The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-08-28

Let us now Look in upon the younger
Smith who was actually shut up in the gran
ary. II is now impossible to describe his
rage On finding himself thus entrapped. At
ter shouting until he was hoarse and nearly
deaf, he closed his teeth angrily. and sat
down On bag Of meal to await the result.
Increase had not been long in this dark
dungeon before he heard a noise in the barn.
Surprising il was the old man, who, having
discovered his error. was coming to liberate
him, his anger evaporated, and he could not
help but laugh at the ludicrous mistake.
But there was a mystery about the sounds
he heard, which caused the younger Smith
to doubt whether they we're made by his fa-
ther. after all. lie listened. The key turn
ed cautiously in the lock. Slowly and stealth
lily the door opened. while Increase scarcely
breatssd. Somebody entered noiselessly;
he 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 but the work of moment.
Somebody was locked up.
listening moment, and hearing no sounds,
Increase became firmly convinced that he
had committed no error, but caught real
thief, and went Immediately for assistance.
Shortly alter, and very much ashamed of
his mistake, the elder Smith sneaked INTO
the barn and approached the granary. II is
necessary in this place to observe that.the
father locked up his own son with the key he
had carried with him. and carelessly left in
the lock on entering the granary, and which
the younger had carried away.
And now the elder Smith made haste L
open the door.
i" Increase !" he called. putting his head
into the granary.
No sound answered.
"Are you asleeps Come. don't be play
ing any trick with met was all mistake
for ! really took you TO be a rob"
Mr.. Smiths voice was stopped by violent
blow on the mouth. Mr.. Smith, in an in.
slant, was tumbled down amidst wilderness:
OF barrels, bags, rakes and shoyels. Mr.
Smith was considerably stunned by the blow
and fall; when he got upon his legs again
the door was closed and locked-Mr. Smitl
was prisoner. | leave the reader to imag.
inc his feelings.
Meanwhile. Increase was collecting forces
to assist in taking the thief Ou. OF the grana.
ry in safety. Having first told the story t.
his mother, who was astonished. he hastened
to alarm Joe Ferris, stout fellow, who lived
in the woods near BY, and who complained
oflosins quite as much property as the Smiths
Mrs. f. put her head out Of the window, and
wanted TO know what he wanted. The man
asked for Joe. Afer some hesitation the
woman replied that her husband had the
headache and could not get up.
But we have got the robber caught"
"0h, have you;n asked Mrs. Ferris in a
feeble voice. s. How fortunate But as m,
husband has the headache. think you had
better keep him till morning
"Nu-wc will have him tonight" erie,
i Increase, and away he ran.
Now. if the Younger Smith thought he wa
regaling Mrs Ferris with glad tidlngs, b,
was considerably in error. The truth is, il
closing the window she was pale a. death
The reader may guess the cause Of her agi
tation when | inform him that there was nj
Joe Ferris sick in the house.
But Mrs. Ferris was a woman Of energ,
and decision. She caught up a hammer
threw shawl over her head, and she wa,
soon 10 Mr. Smiths barn, with her hand oi
the granary door.
Jossphi" she whispered.
No reply.
Joseph, it's me; are you here:" she add
Ell. knocking a. the door.
Let me OUT said voice within.
4 Without further delay. Mrs. Ferris hav
Ing thrown the barn door wide open. SO thai
she could see TO perform her operations, CON
meneed hammering the paddock in mos
destructive manner.
Now, Mr. Smith, who was within, was ex
eeedingly astonished al what he heard. II,
certainly wished 10 be let out, but had no de
sire to have the paddock smashed. withou
hr.t trying other means. Something lik,
the truth flashed mon his mind. however
when Ne remembered that the person VIII,
was breaking the luck had called him Joseph
and that the voice was remarkably like tina
Of woman's. With great anxiety Of min,
he waited for the door to open. At engtl
the door was torn away, and Mrs. Ferri
II
Come quick. Joseph there's no time /,
lose! They'll be here directly"
She caught somebody by the arm anl
somebody followed her out in the moonlight
Then he caught her BY the arm. aud boil
stopped, looked each other full in the lace.
Mrs. Ferris screamed, turned paler thar
the moonlight, and dropped her hammer
Mr.. Smith was scarcely less astonished, bu
recovering himselfhe said, rather coolly con.
sidering the occasion;
"You are out rather late tonight. Mrs
FERRIS allow me 20 see you home"
| She could not refuse his arm, and when sh,
saw that he was conducting her to his hous,
instead Of her own, she had NOT the power Il
say word or make the least resistance.
The good lady's feelings on being brought
before Mrs. Smith, can be more easily i'm
agined than described. Ia her fear aud con
fusion she confessed some very startlin.
facts. and with tears in her eyes begged he
e. l. .f..N A