Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-31

BIGGIXG A BURGLAR.


,-ooy,ad toyether. We boarded with
-,-;Jow lady. in a most respectable
,,a;gbborhood, where, If we did not have
ali the comforts of a home, we Jared
much better than many of orr acqualnt-
ances who boosted of living In more
fashionable locality, and who certainly
naid most extravagant prices for the
privilege.
Mrs Merton was our landlady' name,
and a more good-hearted, amiable wo-
man, never presided at boarding house
table.
A young man, friend of ours, nick
named "Short, on account OF his small
stature. but whose real name was wit
liam King. occupied room immediate
Iv below that which Fred and mao
possession of. He was wild and noisy
fellow. and frequent were the maledlc-
tions secretly launched at HIM, Tor the
racket he occasionally made at the most
unreasonable hours OF the night, by
kicking anything that came IN has way,
from the stool to the cat, and fond-
ness he had of scraplng on VIOLIN, the
noise from which he called music, but
the other inmates of the house styled 1t
abominable discoTd. But he was SO
rood-natured and cOmpanionable, that
all liked him in spite of thesc little
peculiarities.
But enough of him for the present.
We merely present him to your notice
as one who acted part in bagging a
burglar. wherein he had abundant OPP
portunity to exercise his peculiar abiii-
ties.
Onr neichborhood had recently been
infested with burglars. Scarcely night
passed but some house was visited, and
fhey successfully escaped the man-traps
and spring-guns that were constructed
and set for their especial benefit.
We three-Fred, Short and had
some serious and prolonged discussions
on the subject, our object being to IN
vent some sort Of trap that would be so
different from any that had been used
or heard of, as to insure the capture OF
any of these daring fellows, who might
paw ms a visit.
After we had puzzled our noodles Tor
a considerable time, as to what would
be the best means to adopt. Fred seem
ed to be inspired with an idea.
How would it do to bag the MP said
he.
bag them?" Short and exclaim-
eU, simultaneously. "What on earth do
you mean"
s'Oh, Ihave concocted a very simple
plan for the capture of at least one of
them?"
pray, tel us yOur plan" I exclaim-
ed; 81 confess can't see it.
s'Why. you sec the fireplace there? it
is boarded, you know; lake mp that
board-yOu can see right INTO Shorts
room. My plan is to get a strong can
vas bag, and fasten it securely around
the edges of the fireplace; then fix the
board IN such manner that if any one
treads upon it, down he goes into the
bag. Short can then guard him below,
and we In this room; then give gen.
eral alarm for police. What do you
think OF it?''
"Don't like the plan" said Short,
dubiously s'You leave me TO face the
most danger: Suppose he cuts his way
out, and then cuts his way az nle2"
"Oh, we'll fix that, !" SAID Fred, laugh
ing, in which l joined; you will have
to have revolver, aud as soon as the
burglar falls, you are to threaten him
with instant death If he attempts to es-
cape. 1t is all easy enough.
ssBut." said Short, still dissatisfied,
show are you going TO make him walk
into the bag? and who is to give. the
alarm after he is caught?"
.'We'l try to bride him on the trap"
replied Fred. 81 will place my pocket
book and watch on the mantel over the
trap. 1 think that will answer. As for
the alarm, we can all raise hue and
cry. 1 guess, Short, you can help US
some, can't you?"
''You better believe cam" replied
Short, breaking into laugh, the first
he emitted since the commencement Of
our conference.
''Then it is all settled" said Fred
Eve have nothing to do now but to set
the trap, and wait for the burglars. =
We had better prepare everything at
once
'.AT right, said Short and /, enter
ing in the full spirit of the affair at
once.
We then, tie next morning, went to
a sailmakers, and ordered large bag
to be made of strong canvas; when it
was sent around 10 us, We fastened it
strongly according to the plan deter
mined; and having fixed the board so
that it would act properly, We had no.
thing else to do then but to await the
course of events.
The reader will see that the entire sue
cess of our plan rested on the suppose
ton that the burglar would enter the
room that Fred and occupied. To
make this more certain, we resolved TO
leave our door unfastened, and our room