRIS'S REWARD.

Henry Harris was rewarded. 1t was
only proper that he should he. lie hai
by considerable work, at great incon-
venience to himself, rendered Mrs
Loriug Blake service Moreover, he
had ut the same time demonstrated the
fact that lie was thoroughly honest
Now be it known that there was
vast difference between the two; Henry
Harris was II clerk in Cloth and Conn
panys dry goods store, while Mrs. Lor-
ing Blake was the wife of the Hon. Lor.
ing Blake, proprietor of Blakes mills.
In point Of fact, she was considered
thoroughly aristocratic. and being such,
of course rode in IL barouche and wore
diamonds. These gems were her
especial delight and thereby hangs u
tale.
One day the barouche of Mrs. Loring
Blake drew up in front of Cloth and
Company's store. Mrs. Loring Bake, by
the aid Of footnan, alighling there
from. it was evident that she intended
to make some purchases. That, to Cloth
and Company, was very important
fact, for wheresoever traded Mrs LJring
Blake, there traded the numerous lesser
lights Of Mayville.
Mr.. Button, II member of the firm,
hastened forward to greet the distin-
guished visitor. Undoubtedly Mr. Cloth
would have done likewise il he could,
lu, that was impossible. as he was
dead.
She remained quite "a time, but fiually
completed her purchases, and having
done 80, departed in as stately a manner
Us SHE had arrived.
That night it showed do not know
that there is any thing remarkable in tho
fact. but as it has direct bearing upon
this story it is necessary to mention it.
The next day there was u cOmnotion
in Cloth and Company's store. Que Of
Mrs Loring Blake servants approached
blr. Button and gave forth startling
news The day before, while shopping,
his mistress had lost diamond pin val.
ued at 81, 00O. As no trace Of it had
bsen found in her barouche, she had ar.
rived, after due deliberation, ut the con-
clusion that she must have lost it in
Cloth aud Company = store; had MIR. But
ton seen or heard amy thing of it, and
il lie had not, would hs bs kind enough
to make some effort to discover it. Ihe
owner would be only too glad to reward
the lucky finder
Dir. Button deeply regretted the fact,
but truth compslleL him to admit that
he had no idea Of the whereabouts Of
the pin. However, lie would be only
too happy to search for it, and Mrs Lor-
ing Blake could rest assured that II
found anywhere within the store it
would Ls returned to her.
Then commenced search for the
missing pin. The floor WAS carefully
examined, and every part Of the estaL-
lisiimsnt thoroughly Ovsrhauled. The
sweepings Of the previous evening were
siftsd, and last Of all, Mr.. Button ques-
tioued the clerks, not forgettin. to nien-
ton the fact that the owner would re-
ward the finder.
Notwithstanding all this, the where
abouts OF the pin remained mystery,
and he was obliged to report his lack Of
success to Mrs. Loring Blake.
Now, OF course, among others Q had
spoken to Henry Harris. This young
man, when l,e learned that the search
had been abandoned by his employer,
decided to look around little on his
own account. He believed that he could
recover the diamond. He was satisfied
that it was not in the store; what, then,
was more probable than that the owner
had dropped it when she alighted from
her barouche?
At about o'clock the next morn
ing a person looking out on Il street
might have seen lantern moving along
that thoroughfare Closer observation
would have revealed the fact that it was
in the hand of Henry Harris; also that
he carried spade.
Arrived opposite the entrance to Cloth
and Company's, he set down his lantern
and commenced shovelling away the
snow. Notwithstanding the fact that
policeman was supposed to pass the spot
every 10 minutes, he worked unmolesyed
for more than an hour. When he left
success had crowned his efforts and the
pin was in his pocket
When Mr. Button entered the store
that morning, the first person whom he
encountered was Henry Harris. Before
he could "dock" him for not being be-
hind the counter, as he had intended to
do, his clerk produced the pin and COM
menced to explain by what means he
had obtained it. Mr. Button suddenly
changed his mind with regard to the
docking" process. He was delighted
to know that the diamond had been re-
covered, and bestowed unbounded praise
upon Henry.
The reason was simple: Mrs. Loring
Blake had limited that if her property
were not recovered she would transfer
her patronage to the rival firm of Tape,
Ribbon and Company. That, in the
estimation of Mr.. Button, would be an
awful event. Now there was no danger
of such q dire calamity. or. to use his