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

i.hmen,, and demanded hi. busincs, at
that time Of night,
"Caush, tho thicr-loekcd up-in the
granary-whero's incrca'e1"
liz. caught a thief" cried Deacon Naf-
De-, wdo having los, some property as we'll
a. his nsighbor, was interested in the intel
liccncs. Good enough keep him ill
morning"
"'Twon', do" replied Mr. Smith in an
excited manner. Hes a dosPrit fellow
break out must rou', the usishbSn-
where's my .on, Inerea'c7"
"oh. Sally is SICK tonight 90 Increase
courici her only nbou, an hour. and went
home"
Wont homer"
Yes. >" said the deacon " half an hour
u:o."
The older Smith clnppci hi, hand to hi'
head. a, iis,rusk by an idea or some other
weishiy substance.
Gracious 90 he exclaimed.
WHAT" asked the deacon.
IL believe" stamucrcl the elder Smith,
Ill have locked up"
Who"
Increase"
81 b., you have 80 cried the deacon. |
heard him .ay he had got to carry the bug
~ cushion. into tho sranary. before he
went TO bed"
Look here. whispered the elder Smith
~ bss Of you never to mcniioa this =
lit should get out"
"Oh, III keep the secret" interrupted
the deacon, trying to pre'-rys a becoming
grauiy. "Th. pks !, .afe. and Id advise
YOU to hurry homo and let out Increase.
The elder Smith turned on his heel and
vanished, feeling very weak, propably the
effect Of the excitement be bad undergone.
let Us now look in upon tho younger
smith who va, actually shut up in the
granary. It impossible 10 describe his
rass On finding himself thus enntnpPcd.
AI,r shouting until he va. hoarsc. AMI
nearly deaf, he clo-,d hi' t's,h angrily and
at dosn on a bag of meal and to await the
result.
lncr,ls, had not been lon: in this dark
dungeon before he heard a noise in the barn.
Suppo.ins it was tho old man who having
di,cs,.rci hi, error. va, coming 10 liberatc
him. hi, anger syaporaiod, and ho could
no, help laughing az tho ludicrou' mis-.
take.
But there was mystery about ,h. sound
he heard. which caused the younger Suith
20 doubt whether il was mad, bT hi, father
after all. lie listened. The KEY turned
cautiously in the lock. Slowly ,ssalthily
the door opened, while Increase scarcely
brcathed. Ssmc one entered, noiselcssly,
touched young smiths shoulder as he pas
sci, and bssan to explore the iartber part
Of tie dungeon. Increase dropped on his
hands and knees, and taking advantage Of
the noise made by the roSb,r, erOpi out.
Then. b. shot the door and lock it was the
work ola moment Somebody was locked
up.
Listening moment and hearing no sound
Increase became fully convinced that he had
committed no error, but eaug h,a re al
thief. and went Immediately Tor assistance.
shortly after, aud very much ashamed
Of hi, mistake, the elder Smith sneaked in
to the barn, anI approached the grinsry.
I, is necessary in this place to observe that
the elder Smith locked up his son with the
koy which belonged to the gransry, aud
which be carried with him, aud that In.
crease locked up the thief with fIlss key
which the latter had brought with him,
aud circles'ly lsl, in the lock, on entering
the granlry, and which the younger Smith
had carried away. And now tho elder
Suith made haste to open ,he door.
Increase 80 no called, putting his head
into the grauOry.
No sound answered.
Z" Are you asleep? Come don't 60 to
playing any tricks upon ne for | really
took you to be rob"
Mr. Smiths voice was stopped by yio'
lent blow on the mouth. Mr.. Smith IN an
instant was tumbleI down amidst wilder.
ness OF barrels, bags, rakss and shoy.ls
Mr. Saith was considerably stunned by
the blow and the fall. and when Mr.. Smith
got upon his legs again the door was closed
aud locked. Mr.. Smith was q prisoner. |
leave the reader to imagine his feeling,
Meanwhile, Increase was raising forces
to assist IN taking the thief out Of the gra-
merry in safety. Having first told his story
to Mrs. Smith, who was exceedingly aston
ished, he fastened to alarm Joe Ferris a
stout fellow, who lived in the wood, near
by and who had complained Of losing quite
as much property as his neishbors. Mr..
put her head out Of the window and wished
to know what Increase wanted. The
young man asked for Joe. Alter some hes
i,a,ion the woman replied that Ler husband
had a very bad headache, and could not gel,
up.
:" Its very Important" said Increase.
I've caugh, the thief and locked him up in
the granary
"Oh have you ?" SAID Mrs Ferris, in n
feeble voice. {" How fortunate! Bot as
my husband has the headache. I think you
had better keep the man till morning.
"Oh-we'll have him tonight cried
Increase,
Nov ~ tho Younger Smith thought be