Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-08-14

- "A OdAAou' SyAuo' SyIuS:
stood outside the granary, and again
called loudly through the closed door
to his son, who did not reply, for
sufficient reasons.
'Isit 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 granaryP Cyrus! boy!" he said,
aloud, as he unlocked the door
and stood confronting the darkness and
mystery. ''Are you here?"
He paused a moment in the silence
that ensued, then moved cautiously
forward. He touched something
c%rouching in a corner of the bins, and
recoiled with a..start of fear.
"Cyrus, is it you? Why didn't
you"-
His voice was stopped by a blow, and
as he staggered back, a1arge 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
him. 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-fying 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,
which 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.
Eve already called for Joe," be
said, as he returned with them in has;e
toward Ferris house. 'But he's down
with a fever, and can't CO."
"Down with afeverp' cried Bill DIM
fry, incredulously. .'That can't be.
for l saw him splitting wood by his
back door at shutdown. I'll find out
about that" ~
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 i'll the anticipated struggle
with the robber.
'Joe" he shouted, repeating the
raps as his companions came up.
Come out! You're wanted!"
Again a head was thrust from the
upper window. 1t was that of Joe
himself. Seeing Cyrus and the Dunfry
boys with a lantern, he said, with a
yawn that vas somewhat overdone:
"What's up now, boys?"
ICY has locked a thief in his gran
ary," Bill replied, land he wants help
to go 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. 'l'n be with We in a minute,
soon as I 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 off
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
a man just out of bed. He was some
what too hilarious, perhaps. for the oc-
casion, declaring that 1t would cure
him of a fever-turn any time to be in.
vited to join in overcoming and bind.
ing a robber.
HIn Cradliff's granary?" he asked,
with pretended incredulity. cit don't
look possible!" And c. rus. on the
wav, had to relate his adventure, which
he did to Joe Ferris seemingly intense
amusement. @
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 q rope, which he
held while he knocked on the granary,
having placed his lantern on the barn
floor.
"Will you come out peaceably and
give yourself up?" he demanded.
No reply from within.
There's nobody there!' said Reub.
ooh yes, there is!' Cyrus answered.
"He couldn't get out without coming
through the door, and you see that is
fast"
He knocked again.
s.Hello! Answer. will you?"
There's no use playing 'possum.
Let's have him out" said joe,
"Come ahead!'' said Reub, clutching
his club.
TWAS a moment of thrilling expecta-
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
brandishcd clubs.
Hold your lantern!' cried Reub, ex.
citedly, while Joe Ferris grinned with
his own secret thoughts.
CIV, who had taken a stop backward
as he opened the door, now advanced,
holding the lantern above all theil
heads and throwing its full light into
the granary. Then all advanced, the
Dunfry boys gradually lowering thei1
clubs and Joe's grin expanding, as the
bins were searched, and the astonish'
ing discovery made that there wa
nothing to discover!
Cywas hugely chagrined, and the re
suit was a puzzle even to Joe, wht
might have told something Of the rea
burglars escape, but could not CUES:
how his substitute had got out
The elder Cradliff had not been Ions
in his dungeon when he heard a shut
fling noise, as of some person cropping