The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-04-17
4Itn D0CTOR's RAT TRAP.
\ TOUGII STORY.

had just finished n brief history of success
full inventors. While cogitatng upon the
fabulous fortunes that had been made out OF
seemingly tIifiing inventions, tie reinem-
brauce Of business calls flashed through his
Iniu,l-cails ar Tire midnight hour TO wander
forth through nud and slush, through tenn
pest and storm. the bitter wintry wind hit
iu, % the very marrow oft-timcs through
snow and s}eet, over rough frozen roads.
Why thought he, should he not invent scme-
thing lhat would ut one ma>ter-strol1e place
him in aftiuence, and banish forever the ne
crssity for such annoying exertions.
Why noCiudrcd? Was he not man of
very superior understanding Was he not
= genius? The doctor thought so. An eN-
alted estimate OF his own capabilities was
the rock on which ho loundercd.
But what should hc invent? "Ah.' says
he, II have it. rs the brilliant idea dawned
upon him. ''Rats are the plague Oft his coun-
Try, and unless some eXpedieHt in adopted 10
exterminatc the rapidly increasing rodents,
III v will overrun the land in swarTns, and
produce Il famine. y rat-trap il shall be.
Happy thought.
WLerl the doctor arose from his reverie, a
animation possessed him to which his limbs,
previously, had been stranger. The neigh
bors remarked the strange transformation,
and the gossips were busy with all sorts Of
coniectures as to the cause of such unwonted
activity.
The doctor was intensely secretive. In
his practice he had learned that mystery
was the great talisman OF success. The cuI-
tivation of this habit for years, had made
him quite retcent, TO his Intentions, in his
intercourse with his fellow men. He was
moreover, too astute to give any one an ink
ling of the plan of his invention. How easl-
~, thought he, it would be for another per
son, if intrusted with the secret, 10 appropri-
ate the idea which he had in his profundity
originated, secure a patent there on, and thus
defraud him of his prospective fortune
Not to be caught, never
Day by day he planned and labOred, and
each succeeding day, the trap progressed to-
ward completion. New ideas came to linn
as if by enchautmeut. His enthusiasm grew
to feverish excitement. He was fairly j.
bilant. He was. certainly, predeotined to
confer boon of inestimaUle value on the
human race. Rats were, evidently, doomed
of the defunct, as an extinct species. Their
existence was, surely, TO be thing of the
past; at least, thought the enthusiastic
doctor.
After various delays, caused by improve
Inents of Il happy nature that occurred TO the
doctor as he worked manfuily away ut the
trap, the machine at last, i'll the doctor 5 eyes,
seemed 4 miracle ofperfection. All that was
necessary now was to bait the trap, and give
the ''cheese steaIers'' 4 chance to try their
''hands" at their old game.
The trap was arranged that p certain
weight upon the bottom would throw the
''portculls," and could be set to catch one or
a dozen at a time. No trigger or other con-
trivance, with which the sapient thieves
were familiar, appeared to warn them ofdar-
ger. A clear field, seemingly opened out be-
fore them, and the bait was to be scattered
loosely around, apparently without method.
Now came tue trial trip" The doctor )
hopes we're high. With the aid OF an assist
ant, the trap, properly baited, was placed
where the rats were known to be abundant.
That night the doctor dreamed of a chateau
in Spain, with fouDtains, gardens, golden
chariots SC; everything that thought or
wish could desire, were seemingly his. 1t
was, indeed, glorious even though its spleu-
dors were only transitory, so long as the
mighty god, Somnus, smiled upon him.
The dreams vanished, ard the light of
morning awolIe the dreamer. He arose from
his couch hopeful. Eagerly he approached
the trap. a shadow passed over his face.
The trap was thrown, the halt gone, but no
rats We're entrapped. There must be some
thing wrong" half audibly mused the doc
tor. His tones were humble and sad. His
expectations had, evidently, declined sud
denly.
Although his confidence in the success OF
his invention was somewhat shaken, yet he
was not altogether in despair. at cant
help but be success, >" he muttered repeated
ly to him self.
He again set the trap, only to be bitterly
disappointed once more. He tried it over
and over, with the never varying result
trap thrown. bait gone, no rats. Fate is
against me. and who can resist fate The
trap is all right, Notwithstanding. 1t is fate,
were the CALLING words of the crest-fallen
inventor.
A light stealr in upon his brain. bril-
liant idea strikes him; he will solve the mys-
tory. He will watch and he did The sub
ject became extremely distasteful to him.
We give you the story in the assistants own
language:
After we halted and set the trap we retir
ed to a convenient place of concealment fol
watching the maneuvers of their ratships
1t was a half hour before any made theiI
appearance on the scene.
At last an old fellow cautiously approach
ed the trap, gazing all the while wistfully
about the premises. After snuffing his nos,
around the trap for while, he sneakingl>
retired to his hiding place.
In a few minutes, to our extreme astonish
meut, two gray mouthed old fellows cam
limping along on three legs, each dragging
a billet of wood with the remaining paw
With these they carefully dropped the doc
of the trap to prevent il, evidently, from fall
ing when they entered.
When this was accomplished, swarm @
Zig rats and little ones sprung as if by magi
flom their hiding places and entered tn