Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-14

IL ftOh, III Keep the secret r. interrupted the
Deacon, trying 70 preserve becoming gravity.
HThe joke g safe, and I'd advise you 70 hurry
home and let out Increase" ~ a. a
The elder Smith turned on his heel and
vanished, feeling very weak, probably the ei-
feet Of the excitement he bad undergone.
Let rs now look 10 upon The younger
Smith, who was actually shut up in the gran
ary. Il is now impossible 10 describe bis
rage on finding himself thus entrapEsd. After
shouting until be was hoarse and nearly deal,
be closed his teeth angrily, and sat down on
a bag Of meal to await the result. M .I
Increase had not been long in this dark
dungeon before he heard a noise in the barn.
supposing It was the old man, who, having
discovered his error, was coming to hberate
his anger evaporated, and he could not help
but laugh at the ludierous mistake.
But there was mystery about the sounds
be heard, which caused the younger Smith 10
doubt whether they were made by bis father,
after sll, He listened. The key turned eau
tiously in the lock. Slowly, stealthily the
door opened, while Increase scarcely breathed.
Somebody entered noiselessly, he touched
young Smiths shoulder as he passed, and be-
gan 10 explore the further part OF the dun
geon. Increase dropped on his hands and
knees, and taking advantage Of the noise
made by the robber, crept out. Then 10 shut
the door and lock II was but the work OF q
moment Somebody was locked up.
Listening moment and hearing no sound,
Increase became firmly convinced that be had
committed no error but caught a real thief
and went Immediately for assistance.
Shortly after, and very much ashamed Of
his mistake, the elder Smith sneaked into the
barn and approached the granary. 1t is
necessary in this place 70 observe that the ell
der Smith locked up bis own son with the
key which he had carried with him, and care
lessly left 1t in the lock on entering the gram
airy, and which the younger Smith had ear
ried away.
And now the elder Smith made haste to
open thedoor. g E.t ii
q Incrcasel' be called, putting bis head
into the granary. y --O ~ '-f-'- "a --'-
No sound answered, tgtErIl1ia
Are you asleep2 Come, don't be play
ing any trick with me--it was all q mistake
for really took you to be a rob"
Mr. Smiths voice was stopped bya violent
blow in the mouth. Mr. Smith in an instant
was tumbled down amidst a wilderness Of
barrels, bags, rakes and shoveis. Mr.. Smith
was considerably stunned by the blow and
The fall; and when be got upon his legs
again, the door was closed and lOeked-Mr.
Smith was a prisoner. I leave the reader to
imagine bis feelings.
Meanwhile Increase was raising forces TO
assist in taking the thief out Of the granary
in safety. Having first told his story to Mrs.
Smith who was greatly astonished, be hast
ened to alarm Joe Ferris, a stout fellow who
lived in the woods near by, and who COM
planned of losing quite as much property as
the Smiths Mrs. F. put her head out Of the
window, and wanted to know what Increase
wanted. The man asked for Joe. After
some hesitation the woman replied that her
husband had the headache, and could not get
up,
'eBut we have got the robber caught.
t'Oh, have yOu2 2n said Mrs. Ferris, IL q feei-
ble voice. ''How foriunatel But as my
husband has the headache, think you had
better keep the man till morning.
''No-weH have him tonight" cried d
crease, and away be ran. Af--. .-ti ft.t-.
Now if the younger Smith thought he was
regaling Mrs. Ferris with glad tidings, he
was considerably in error. The truth is, in
closing the window she was pale as DEATH
The reader may guess the cause of her agits-
ton when | inform him there was no Joe
Ferris sick with the headache in the house.
But Mrs. Ferris was a woman Of energy
and decision. She caught up q hammer, threw
shawl over her head, and left the house.
She was soon in Mr. Smiths barn, with her
hand on the graHsesT1YIt 4 & doQg, 3 Pg,,, -
No reply.
"Joseph, it is me, are you here ~ she add
ed knocking at the door. s.IGst..
"Let me out said voice within. ,
Without any further delay, Mrs. Ferris hav-
ing thrown the barn door vide open, so that
she could see to perform ner operations, COM
menced hammering the paddock in a most de-
str uetive manner.
Now Mr.. Smith, who was within, was ex-
ceedingly astonished at what he heard. He
certainly wished to get out bat he had no de-
sire to have the paddock smashed, without
hrst trying other means Something like the
truth flashed upon his mind, however, when
be reflected that the person who was breaking
/ the lock had called him Joseph, and that the
voice was remarkably like that ofa woman's,
With great anxiety Of mind he waited for the
/ door to open.
At length the lock was torn away, and
Mrs. Ferris whispered:
WCome quick, Joseph There's no time to
/ losel They'll be here in q minute ]" $3.50
She caught somebody by the arm, and
somebody followed her out in the moonlight
| Then he caught her by the arm, and both
stol % I, looking each other full in the face.
Mrs. Ferris screamed, turned paler than
the moonlight, and dropped her hammer Mr..
Smith was scarcely less astonished but re-
Towering himself he said, rather coolly, con-
sidering the occasion -
"You are out rather late tonight, Mrs.
/ Ferris: slloW me to see you hOmeN "a.
She could not refuse bis arm, and when
/ she saw that be was conducting her to bis
house instead Of her own, she bad not the
power to say q word or make the least resist
anee- fa 10 D.. i.,er.r 81.
The good lady's feelings on being brought
before Mrs Smith, can be more easily imag-
| ined than described. In her tear and eonfu
sion she confessed some very startling facts,
AID with tears in her eyes begged her 4skind
a dear friends' to be merciful and Dot expose
her. Mrs. Euth recovered from her amaze
| ment, and exclaimed, u never neEerl ]
neverIu and Mr.. Smith, who We not the leas
excited OF the three, indulged in some equal
" sensible remarks.
Meanwhile, Joe Ferris, " no was the man
that had taken the younger Smiths place il
the granary, and gave it up in turn to the
elder Smith, went home BY a circuitous
route, wondering by what strange accident
he happened to be caught, and congratula
ting himself on his escape. He had reached
his door, when hearing his name called By
somebody in the road, he turned around and
[ saw three men going By.
''Joe Ferris, is this you7H cried the Toicr
/, OF the younger Smith. s'Gemeop5 if you art
! lfeady. I've got Bill Hodge and Mr.. Blake
and think wen be enough for that on
J / thief, but the mora the merrier, so come on
/, | I knew you would 90 in for the fun in spit
! OF your headache. - al.l .as.s.-.r.
Joe was as much in the dark now IS Whei
! | be was locked up in the grsnary; he eonclu
I dedit would be best to Put a bold face on tn