The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-03-20


the fall, and when he got upon his
legs again, the door was closed and
locked-Mr Smith was prisoner =
leave the reader to imagine his feel
] ings.
Meanwhile In .rease was raising for
ces to assist in taking the thief out of
the granary in safety. Having first
told his story to Mrs Smith, who was
greatly astonished, he FASTENED to
alarm Joe Ferris, stout fellow who
lived in the woods near by, and who
complained of Losing qaite as much as
the Smiths Mrs F put her head
ont of the window and wanted to know
what Increase wanted The man ask
ed for Joe. After some hesitation the
woman replied that her husband had
the headache, and could not get up.
"But we have got the robber
caught"
"Oh, have you ?" said the Mrs.
Ferris in feeble voice. How for
tunate But as my husband has the
headache, I think you had better keep
the man till morning"
Novel; have him to night"
cried Increase, and away he ran.
Now if the younger Smith thought
he was RECALLING Mrs Smith 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 agitation
when I inform him that there was no
Joe Ferris sick with the headache in
that house.
But Mrs. Ferris was woman Of
energy and decision. She caught mp
hammer. threw shawl over her
head, and left the house. She was
soon at Mr. Smiths barn, with her
ha d on the granary door
Joseph" she whispered.
No reply.
Joseph, it is me are you there ?"
she added, knocking at the door,
Let me out" said a voice with
in
Without any further delay, Mrs
Ferris having thrown the barn door
wide open, SO that she could see to
perform her operations, commenced
hammering the paddock in most des-
tructive manner.
Now Mr. Smith, who was within,
was exceedingly astonished at what
he heard. lie certainly wished to be
let out, but he had no desire to have
the paddock smashed, without first
trying other means Something like
the truth flashed upon his mind, how
ever, when he reflected that the per-
son who was breaking the lock had
called him Joseph, and that the voice
was remarkably like that of woman's. |
With great anxiety of mind he waited |
for the door to be opened.
At length the lock was torn away,
and Mrs. Ferris whispered
Come quick, Joseph There's no
time to be lost They'll be here in
minute"
She aught somebody by the arm,
and somebody followed her out in the
moonlight. Then he caught her, and
both stopped, Looking each other full
in the face
Mrs Ferris screamed, turned paler
than the moonlight, and dropped her
hammer. Mr.. Smith was scarcely less
astnnished, but recovering himself, he
said rather coolly, considering the oc-
casiOn
You are ont rather late tonight,
Mrs Ferris; allow me to see you
home"
She could not refuse his arm, and
when she saw that he was conducting
her to his house instead of her own,
she had not the power to say word
or make the least resistance.
The good lady's feelings on being
brought to Mrs Smith, can be more
easily imagined than described. In
her fear and confusion she confessed
some very startling facts, and with
tears in her eyes, begged her "kind
dear friends" to be merciful and not
expose her. Mrs. Smith recovered
from her amazement, and exclaimed,
81 never / never !" and Mr.. Smith
who was not the least excited of the
three, INDUCED in some equally sensi-
BILE remarks.
Meanwhile Joe Ferris, who was the
man that had taken the younger
Smiths place in the granary, and gave
it up in turn to the elder Smith,
went home by circcuitous route,
wondering by what strange accident
he happened to be caught, and con-
graduating himself on his escape. He
had reached the door, when hearing
his name called by some one in the
road, he turned round and saw three
men going by.
"Joe Ferris, is this you z" cried the