The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-06-17
CAUGHT IN TEE ACT.
BY GLESDONYBR.

"ilOhS oIneF 'hihgs, q rat-tTsp, '1t re-
minds me of an incident that occurred
when L was clerk in Binehanpton
dry goods store. The establishment had
ouce beer successfully entered by burglars,
WAC made the visit very costly one to
the owner of the goods. To prevent a
repetition of such visits, was offered a
eight increase in my salary if l would
agree TO sleep In the store at night.
was bachelor then, and accepted the Of
fer, making my couch on a cot bed in a
small compartment in the rear of the
salesrOom.
81 had occupied this room as a sleep
ing chamber for three months without
experiencing any incident worthy of note,
when one night, some two hours after
had retired, l was awakened by hearing
slight rasping sound. Rising quietly
IN the bed, listened attentively few mo-
ments, and had no doubt that something
unusual was about 10 occur. Noiselessly
l arose from the bed, took my revolver
from under the pillow, and in my bare
feet crept in the direction whence lie
sound seemed TO come
''On tiP-toe | cautiously entered the
salesroom. and there the rasping sound
was loud enough TO indicate at once the
very spot where the work was going on.
1t was at the door leading from the store
TO the cellar, which, by the way, was in
tested with rata. Sometimes the rats
would make their way to the store, and
to give them a fitting reception "a steel
trap, properly baited, was nightly placed
near the hole through which it was sup
posed they entered. The hole was al
the jamb of the door at the head of the
cellar stairs, and the trap, with a chain
about four feet long, was there deposited
invltingly open, and 10 save the verrnin
the trouble of rambling further in quest
Of food. The chain was fastened TO
staple fixed in the surbsse, SO that when
rat was not instantly guillotined, and
fingered loBg in the clutches of the spikes
which impaled him, he could not wriggle
off TO corner wers the trap might not
readily be found.
"As ] approached the door, l could
see by the glare of the single gasIight
which we always kept burning at night,
the point Of saw about four inches
long, and not more than two inches in
width at its broadest part. This saw was
being rapidly worked by some unseen
power, and it was evident THAI the object
was to make hole large enough TO adj
NIT human hand, that it might with
draw the strong bolt which prevented the
opening of the dsor.
SIN few moments | noticed the mar
row blade bobbing in and out. My first
idea was to wait until the bolt was with
drawn, and then boldly confront the burg
lar, with my revolver cooked for instant
use. Then, fearing that the man who
was saving might have accomplices who
would not hesitate TO commit murder TO
prevent capture, | was about 10 hasten
TO the front door, pass cut, and give the
alarm, when | espied the rat-trap on the
floor, and novel idea at once suggested
ITSELF
81 was standing at the side of the door,
having taken this position to screen NY
self, deeming it likely that the operator
on the other side Of the door might place
his eye to the aperture he was making, to
see if the coast were clear.
"Cautiously lifting the trap, l held il
in my left hand, with the revolver in my
right, both ready for use.
''Raspl rasp rasp! The saw contin-
ued its movments, and as l peeped over
The side of the door-fra l could see
that the instrument was rapidly making
a circle, about four inches in diameter. -
When the saw was drawn in and knife
blade chipped off small strip of the
wood.
"Then ] saw one finger enter The
object was to seize the circular piece, and
prevent it from falling to the floor on the
outside.
'sThe wood readily split, and the piece
which was broken off was carefully taken
inside. Then another piece, and 80 on
until the hole was perfect
''Then observed a human hand, the
fingers of which began to grope for the bolt.
''Now for the trick, l thought, as l
nerveusly extended my left hand, which
held the trap, toward the aperture, but a
little below it TO prevent its being seen.
'Slewly the trap was moved, ready for a
favorable opportunity to give the burglar s
hand a warm clasp.
"Ths moment saw the fingers extend
ed plunged the trap at them, and the
hand entered to the wrist.
''Click The spring was touched, the
trap sprung, and human hand was i'm
paled! The burglar was caught-caught
in the act He on one side of the door
and his captor on the other
ga groan of agony followed as the
spikes pierced the mans flesh, and he ats
tempted 10 withdraw his hand but the
hole he had made, although large enough
TO admit the entrance of mans hand,
was not of sufficient dimensions to permit
the passage of a rat-trap.