Elated, Jed again approached the influential men who had refused to intercede for their fellow townsman, and after convincing them of the truth of the confession, received their aid in obtaining Mr. Watson’s release from prison, and subsequent exoneration from the charge of forgery.
Ignorant of the illness of Harry, the old veteran did not report on his progress, and the first news the boy had of the change in his father’s condition was when a telegram was brought to him.
With trembling fingers he opened it, then uttered a faint cry of joy, as he read:
“Harry Watson,
Rivertown.
Charges against me proven false. I want you to come to Lawrenceburgh to spend Sunday with me.
Father.”
Better than any tonic or care was the news to Harry, and though he was not able to go to his father, Mr. Watson came to him, bringing good old Jed Brown with him, and happy, indeed, was the reunion.
Despite his villainy, Mr. Watson refused to prosecute Ned Snooks; but public opinion was so aroused against the butcher that he sold his property, and moved away from Rivertown, while the man he had so wronged decided to live in the town, and in due course opened a real estate office.
“But didn’t Pud know about this forgery from the first?” asked Harry, of his parent, one day.