Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-02-23
The sml,h,., Aavsntur. with a noss.r.

time been very much annoyed by tho dep.
relations OF some unknown individual,
whose confused idens concerning the rights
of property led to the frequent abstraction
OF divers goods and chattels from the pre-
misses OF the said Smiths In a furtlve and
mysterious manner. Bags Of wheat and
oats vanished from the granary, pork from
the cellar, and corn from the crib In one
night sheep that had just been slaughter
ed coolly trotted away, and on another oc-
casion several gallons Of maple syrup evopo.
rated in night time. Milking stools went
of on three legs, and Mr.. Smiths best axe
was found to have cut stick Log chains
became rattlesuakes and crept or iron
wedges made splits in the Smith property /;
boots walked away, and jack rode on the
'saw-horse.'
Vain we're all the efforts Of the elder
and younger Smith TO discovery the mys.
terry Of these disappearance and to entrap
the offender. Despairing of bringin him tog
justice, the Smiths found they could do no.
thing more than to take measures to en-
snre the safety Of their property. Accord
ingly they built new granary, with strong
walls, narrow grated window and heavy
oaken door, 10 which was attached for
midable paddock The prison like portion
ton of the barn was sufficiently large 10
allow the Smiths to lock up with the grain
o great deal Of portable property, sueh as
was most likely to tempt the cupidity Of
thieves.
After the granary was finished, d month
passed, during which time the depredations
OF the robber OF robbers was confined to
the orchard 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 before leaving the barn
This was by no means singular circum.
stance, considering that the granary was
usually locked by the younger Smith, who
had that night 'goue q eOnrting'
1t was moonlight evening, and Mr.
Smith, on approaching the barn, was con-
siderably startled at seeing the large door
ajur. Certain of having shut the door an
hour previous, Mr.. Smith thought of rob.
bers. His suspicious were confirmed when,
on nearer approach, he plainly heard a
movement in the barn. Too cautious to
cndanger his life by boldly attacking the
robber Mr.. Smith, with considerable terpi.
daton, resolved TO watch his movements
and discover who he was.
of the barn. he saw dim, ghoSt.lke figure
glide across the floor towards the granarv.
A happy thought entered Mr.. Smiths brain.
Stealing into the barn, he erept silently
along by the NOW until near the granary,
when, CLAP !--he shut the door, adjusted
the paddock, tnrncd the key, and was off
as if for his life.
1t is impossible to say what made Mr..
Smith tremble so. 1t might have been the
smothering cry Of alarm which issued from
the granary walls in way fully calculated
TO awaken suspicious fears. But Mr.. Smith
never owned he was as white as q ghost,
or as white as they are supposed to be.
Whats the matter {? cried Mrs. Smith.
l've caught the robber! CALCULATED Smith,
in breath He is locked up 10 the gra-
nary. Give me my boots =
'Why-what-what are you going to
do ?
Get help He's o desperate fellow,
and it will be dangerous to medde with
him alone
1t is impossible to describe the excite.
ment of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on that memo
rable occasion. The latter took it upon
herself to load the old musket while the
husband went for the neghbors.
Mr.. Smith exchanged his slippers for his
boots, and ran first TO Deacon Naifles'
house, where he expected 10 find the young
er Smith, who was courtng NaGles dangL-
ter. He was surprised to sud the house
all dark-as if the Nuffies had retired to
rest and blown the candle out. He knock
ed, however, furousy as the occasion re.
quired. After some delay, Deacon Noilles
came down in his night dress, stared at
Smith 10 astonishment, aud demanded his
business at that time Of night.
Caught the tbief--locked up in the gra-
nary-where's Increase 2
'HIa caught the thief p cried Deacon
Naffles, who, having lost some property rs
well as his ncighbor, was interested in the
intelligence Good enough keep him
till morning.
'Twon't do ? replied Mr. Smith, in an
excited manner. He's q deperate fellow
break out must raise the neighbors-
where's my son, Increase ?
'Oh, Sally is sick tonight, so Increase
courted only about an hour. and went
home
Went home 2
Yes, said the Deacon. about half an
hour ago.
The elder Smith cIapped his hands to his
forehead, as if he had been struck by an
idea or some weighty substance.
Gracious 7 he exclaimed.
What ? asked the Deacon
Il believe stammered the elder Smith,
IL have locked up
'Whop
Increase
I'll bet you have = cried the Deacon
4 heard him say he had got to carry the
buggy cushions into the granary before he
went to bed
Look here,' whispered the elder Smith,
i beg o! you never the mention this--I--
I-if it should get OUT
'Oh, I'll keep the secret Y interrupted
the Deacon. trying to preserve becoming
gravity. The joke, is safe, and I'd advise
yon TO hurry bone aud let out Increase
The elder Smith turned on bis heel and
vanished feeling very weak, probably the