The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-03-21
it would be dangerous to meddls with

II is impossible to describe the excite
msnt Of Mr.. and Mrs. Smith on that
occasion. The latter took
it upon herslf to load the old muskct,
while the husband went for tho neigh
bors.
Mr.. Smith exchanged his slippers for
the boots, and ran first to Deacon Nal.
fe's house where he expected to find the
younger Smith, who was cour!ing Naf-
fes' daughter. He WAS surprised to find
the house all dark, as it the Nafflss had
retired to rest and blown the candle OUT
He Knocked, however, furiously, a. the
occasion required. After some delay,
Deacon Naff1ss came down in his night
dress. stared at Smith in sstoaishment. d
demanded his business at that hour of
the night.
Caught the thief-locksd up in the
granary-wbers's 1nerease?"
"Ha! caught the thief ?i' cried Deacon
Naflss, who, having lost some property
as well as his neighbors was interested in !
the intelligence. "Good enough; keep
him till morning"
"Twou't dol" replied Smith in an
excited manner. He's q desperate
fellow break out mus. raise the
nsigh5ors - where is my son In
crease?"
"Oh, Sally is sick to night. SO Increase
courted only about an hour. and went
home"
"Went homer"
YES" said the Deacon, "about half
an hour ago."
The elder Smith elapded his hands to
his forehead as if he had been struck by
an idea Of some weighty substance.
"Graciou.!" he CALCULATED.
"What?" asked the Deacon.
II believe" stammercd Smith," IL
have locked up"
| "Who?"
"Increase!'
"I'll bet you have!" cried the Deacon.
Il heard him say that he had got to
carry the buggy cushions into the grana-
ry before he went to bed"
"Look here" Whispered Smith. II beg
of you not tc mention this--I--if it sho d
get out"
"Oh, Iii keep the secret" interrupt.
ed the Deacon. trying to preserve becoa,.
ing gravity. The joke is safe. and I'd
advise you to hurry home and let out
Increase"
The elder Smith turned on his heel
and vanished. feeling very veal, probably
the effect Of the excitementhe had under
gone.
Let us now look in upon the younger
Smith. who was actually shut up in the
granary. It lis not possible to describt
his rage to find himself thus sntrapped
After shouting until be was hoarse and
nearly deaf, he closed his teeth angerly
and sat down on bag Of meal to avail
the result.
Increase had not been long in this darl
dungeon before heard noise in the barn
Supposing it was the old man. who, after
discovering his error, was coming to lib
crate him. his anger evaporated,& & be cod
not help but laugh at the ludicrous mis-
take. ...-
But there was mystery about the
sounds heard which caused Increase to
doubt whether they were made by bis
father at ALL He listened. The key turn
ed cautiously in the lock. Slowly and
steadily the door opened. while Increase
scarcely breathed. Somebody entered
noiselcssly. he touched young Smiths
shoulder as he passed, and began to ex-
plore the further part OF the dungeon
Increase dropped on his hands and knees
and taking advantage of the noise made
by the robbsr. crept out. Then to shat
the door and lock it was but the work o.
3 moment. Somebody was locked
up.
Listening a moment and hearing nc
sound Increase became frmy convinced
that he had committed no error. bu
caught real thief, and went immediate.
ly after assistance.
) Shortly after, and very much ashamed
of his mistake, the elder Smith sneaked
) in the barn and approached the grazary
1t is necessary in this place to observs
J that the elder Smith locked up his OWL
son with the key which he had carried
with him. and carelessly left in the look
or entering the granary, and which the
younger Smith had carried away.
And now the elder Smith made hast'
to open the door.
"Increase!" he called, putting his heat
in the granary.
No sound answered.
/. care you asleep? Come, don't b