The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-03-21

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long time been annoyed by the deprsda-
tions of some unknown individu al whose
confused ideas of the rights of property
led to the frequent abstraction of divers
goods and chattles from the premises Of
the said Smiths in furitive and mysteri,
Gus 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 been slaughtered
cody trotted away, and on another occa-
sion several gallons of maple syrup eva
porated in night time. Milking stools
went off on three legs, and Mr.. Smith q
best axe was found to have cut stick. =
Long chains became rattlesnakes and
orept off; ircn wedges made splits in
Smith property; boots walked away, and
sack rode on the saw horse.'
Vain were all the effo:ts Of the elder
and younger Smith to discover the nays
terry of these disappsarances and to en-
trap the offender. Dsspairing of bring
ing him to justice. the Smiths found that
they could do nething more than to take
measures to ensure the safety of their
property. Accordingly they built ne "
granary, with strong walls, narrow grs-
ted window and heavy oaken door, to
,rb;,l xz,, .t,.,b.5 , for,,;J, III. o,J1o.l,
The prison-like portion Of the barn was
sufficiently large to allow the Smiths to
lock up with tho grain a great deal Of
portable property, such as was most
likely to tempt the cupidity Of the
thieves.
After the granary was finished a month
passed, during which time the depreda-
tions of the robbers were confnsd to the
orchards and the hen 70 osts. when late
on Sunday evening, the elder Smith. as
he was sitting tipped against the kitchen
wall. smoking a pipe. preparatory to re-
firing, bethought him that he had neg
leetsd to lock the granary before leaving
the barn. This was by no means sim
gular circumstance, as it was usually
locked by the younger Smith, who had
that night gone courting.'
1t was q moonlight evening. and Mr..
Smith on approaching the barn, was con-
siderably startled to see the door ajar.-
Certain of having shut the door an hour
previous, Mr.. Smith thought Of the rob-
bers. His suspicious were confirmed
when, on nearer approach. be plainly
heard a movement in the barn. Too eau
tious to endanger his life by boldly at
taeking the rosber, Mr.. Smith with con-
siderable trepidation resolved to watch
bis movements and discover who be
was.
Looking through crack on the east
side of the barn, he saw a dim, ghost
like figure glide across the floor towards
the granary. A happy thought entered
Mr.. Smiths brain. Stealing into the
barn, he crept silently along by the NOV
until near the granary, when-clap !-he
shut the door. adjusted the paddock.
turned the key. and was off as if for hi'
life.
1t was impos sibls to say what made
Mr.. Smith trsmble 30. 1t may have beer
the smothering cry ofalarm which issued
from the granary walls in way fully
calculated to awaken suspicious fears
But Mr.. Smith never owned he was as
white as a ghost, or as white rs they are
supposed to be.
"What can be the matter?" cried Lrs
Smith.
"I've caught the robberl' he ejacula
ted in breath. Hes locked up in the
granary. Give me my boots"
"What--what-wha are you going t.
do?''
Get help. He's desperate fellow ane