The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-05-19
l leave the reader 10 imagine his fee

to assist in taking the thief out of the gran
AIRY in safety. Having first told his story
to Mrs. Smith, who was exceedingly aston
ished. he hasteued to alarm Joe Ferris a
stout fellow, who lived in the woods near
10y, and who had complained of losiag
quite as much property as the Smiths. -
Mrs. + put her head out Of the window,
and wished to know what Increase wanted.
The young man asked for Joe. After
some hesitation, the woman replied that
her husband had the headache, and could
not get up. p rt..- ....
Its very important said Increase. I've
caught the thief and locked him in the gra-
nary .... .s f..-r..s.,at. .. q. ST
.O--have your said Mrs. Ferris. in a
feeble voice, How fortunate? But as my
husband has the headache, think you had
better keep the-the man till morning
Newell have him tonight! cried
Increase. --.-....t. .... ... -.z...-.-. ii
And away be ran: ,~.. .5.---. .a
Now, if the younger Smith thought he
was regalng Mrs, Ferris with glad ii iines
ne was considerably in error. The truth
is, in closing the window, she was as 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. ...'
r But Mrs. F. was woman of energy
and decision. She caught up a hammer,
threw shawl over her head, and left the
house. She was soon in --Mrs Smiths
harm with her hand on the granary door.
'Josephl' she whispered. .....
No reply, ..e -s.,-.7 - ... .-s ID,
,'Joseph-it is me-are you hereG' she
added Knocking on the door. ...g q
| ..Lct ME oui,' said voice within.
Without amy further delay. Mrs. Ferris,
having thrown the barn door wide o, en-
20 that she, could see TO perform hr- oI,er-
atons, commenced hammeriDg the pad
!ock iu most destructive mauner.
a. = Now Nj. Smith who was within, was ex.
ceedingly asLonishcd al what he heard. -
lie certainly visit d to soe out. but he had
no desire to have the paddock smashed,
without 6rst trying other means. Some
hing ike the truth flashed upon his mind
however, when he reflected that the per-
son who was breaking the lock had called
him Joseph, and tbat the voice. was mar
yelously. like o woman's. With greal
anxiety Of mind he waited for the door
to open.
sAtlength the lock was torn away, and
| Mrs, Ferris whispered
| Come quick. Joseph !! There Is nc
time to loose They'll be here in min
ate. ,.
She caught sombody by the arm, g &C
10th stopped, looking each other full in thu
face. ..... $3.50 ... ,......I...l ...s. ..,
Mrs. Ferris screamed and turned pale
than the moonlight. and dropped he
hummer. Mr.. Smith was scarcely les
astonished; but recovering himself. HI
said rather coolly. considering the occa
! "Yon are out late tonight, Mrs. Fer
! ris. Allow me to see You home"
j She could not refuse his arm; and whel
she saY he was conducting her to hi
house instead Of her own, she had no
the power TO say V ord or make the leas
!, resistance. a-....-...
:. The good lady's feelings, on being bro
before Mr.. Smith, can be more easily i'm
agintd than described. In her fear an
confusion she eonft ssed some startling
} tru be, aud with tears, and on her knees
begged .'her Kind, dear friends to be mer
: ciful and not 10 expose her., Mrs. Smit
b recovered from her amazement and ex
: claimed-'I never! | never! I never
!. and Mr., Smith, who was not the leas
: excited of The three, indulgtd in som
3 equally sensible remarks.
. Meanwhile, Mr. Joe Ferris, who wa
i. the man who had taken younger Smith
!, place in the granary, and given IL up'i
Q turn to the elder Smith, went home by
t cirestous route, wondering by whs
. strange accident he, happened to g.
caught and congratulatlng himself O
0 his escape He had re1sI his doc
i when hearing his name called by SOM
7 body in the road, he turned and saw thre
y msn going by. ~
Joe Ferris is that you p cried tt
voice Of ,he younger Smllh. Come o.
if you are ready. I've got Bill Hodg'
;. and Mr.. Blake-and think we'u
t enough for one thief-but the more Il
n merrier, So come ON knew you won
d 60 in for the fun in spite Of your hea'
t ache --.
e Joe was quite as much in the dark nov
h as when he was locked up in the granar
l. but, concluding it would be the best
T. put bold face ou the ma ter, aud accon
|pany Increase, he declared himself reau
o and jumped over the fence. At 6rst
was afraid of committing himself, but Il
d conversation by the way showing him,
he ,hought-exactly how the ground la
he laughed, heartily at the queer mann
o in which the thief was caught, and Toln
s. teered to be the first to enter the gran
q ry where he was confined at the san
time chuckIing joyously at The anticip
i ton os the younger SHiih's dismay, {
u finding, instead of thief, his own faith
l. under lock and key
). With great glee, the men proceed
y once 10 lus graua:y, whtre Increase pr