Nevada County picayune., 1886-09-15

| fitting the end of it in notch at the side ofthe ''pan." anything touched this "pan," the prussure on it released the iron from the notch and the great spring would fly up and fling the jaws together like flash, and whatever happen. ed to be between them when they closed was sure to stay there until some one saw fit to liberate it.
 II see how it is done now," said Willie. q wouldn't like 10 get my foot in there," he added, looking at the jaws of the trap, which had sharp teeth something like those of a saw, along each inner edge. Just then knock was heard at the door and Mrs. Sampson admit. ted a boy who was greatly excited. He had come tor help. Their near est neighbor had been severely in- jured by falling tree. His wife was afraid he would die and want ed Uncle Joe and his wife to come at once. It was beginning to grow dusky when they went.
 1T don't know when we'll be back" said Uncle Joe. "NOt till late any way and probably not to- night. But you aren't afraid to stay alone, l suppose!'
 "Ofcourse not" answered Willie. and so he was left to take care of the house, while they went to help their neighbor in his need. He at. tended to the chores about the house and barn. When this was done it was quite dark. Then he ate his supper in the kitchen, and after that he took down his gun, which he had been using that day, and cleaned it carefully, thus using up an hour of the rather lonesome evening. He had just put the gun away when he heard the sound of steps on the path leading from the road. "Uncle Joe must be coming back" he thought. But he was mistaken here. The door opened, and rather suspicious looking stranger came in.
 "How dye do!" was his gruff salutation. "Keepin' house alone, ain't ye?"
 "Yes, for little while," answer ed Willie.
 "I see the old man an woman when they went away" said the visitor. "So 1 thO't I'd call 'round an take a look into this 'ere box"
 When he said this he went to the shelf in the corner, took down the box in which Uncle Joe had put his fifty dollars, and drew out the money and put it into hspock- ct.
 "Put that backw cried Willie, in alarm. "It doesn't belong to you. That's what Uncle Joe is going to finish paying tor his horses with"
 "Do you s'pose he will" said the tramp, with coarse laugh T don't."
 But you don't mean toto take itW Willie hardly dared to use the word that was the proper one, under the circumstances.
 "I dou't mean nothin' else." was the reply. "I see the money put into the box, an Pve been watchin' my chance to get at it ever sence. Dye 'spose I'd let such a chance slip to make a good haulf You must be green if you do. But say, hain't you got nothin' to eat about the ranch? If y'have, dish up suthim', an be lively about it.'
 "I'll see what can find," said Willie, and went into the kitchen.
 You may be sure the poor lad was in great trouble. Must he al- low this man to take his uncle's hard learned money! But how was he to prevent it! He happened to look at the trap, which remained on the floor where they had left it when the boy came after his uncle and aunt. A plan flashed into his mind. If he could catch the tramp in it! To think was to act He had closed the door after him when he left the front room. The man on the other side of 1t could not see what he was doing. He placed the lever over the spring. as his uncle had done, pressed down on it with all his strength, and sue ceeded in fastening the jaws open,