The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-08

. the house all dark, as if NafHcses had al
: retired to rest, and blown out the candle
1 He Knocked, however, furiously as the
occasion required. After some delay
Deacon Naffies came down in night-clothe.
stared at Smith in astonishment, and de.
mandcd his business at that time of night
! Caught the thief-locked up--in The
granary-wLere's increased
'Ha caught theft cried Deacon Naf
fes. who, having lost some property as
we'll as his ncighbor, was interested in the
inteligcnec--'gOod enoush-keep him
till morning!
''Twout do!' replied Mr.. Smith in an
excited manner. He's desperate fel.
low-break out must rouse the neigh.
bors-whcre's my son increased
oh, Sally is sick, o-night-so In
crease courted her only about an hour,
and went home
Went homcN
'Yes,' said the Deacon, "half an hour
ago
( The elder Smith clapped his hand to
It's forehead. as if be had been struck,
either by an idea, or some weigbty sub
stance.
Gracious! be exclaimed.
'WhatY asked the Deacon.
/ believe said the elder Smith, Il
have locked up
'Whon
'IacteaScp
Il bet you have!' cried the deacon. Il
beard him say be had got to carry the
buggy cushions in the granary before he
went to bed
Look here, whispered the elder Smith,
Il beg of you never to mention this-1--
if this should get out
'Oh, I'll keep the secret.' interrupted
the deacon, trying to preserve a becom-
ing gravity. The joke is safe, and I'd
advise you to hurry home and let Increase
out
The elder Smith turned on bis heel
and vanished, feeling very weak-proba-
bly, the effect of the excitement he had
undergone.
Let US now look in upon the younger
Smith, who was actually shut in the gran
sry. 1t is impossible to describe his
rage on finding bimselfthus entrapped.-
a Afler shouting until he was hoarse and
nearly deaf, he closed his teeth angrily,
and sat down on bag of meal, to await
tbe result.
Increase had not been long in the
dark dungeon before he heard noise in
the barn SurPosing it was the old man
who, having discovered bis error, was
coming to lihcrate him, his anger evapo-
rated, and he could not help but laugh at
the ludicrous mistake.
But there was mystery about the
sounds be heard, which caused the young
er Smith to doubt whether they were
made by his father after all. He listen
ed. The key turned cautiously in the
lock. Slowly and stealthiIy the door O.
peued. while Increase scarcely breathed.
Somebody entered noiselessly, touched
young Smiths shoulder as he passed,
and began to explore the further part 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 firmly convinced
that he had committed no error, but
caught real thief, and lie went i'm medi-
stely for assistance.
Shortly afttr, and very much ashamed
Of his mistake, the elder Smith sneaked
into the barn and approached the grana-
ry. 1t is necessary in this place to OBJ
serve that the elder Smith locked up bis
,on with the key that belonged to the
graDary and which he had carried with
him, aud 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 had carried
away.
And now the elder Smith made haste
to open the door.
'Tncrease!' he called, putting bis head
into the grauary.
No sound answered
Are you asleep!' Cotne-don't &c to
playing any tricks on me lit was all
mistake, for | really took you to be
rob
Mr.. Smiths voice was stopped by vi
olent blow on the mouth. Mr. Smith in
an instant, was tumbled down amidst
wilderness of barrels, bags, rakes and
shovels. MIR. Smith was considerably
stunned by the blow and the fall; and
when Mr.. Smith got upon his feet again,
the door was closed and locked. Mr..
Smith was prisoner. leave the read
er to i'm agine bis feelings.
Meanwhile decrease was raising forces
to assist in taking the thief out of the
granary in safety. Having first told bis
story to Mrs Smith, who was exceeding
ly astonished, he FASTENED to inform Joe
Ferris, stout fellow, who lived in the
woods near by, and who had complain
ed of losing quite as much property as
Abo Gnifha Mrs II n,k bor bood ant