Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-12
AN INSTRUCTIVE LESSON.
A Night ON Veranda ut COney
Island-tIow to Bait Trap
for Thieves

A Night on a Veranda ut Cone,
Island-How to Bait Tral
for Thieves.
! Wy. sun.
1t was one O'Clock on Friday morn
ing. l sat on the almost deserted piaz
q OF one of the big hotels at Coney
Island. The day had been insuffer
ably hot, aud fairly cool breeze .haG
set in. Turning to the bartender | re
marked that | felt like dropping ASLEEP
in my chair and remaining in the open
air all night. He laughed. YOU'D be
cleaned out in half an hour" he said
"Hour watch and chain would be on 8
| Chatham street shelf before noon to
morrow. l don't know where all the
thieves come from, but let man 90 tC
sleep in a seat after dark anywhere on
Coney Island, and thief will apparent
ly rise right out OF the sand and &C
through him."
One word brought on another, and
the barkeeper finally proposed to fish
for thieves. We padded his Sunday
suit, putout most OF the lights, and
placed it on chair. An immense brass
curb chain fell in yellow festoon from
q pocket of the waistcoat. At a dis
lance the image looked like hearty cd
gentleman INDUCING in cat nap before
turning in for the night. We took pO-
sitions within the barroom, where We
could see through an open window, and
awaited developments.
Ten minutes passed. / was beCom-
ing impatient, when my comrade point
ed his finger over the floor OF the YER
anda. 1 saw head cautiously raised
above the edge of the stoop. near pill.
lar. After moments observation 1t
sank from our line OF vision and heard
receding footsteps. Next we heard a
man mounting the stairs at the further
end of the portico. He was tall, spare
fellow. He came down the stretch OF
boards like one in deeD meditation, and
walked past our window, after casting a
keen glance at his victim. Then he
turned slowly, and retraced his medita-
tive steps, taking a closer view OF the
prey. On the next lap he laid his hand
on the back of the chair and shook it
very lightly. Say, Colonel, he said
in voice just loud enough 10 test the
Soundness OF the nap, "hadn't you bet
ter be getting inside? You'll catch
cold out here"
His hand slid gently down toward the
glittering chain. At this instant more
footsteps were heard on the piazzs.
Prowler No. , appeared. The first
conner assumed an air of ompauionship
with the sleeper. He soon drew up a
chair and took a position al his side.
PrOwler No. 2 hummed an air from
THE Mascotte," and made several laps,
closely observing the couple as he pass
ed them. At last, however, he disap-
peared at the extreme end OF the porch.
The original speculator hesitated a Sec
ond, and again EXTENDED his hand to
ward the chain. We alarmed him ny n
tap on the window. He was Oft in q
jiffy. Without looking around he
sprang across the piazza, dropped 10 the
ground and disappeared.
Alter displaying anew the attractive
ness OF our bait, We again ens"Onsed
ourselves at the side OF the window
Prowler No. > reappeared. He glanced
suspiCiously at the form of the sleeper,
saw the watchchain, and seemed sur
prised at the absence OF the tall man.
lie unused within himself some time.
The shining chain acted like a charm.
Gaining confidence he approached the
quarry. "Say, judge" he ventured as a
feeler, you'll be robbed if you don't 90
inside" The Judge made no response.
PrOwler No. slipped behind his chair
and, reaching down over his shoulder,
detached the chain from the button
hole. He was tugging at the supposed
watch when the bartender yelled at
him. He shot into the darkness like a
bullet, leaving the chain dangling loose
~ from the pocket.
We again doctored the image. Scarce
ly were we out OF sight when = recon.
nOitering party, consisting OF man and
bog, appeared They made a con-
certed effort to clean ont the slumberer
Oy approaching MIN simultaneously
from opposite directions. The attempt,
however. was chcckmated by perSls-
tent humping on the window.
Bv this time the bartender thought
that had received an instructive les
son. lie said that the fun might be
kept up until daylight, but it would be-
come too mOnOtouOus. While We were
talking about taking in the figure tall,
lank man. evidently the original specu-
lator, rushed across the platform and
made dash for the chain. He yanked
at it with such force that he jerked the
sleeper from the chair. For an instant
he seemed dazed by the catastrophe.
Then, recovering himself, he swept the
efiigy up in his arms and ran over the
sand like deer. Before the bartender
had recovered from his surprise he was
out OF sight. A long chase followed:
The bartender returned, PAINTING and
streaming with perspiraton.
"Well, by thunder he exclaimed,
"that fellow got his work in well. He
didn't quit no loser. That suit OF togs
cost me $40. 1t wasn't a paving circus.
I'm bowed il it was. Ii this thing goes
on and we stay on the island all sum-
mer, we'll have to sleep in the safe"