Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-14
THE SMITHS.
And their AatentuFs 1ivlth a Robber.
By PAUL eRRYToN.

.
The Smiths Of SmithyiIle had for a long
time been very much annoyed BY the depre-
dations of some unknown individual, whose
confused ideas concerning the rights Of prop
erty led to the frequent abstraction OF divers
goods and chattles from the premises Of the
said Smiths in a furtive and mysterious man
ner. Bags Of wheat and oats vanished from
the granary, pork from the cellar, and corn
from the crib; in one night q sheep that had
Just been slaughtered eOOlly trotted away,
and On another occasion several gallons Of
maple sugar eFaporated in night time.
Milking stools went OFF on three legs, and
Mr. Smiths best axe was found to have i'cut
stick Log chains became lattlesnakes and
erept off; iron wedges made splits in the
Smith property; boots walked away, and
sack road on the HsaW-h0r5e.' .lt
Vain were all the efforts Of the elder and
younger Smith to discover the mystery Of
these disappearances and to entrap the Offend
er Despairinp of hringi.aes Ls----- .tz17stS7Sl
the Smiths found that they could do nothing
more than TO take measures to ensure the
safety Of their property. Accordingly they
built new granary, with strong walls a
narrow grated window and heavy oaken
door, 70 which was attached formidable
paddock. The prison-lke portion Of the barn
was sufficiently large TO allow the Smiths to
lock up with the grain great deal Of port
able property, such as was most likely TO
tempt the cupidity Of thieves s = Z
After the granary was finished, a month
passed, during which time the depredations Of
the robber or robbers was confined to tie or
chards and hen roost when, late on Sunday
evening, the elder Smith, as he was sitting,
tipped against the kitchen wall, smoking his
pipe, preparatory to retiring, bethought him
that he had neglected to lock the granary be
fore leaving the barn. This was by no means
a singular circumstanee, considering that the
granary was usually locked by the younger
Smith, who had that night 'gone court
ing
1t was a moonlight evening, and Mr.. Smith
on approaching the barn, was considerably
startled at seeing the door ajar. Certain o
having shut the door an hour previous, Mr.
Smith thought OF robbers. His suspicion!
were confirmed when, on a nearer approa 3h
/ be plainly heard movement in the barn
L Too ocautious to endsngar hisiiie By boldly
attacking the robber, Mr. Smith, with coz
I siderable trepidRtiOn, resolved to WGtch hii
movements and discover who be was.
/ Looking through a crack on the east sid
/ Of the barn, lie saw dim, ghost like 6guri
glide across the floor towards the granary
A happy thought entered Mr.. Smiths brain
Stealing into the barn, he crept silently along
by the NOW until near the granary, when
Il clhpl-he shut the door, adjusted the pad
lock, turaed the key. and vas of as if TO
his life.
It was impossible to say what made Mr
Smith tremble so. Il might have been tn
smotherlng cry Of alarm which issued fror
tlie granary walls in a way fully calculate
to awaken suspicious fears But Mr., Smit
/ never owned be was as white as a ghost, o
as white as they are supposed to be.
/ whats the matter cried Mrs. Smitf
| ave saught the robberF be CALCULATED
ID breath. q Z. Hes locked up in the grams
~. Give me my boots"
| Why-what--What are you going
do 2" 80
a:Get help. He'sa desperate fellow, an
it would be dangerous TO NEEDLE with hir
alone" 1iEa1s-l1
1T is impossible 10 describe the e1citemeI
Of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on that memorable o.
casion. The latter took it upon herself
load the old mnsket, while the husband wei
for the neighbors. z.'4..l .'9l go. .sss =
Mr., Smith exchanged his slippers for b
boots, ana ran first to Deacon NaHies hous
where he expected to End the younger Smii
who was tourtine NafBes daughter. HsEi
surprised 70 ind the house all dark, as if Il
Naffies had retired to rest and blown Il
candle out He knocked, however, furiou
/ w. as the occasion required After SON
delay, Deacon Hafies came down in b
! night dress. stared at Smith in sstOnishnen
and demanded his business at that hour
the night. =
: aCapght the thief-loeked up in the gr
I pary--Wheres IEerease2 1
dial caught tie thiss2" cried Deacc
Naffles. who, having lost some property
: well as his neighhors, was interested IN =
(. Eiutelligence. HG0Od enough; keep him {
morning. a. Is s-azl5as -
"'TWon't do replied Smith in an excit'
, manner. itHe's desperate fellow-brei
2 out--I. must raise the neighbors--wherV
my son, Increase r. 5Ta .q y 1,
? I@0h sally is sick to4niehi, 50 Inerea
eourted only shout an hour aad then We
: home ~,
= "Went homepf II i f53.la.ol Sd b.
7 ayes Yes Z .saia tie Deacon, "about half
hour ago.
81 The elder Snita elabpe1 his hSndsto /
forehead, Is If be had been struck BY an id
t Of some Weighty subs tanee. ~
GGraeiols ~ be ejaculated. + aLll
Z aWhatTn asked the Deacon.
81 believe stAmmered the elder Smi
al have locke up7-n sss
& who" sio
y Increase n 1lsn5d s
. srH bet you hive cried the Deacon
+ 81 heard him sat be had got to carry