Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-06-29
OLD SERIES.

decision. She caugh, up a hammer. aud
throwing shawl over her head lsf, the
house. She was soon In Smiths barn, with
her hand on the gran.ry door.
Joseph" she Whispered.
No reply.
Joscph--its me-are you hSrc7' she
added. knocking at the door.
let me out" aid a voice within.
withou, further delay. Mrs Ferris baV-
Ing thrown the harm door wide open 50 ,ha,
she could SEQ to perform her operations.
commenced hammering the paddock in a
most destructive manner.
Now. Mr.. Smith. who was within, was
certainly astonisbcd at wha, he heard. Ilo
certainly wished TO bc let out. but he had
no desir, to have the paddock smashed,
without first trying other means. Some
thing lik. the truth however flashed upon
hi. mind. when he rccollectcd tha, the per.
son who was breaking the lock had called
him joseph and that the voice was marve.
lousy like a wsmsn's. With great ankle
ty Of mind he waited for the door to open.
At length the lock was torn away, and
Mrs. Fcrri. whispered
"Comc quick, Joseph There's no time
to lose They'll he here in a minute :"
She caught somebody by the arm, and
that somebody followed her out into tho
moonlight Then he caught her by the
arm and both stopped. and looked each 9TH
er full in the face.
Mr.. Ferris screamed, and turned ralsr
than the moonlight, dropping the hammar.
Mr. Smith was scarcely less asionl.hcd {;
bur recovering himself, he said rather cool.
ly. considering ID, OCCASION
You are Ou, late tonight, Mrs. Ferris
Allow mo to escort you home"
She could not refuse M. arm. and when
she saw tha. he was conducting her to his
home instead of her own. she had not tho
power to 'ay word, or make the lca', :e.
si.nncc.
Tn, good lady. feeling. on Seing brought
before Mr.. Smith. can be more easily inas.
ined than described" In her fear and con-
fusion she confessed some very startling
truths. and with tears, and on her knees,
legged her kind. dear friends, 20 h. merci.
iul aud ne, expose her Mr.. Smith rccoV.
cred from her amalcm.nt, and exclaimed,
IL never never never '' and Mr..
Smith who was no, the lcas, excited Of the
thrcc inlulecd in some equally sensible re-
marks.
Meanwhile Joe Ferris who was the man
who had taken the younger Smiths place
ir tho sranary. and given ,up in turn to
,l, elder Smith. wen, home by a circuiious
route, wondering by what strange circum'
stance he happened to Sc, caught, and con.
graduated himself on hi' escape. lie had
reached his door. when hearing his name
called by .om,body in the road he returned
and slw three ner. going by.
d" Joe Ferris, I. lha, you ?" criOl III,
,oico Of the younger Smith. "Come ON.
II you are ready I've got BIll Hodges and
Mr. Blake. and think we'll he enough fse
one thief but tho more tho merrier-so
come on. knew you would go in for the
fan, in spite Of your headache"
Joe was quite as much in the dark now
as when he was locked up in the granary;
bot coneludine I, would be bcs. to put
bold fac, on the matter and accompany 10.
crease he declared himself ready and jumped
over tie fence. ~ first he was afraid oi
committing himself. bat the conversation by
the way. showing a. he thought, exactly
how the ground lay, he laughed heartily at
the queer manner in which tho thisf was
caught. and volunteered 70 be the FIRST TO
enter the granary whore he was confined, at
the sane time chuekling joyou'ly at the an.
tcpatlon Of the younger Smiths d'may on
finding, instead OF y thief, his own father
unkor lock and key.
With great glce, the men proceeded at
once TO the eranAry, where Increase propo'-
ed leaving his companions to 60 into tho
house for "a lantern, and sec u his father
had returned upon which Joe laughed all
TO himself, and advised the younger Smith
to be- sure and bring the old man, II no was
anywhere TO be- found
4" Halo :" cried Bill Hodges &" the gran.
airy door is open the thief has broke out!'
Increase came back. filed with eonsterna.
,ion. Joe Ferri,wa' no les, surprised. The
strange events Of the night were involved in
deeper mystery than ever, when the elder
Smith having heard the approach Of Increase
and his companions, made his appearance
with light.
"TIallo. neighbOr." cried Joe Ferris,
" what is all thi. hubbub about' Increase
has been telling u' about thieves.
~ declare. father" said tho younger
Smith. 4" after you shu, me u? ! .hu, up
thief and left him in my place"
81 know il your mother has told me-
replied the elder Smith; and when | came
to let you out"
"Oh, | see it allr' grOaned Increase.
" lie go, away"
"Yes, and shut me up'"
And how did YOU get out? ?"
"why, the thief wife had the kindness
10 come and break the lock-"
So saying, the elder Smith held the Ian.
tern up to the face Of Ferris, who turned
eha.,ly white and trembled as IL bs bad
been in an aguc fit. The whole affair was