The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-07-06
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.

Whenever | SEQ q rat-trnp," said
Dick Waverley TO me, as we passed II
magnificent hardware store in Sixth
avenue, in the show window Of which
va, displayed among other things II
rat.trap' it reminds me Of an Incl
dent that occurred when was n clcrk
In Binyhamptou dry goods store.
Tho establish meut had once been sue
cessiully entered by burglars, who
made the visit very costly one to
the owner Of the goods. To prevent
n repetition Of such visits, | was offer.
ell slight increase Of my salary II !
would agreo to sleep iu tho store at
night. was a bachelor then, and
accepted the offer, making my couch
on cot bed 10 small compar,mcn,
IN tho rear Of the salcsroom.
81 had occupied this room as a
sleeping chamber Tor three months
without experiencing any incident
worthy Of note, whom ouc night, some
two hours after | had retired, | was
awakened by bearing u slight rasping
sound. Rising quietly in tho bed,
listened atteotivcly few moments,
aud had no doubt that something un-
usual was about to occur. Noiseless-
ly | arose from my bed, took my re-
volver from under my pillow, and in
my bare feet crept 10 the direction
tho sound seemed TO come from.
"Ou tip.toe l cautiously entered thu
salesroou, aud there the raspiLg sound
was loud enough to indicate At once
tho very spot whero tho work was go.
ing on. 1t was the door .eadiug from
tho store to the cellar, which, by the
way, was infested with rats. Some
times the rats would make their way
to the store, aud to givo thcm fitting
reception q steel trap, properly bsited
vas nightly placed near the hol,
through which it was supposed they
entered. The hole was ~ tho jamt
Of the door at the head Of the cellar
stairs, aud the trap, with chain abou
tour feet long, was there deposited in
vilingIy open, aud to save tho YER
min the trouble Of rambling further in
quest OF food. Tue chain was fastened
to q staple fixed in tho sur5ass, 50
that when Q rat was not Instantly
guillotsusd, and fingered long in the
clutches Of the spikes which impalsd
him, he could not wriggle of to q
corner where the trap might not road
,ly DO found.
"As | approached the door, could
500 by the glare Of ths single Sssligh
which We always kept burning At night
the point Of saw about four ioehsi
long, aud not more than two inches
in width at its Lroadest part. Thi'
saw was being rapidly worked BY sous
unseso power, aud it was evident
that the object was to make . hole
large enough to admit human haud
that II might Withdraw the strong
bolt which prevented the opening oi
the door. =,
I" 10 few moments I noticed th'
narrow blade bobbing In aud out. Ny
first idea was TO wait until the boil
was withdrawn, then boldly confront
the burglar, with my revolver oooke'
for Instant uss Then fearing that
he man who was saving might have
accomplices Who would not hesitate L
commit murder to prevent capture,
vas about 10 hasten to the front door
pass out and give the alarm. when
sspisd the rat. trap on the floor, aud
novel idea at once suggested itself.
- wss stsndiog at The side OF lh'
door, having taken this position tt
screen myself, dssmiDg 1t likely the
the operator Oh tho other side Of tn
door might place his eye 10 tho aper
,urs be wss making, 70 see II tho coas
we're olssr.
"Csu,iously lifting the trap, ! bel
Il in my lsit hand. with the rsvclvs
ia uy right, both ready for Ne.
Ra'p, rs'p' Es's' TIE ~