The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-07-06

O'Clock, but she would leave the key
under the mat at the front door, SO
that he could let himself in when he
went home, and he had better get
his supper down town. Their son,
Herbert, would accompany her.
Now, it so CHANGED that while Mrs.
Posonby was thus explaining mat
tiers to her husband, her hopeful son
was making desperate efforts, assist
ed by all the dogs he could whistle
up from the entire neighborhood, to
get at rat he had seen run under
the front porch. Master Posonby
punched with a long pole and scrap
ed and dug with a hoe, end the nine
dogs deployed at irregular intervals
around the porch end along The YER
bena bed, scratched with might and
main, yelping Historically as they
scratched, and pausing from their
labors now and then to fight over the
question which had dug the deepest
hole, to the immeasurablo delight OF
Master Posonby. Bat as The sun
went down ana The soft light of sun
light faded into the mi ty cleaning,
he remembered tina, he had been
told to lock up and join lis ma at
her friends. He put the key under
the door mat, and then, with his
heart still set on capturing that rat,
he brought around an old stcel-trap,
wicked as dynamite and having
baitcd it literally, set and placed it
on the porch for the benefit of the
rat when it should come out. Then
he carefully dismissed his allies, and
stoned them in different directions
lest they should go back to resume
the seige and fall into his torpcd pit,
Mr.. Posonby did not come home
until quite late, not until his wife
and son had returned and retired
tired of waiting for him, AS the
house was quite dark and quiet when
he approached it, he naturally sup
posed his spouse had been detained
later than she expected, lie felt un-
der the door mat for he key, but as
that useful little "open sesame" was
in the lock on the inside Of the door,
he couldn't find it. He felt further
under the mat, and then thinking he
might have pushed it away, began
to feel around the porch for it, sweep
ing his hand out in cifcling swoops,
Saccomanying these efrHtic Z rlove-
ments with snndry oxclamations
and muttorings, In one Of those
vigorous sweeps he thrust his hand
into something that lifted him tohis
feet. a terrible, cold, vicious some
thing that shut down on his hand
like a wild beast and just raised him
up until only his tip toes touched
the porch floor. The wall that broke
from his pallid lips silenced all the
dogs in the Sixth Ward, and woke
up private night Waterman who
was pacing his vigilont beat on toy
Of a salt barrel just around the corner
with his eyes shut. 1t Weakened his
son, who thrust his head out oS the
window cad shouted "lire" in the
most stentorian tones that youth Of
eleven years can command. Il rous-
ed his wife from her peaceful SUM
bers, who thrust her head out Of an,
other window and screamed thieves,
with all the full piercing vigor Other
womanly voice, 1t wakened his
neighbors in 5o.h directions, who
leaned out Ct thcir windows and shot
at the suffering Mr. Posonby, who
stood on the porch, Gancing about in
an ecstasy OF agony, bowling at every
jump. In Il moment he became calm
enough to Investigate; he removed
the trap, explained, al was admit,
ted to the house. lie explained to
Mrs. Posonby, as she baoiagcl his
wounded hand, that he thought sure
it was Snakes" and when that good
lady ridiculcd the idea, and said
there were no snakes about there,
he shook his head YEARLY, and LOOK
ed at her out of the corners of his
eyes with Il sweet, sad smilo.-Bm,
Hagion Ha,ck Ew,