The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-08-21


rs he called: "Cyrus! Cyrusn' He
stood outside the granary, and again
called loudly through the closed door
to his son. who did not reply, for
sufficient reasons.
'1sit possible. murmured the father.
THAT he has got out of that Bit of a
window? Or could it have been all my
Imagination, that there was somebody
in the granary? Cyrus! boy"' he said.
aloud. as he unlocked the door
and stood confronting the darkness and
mystery. Are you here?'
He paused moment in the silence
that ensued. then moved cautiously
forward. He touched something
crouching in corner of the bins. and
recoiled with start of fear.
'Cyrus. is it you? Why didn t
you
His voice was stopped by blow, and
as he staggered back. large and pow
erful man bounded from the granary
and escaped.
1t took the farmer a second or two
to recover from the buffet and the
shock of surprise and terror it caused
h nj. BY the time he reached the door
in pursuit. he found it shut and fas-
tened, with him on one side and the
burglars fast-flying heels on the
other.
A prisoner in his turn. he could do
nothing. in the shaken condition of his
nerves. but lean against a bin. recover
breath and composure of mind, and
wait for what was to happen next.
VIII Oh proved to be something quite as
strange as any event that had occurred
that night.
Cyrus had by this time reused the
Dunfry boys, Reub and Bill, and enlist
ed them in his enterprise.
i've already called for joe" he
said, as he returned with them in haste
toward Ferris house. .'But he's down
with fever, and can't 60"
'.Down with fever?" cried Bill Dun
fry, incredulously. THAT can't be.
for saw him splitting wood by his
back door at shutdown. I'll find out
about thatr'
He ran forward and gave two or
three laundering raps on the side of
the house with a club he had caught
up for use in the anticipated struggle
with the robber.
'Joe!" he shouted. repeating the
raps as his companions came up.
Come out! You're wanted"
Again head was thrust from the
upper window. 1t was that of Joe
himself. Seeing Cyrus and the Duhfry
boys with lantern. he said. with a
yawn that was somewhat overdone:
Whats up now. boys?'
''Cy has locked a thief in his gran
ary," Bill replied. land he wants help
to 60 and take him out. What's the
matter? Sick?"
Il amt much sick when there's any
such fun as that going on" Joe an
swered. I'm be with We in a minute.
soon as can pull my clothes on"
Now the truth is, Joe's clothes were
on already, all but his coat, which he
had taken the precaution to pull of
before showing himself at the window.
He got his arms into that, and present
ly appeared at the door. buttoning but
tons which he had that minute unbut-
toned. in order to play well his part of
q man just out of bed. He was some
what too hilarious. perhaps. for the oc-
casion. declaring that 1t would cure
him of fever-turn any time to be in
vited to join in overcoming and bind
ing robber.
I'm Cradliff's granary?" he asked,
with pretended incredulity. ut don't
look possibIe!" And Cyrus. on the
way, had to relate his adventure, which
he did to Joe Ferris seemingly intense
They entered the barn with the light,
and proceeded at once to unearth the
burglar. Cyrus thinking it not worth
while to wait tor his fathers assist
ance. The Dunfry boys had cudgels;
Joe had his own good fists; Cyrus pro-
vided himself with rope, which he
held while he knocked on the granary,
having placed his lantern on the barn
floor.
xviii you come out peaceably and
give yourself upp" he demanded.
No reply from within.
There's nobody there" said Reub
'-Oh yes. there isl" Cyrus answered.
HE couldn' get out without coming
through the door, and You see that is
fast
he knocked again.
Hello! Answer. will youP''
There's no use PLAYING 'possum.
Let's have him out" said Joe.
Come aheadp" said Reub, clutching
his club.
twas a moment OF thrilling expects
ton when Cy turned the key in the
lock. and suddenly threw back the
door. No burglar burst forth to en-
counter Joe's fists and the Dunfry boys
clubs.
Hold your lanternr' cried Reub, ex-
citedly, while Joe Ferris grinned with
his own secret thoughts.
Cy, who had taken q step backward
as he opened the door, now advanced,
holding the lantern above all their
heads and throwing its full light into
the granary. Then all advanced, the
Dunfry boys gradually lowering their
clubs and Joe's grin expanding. as the
bins were searched. and the astonish-
ing discovery made that there was
nothing to discover!
Cywas hugely chagrined. and the re-
suit was q puzzle even to Joe, who
might have told something of the real
burglars escape. but could not guess
. 4 -,,<