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

being the first one at the head of the
stairs. we supposed it would be the first
one that would be attempted to enter.
As no obstacle would prevent this it was
very probable that we would receive the
FIRST visit. A light was to be left burn
ing, so that the pocket-book and watch
would be seen at once. And now for
the result.
Fred and I went to bed about eleven
o'clock, and-we cannot account for 1t
we fell asleep. We were certain we
would keep awake when we retired, but
old Somnus thought otherwise, and we
soon slept heavily.
About three o'clock we were reused
out of our sleep by the widest yells that
we ever he ,rd. At first we were so be-
wildered that we were half frightened
out of our wits, but we soon recognized
the voice to be Shorts; and then we
knew what was the matter.
We saw that the watch and pocket
book were gone, aud, OF course, con-
cluded that burglar was in the bag.
We ran to the window, and shouted
police as loud as we could bellow-Short
meanwhile kicking up the most intern
al racket in the room below. We could
hear him following thieves and police
one minute, and the next threatening to
blow out the burglars brains If he did
not stay in the Gag.
Presently, a crowd came running to
he house, demanding admittance.-
Fred threw them his night-key, and told
them to come IN. Shorts room and
ours we're soon filled with men, most OF
HON were neighbors. Three police
men also came. /,
As soon as quiet was restored, Fred
informed them that burglar was in
the bag, and talked consequentially OF
the plan we had invented, and which
seemed to have been eminently success
ful.
Meanwhile, the bag swung gracefully
backward and forward, but the burglar
made no attempt to escape.
We learned this afterward, as we
could not see the bag from our room.
One of the policemen then suggest
ed that the bag should be cut down. As
we were all curious to see the exit OF tie
burglar from his strange place of con-
| finement. it was resolved that we should
all assemble in Shorts room for the
purpose, having no fear of the burglars
escaping through the trap-door, as any
movement in that direction could be
checked from below.
A large and sharp knife was procur-
ed, and one of the policemen, getting
upon a high chair, commenced cutting
| around the top of the bag. 1t shortly
| came down with crash, and out rolled
our landlady.
She had swooned.
| "Good Lordr' exclaimed Short.
The rest were silent for a moment,
but all soon burst into a loud roar of
| laughter, which must have penetrated to
the brain of good Mrs. Merton, for she
soon recovered, and stood upon her
feet confronting the crowd in amaze
ment. She looked around, and her eyes
lighted upon the bag. You should have
then seen the indignant look she cast
upon Fred Short, and me, as she knew
we were the culprits.
| She asked us what we meant by set
ting a trap in our rooms. Fred an
swered for ali, and told her what was
our design.
Soon as he concluded, a good-humor
ed smile radiated over her features. and
then she told us all how she came to get
into the Dag.
1t appeared that being very restless,
she could not sleep, and about three
o'clock she thought she smelt something
burning. She arose and came to our
door, and perceiving light in our
room, she tried the door, and finding it
unfastened, she entered. She saw that
something was smoking on our mantel,
which proved to have been one of Fred's
best towels, it having ignited from the
lamp near it, and in extinguishing it,
she had stepped on the trap, and down
she went, bearing Fred's watch and
pocket-bOOk with her, she having them
in her left hand at the time; as they
were near the burning towel, she had
attempted to remove them from 1T, but
fell before she had time to do II.
Short was awake, and as soon as she
fell, he commenced his part. Mrs. Mer-
ton screamed. too, but in the noise and
confusion which Immediately ens1ed,
we did not hear her. She became so
frightened she tainted. The rest we all
1 knew.
We three poor unfortunates had to
bear much ridicule before the crowd dis
persed, and it was long time before we
heard the end of our attempt at bagging
i q hnrolar