The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-11-12
co. I'll keep the secretl" interrupted the
deacon, trying to preserve a becoming gravity.


deacon, trying to preserve becoming gravity
s'lhe Joke is safe gnd I 4 ad7isa 7n1
fhe elder Smith turnfd on his heel, and
vanished feeling very weak probably from the
effects Of the excitement he had undergone.
Let US now look m upon the younger Smith,
who was actually in the granary., 1t is i'm
possible to describe his rage at finding HIM
self thus entrapped. After shouting until he
was hoarse, and nearly deaf, he closed his
teeth angEily, and sat down bag Of meal to
await the result. @ rh
Increase had not long been in this dark dun
geon, before he heard a noise in the barn -
Supposing it was the old man, who having dis
covered his error, was coming to liberate him,
his anger eVapOrated, and he could not help
laughing at the ludicrous mistake.
But there was mystery 'abOut the sounds
he heard, which caused the younger Smith TO
doubt whether they were made by his father
after all. He listened They turned the
key cautiously in the lock. Slowly, stealthily
the door opened, while Increase scarcely
breathed, Somebody entered noiselessly,
touching young Smith shoulder as he passed,
and begun to explore the further end Of the
dungeon. Increase dropped on his hands and
knees and taking advantage of the noise made
by the robber, crept out. Then to shut the
door and lock it was the work of moment
Somebody was locked up.
Listening a moment and hearing no sound,
Increase became fully convinced that he had
committed no error, but had caught real
thief, and went Immediately for assistance.
Shortly after, very much ashamed Of his mis-
take, the elder Smith sneaked into the barn
and approached the granary. It is necessary
to state that the elder Smith had locked up
KvYkh Aha InA Ill 4 l..
merry, and which he had carried away with
him and, and that Increase locked up the thief
with false key, which the latter had brought
with him and carelessly left in the lock on
entering the granary, and which the younger
Smith carried away. #a.Ma
And now the elder Smith made haste to open
the door.
"Increasel'' he called, putting his head in
side the door.
No sound replied.
care you asleepH Come, don't 90 to play
ing any trick on me, it's ell a mistake, for |
really took you for a rob '.5ll -4 Il a
Mr.. Smiths speech was stopped by vio-
lent blow on the mouth. Mr.. Smith in an
instant was tumbled down amidst a wilder
ness Of barrels, bags, rakes, and shovels. Mr..
Smith was considerably stunned by the blow
and fall, and when Mr.. Smith got upon his
legs again, the door was closed and locked
Mr.. Smith was prisoner. ..... ..... ID
Meanwhile Increase was raising forces TO
assist in taking the thief ont Of the granary
in safety. Having first told his story to Mrs.
Smith, who was exceedingly astOnished, he
hastened to alarm Joe Ferris, a stout fellow
who lived in the woods near by, and who had
complained Of losing quite as much property
as the Smiths. Mrs. +. put her head out of
the window, and wanted to know what In
crease wanted. The young man asked for Joe.
After some hesitation, the woman replied that
her husband had the headache, and could not
get up. aai - ~
"It's very important, . said lncrease--''I' We
caught the thief, and locked him up in the gra-
20, have you2'' said Mrs. Ferris, in a
trembling voice. Glow fortunatel But as
my husband has the headache, think you had
better keep-the-nnan till morning"
Now if the younger Smith thought he was
regaling MS. Ferris with glad tidings, he was
greatly in error. The truth is, in closing the
window, she was pale as death. The reader
may guess the cause of her agitation; when
inform him that there was no Joe Ferris sick
with the headache in the house.
But Mrs. f. was q woman Of energy and
decision. She caught up hammer, threw a
shawl over her head, and left the house. She
was soon at Mr.. Smiths barn with her hand
on the granary door. tE3
''JosephP' she whispered.
No reply.
"Joseph-it is me-are you here?" shesdd-
cd.
''Let me OUT said voice within.
Mr.. Ferris screamed, turned paler than the
moonlight, and dropped her hammer. Mr..
Smith was scarcely less astonished, but re-
covering himself, he said rather coolly, con-
sidering the occasion
"You are out late tonight; Mrs. Ferris, al
low me to see you home.
She could not refuse his arm, when she saw
that he was conducting her to his house, in
stead Of her own, she had not the power to say
word or make the least resistance.
The good lady feelings, on being brought
before Mrs. Smith, can be more easily imag-
ined than described, In her fear and eonfu-
tion she confessed some startling truths, and
with tears in her eyes, and on her knees, beg
ged her kind, dear friends to be merciful and
not to expose her. Mrs. Smith recovered from
her amazement and exclaimed, 81 neVerl ne
yer never I'' and Mr.. Smith who was NOT
the least excited Of the three, INDUCED in some
equally sensible remarks. N
Meanwhile, Mr.. Joe Ferris, who was the
man who had taken the younger Smiths place
in the granary, and given it up in turn 20 the
cider Smith, went home by circultOus route,
wondering by what strange accident he hap
pened to get caught, and eongratulating him
self on his escape. He had reached the door,
when hearing his name called by some one in
Che road, he turned and saw three men going
by :,
the younger Smith. "Coms on il YOU are
ready. Tvegot Bill Hodges and Mr.. Blake
and think we'll be enough for one thief
but the more the merrier, so come on. Iknew
you would goin for the fun, in spite Of your
headache. 0 m H
Joe was quite as much in the dark now, a
when he was locked up in the granary; bni
concluded it was best TO put bold face on the
matter, and accompany Increase. He declared
himself ready and jumped ever the fence. AZ
first he was afraid Of committing himself,
but the conversation by the way showing him
---as he.thought--exactly how the land lay, he
laughed heartily at the queer manner in which
the thief was caught and boldly volunteered
70 be the first 70 enter the granary where he
was confined; ct the same time ehuckling Joy.
Ously at the younger Smith 3 dismayi ct lind
ing, instead q q .thiel, his own father undel
lock and keyI