The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-08-26
That's what Uncle Joe is going to fiu-
ish paving for his h0raas With

II don't mean nethin' else, was thu
reply. II see the money put into thu
box, an I've been . watchin' my
chance to get at it ever sence. D'yt
s'pose I'd let such q chance slip t<
make good haul? You must be greer
if you do. But say, hain't YOU 20,
nothiu' to eat about the rancho Il
y'have. dish up suthin', an be lively
about it,
"1'll see what can fnd," said VIII.
lie, and went into the kitchen.
You may be sure the poor lad was ir
great trouble. Must he allow this mar
to take his uncle's hard-earned money!
But how was he to prevent it? He
happened to look at the trap, which re.
manned on the floor where they had
left it when the boy came after hit
uncle and aunt. A plan flashed into
his mind. If he could catch the tramu
in it! To think was to act. He had
closed the door after him when he left
the front room. The man on the othe,
side of it could not see what he was
doing. He placed the lever over the
spring, as his uncle had done, pressed
down on 1t with all his strength, and
succeeded in fastening the jaws open.
Then he plated the trap in front of the
door opening into the Kitchen.
The next thing he did was to take
such articles of food as he found in the
cupboard and put them on the table.
when he had done this he placed the
candle where it's light would be thrown
away from tho door and the trap in
front of it. A hasty inspection of his
arrangement convinced him that the
tramp, in coming into the kitchen,
would not be able to SEQ the trap that
had been set for him. The kitchen
floor was some inches lower than the
Threshold, and the man would be
obliged to step down; therefore there
was no danger of discovering the trap
by hitting his foot against it as he
might have done had it been on a level
with the threshold.
IF fail to catch him, and he dis
covers what I have intended, there
no knowing what he'll do" thought
Willie. I'll get outside the kitchen
door before ] call him. If he doesn' t
get into the trap l must run for it. In
the darkness l can manage to keep out
of his way"
He opened the kitchen door, took up
his position just outside it, and called
out to the man that his supper was
ready for him.
The door between the two rooms
opened, the man saw the table with the
food upon it, and chen he stepped into
the kitchen-and into the trap! the
jaws of which closed on his foot with
a vicious snap. as if they were glad to
get hold of such game. The oaths and
curses which broke from the mans
lips when he realized that he was
caught were fearful to hear, and yet
they had a pleasant sound to Willie,
for they assured him that the thief felt
that lie had been outwitted, and that
he knew he could not escape. Willie's
first act was to run around to tho front
door, through which he entered tho
living room and secured his gun. With
this in his possession he felt himself
master of the situation.
The tramp started for the door with
the trap fast to his foot. But tho
weight of it was so great that he could
not make much Roadway. and the
frightful grip of its jaws gave him so
threshold just as Willie came back
with his gun.
brave lad. You can't, if YOU trv
ever so hard. I've got gun, You sec.
and I'll use it if you compel me to-"
He meant what he said and the tramD
knew It.
IF you'll take this thing off III
give you back the money! he said.
I'm not quite green enough to do
that" was the boy s answer.
'':rhen the money'll never do you or
nobody else any good" cried the
tramp, and taking it from his pocket
he began to drag himself toward the
candle, with the intention of burning
it.
"Hold on therc!' cried Willie
Don't do that! If you do and he
raised his gun threateningly, while his
eyes flashed tire-''if you do I'll shoot
you"
The tramp changed his mind at
once. He saw that the boy was in
and he was too sensible to do
under tho circumstances,
which would lead him to rut his threat
into execution.
Throw me tho money!" ordered
Willie. The tramp hcsitatcd. The
boy raised his gun.
Take it, them" said the prisoner,
with great volley of oaths, and q
later Willie hal tho satisfac-
ton of putting the precious fifty dollars
in his pocket.
''How long are you goin' to keep me
herep" asked the man, sullenly.
It'll Uncle Joe comes back"
Willie, promptly. just as he
said that he heard the gate open and
someone came up the path.
Il wonder if it's another tramp"
thought Willie, in his alarm. 1t was
Uncle Joe.
whats up?' he cried, as he dis
covered the lad on guard at the door.
81 set the trap and had the good luck
to catch someone in it," said Willie,
drawing a great breath of relief.
"Queer kind of game, isn't it, Uncle
Joe?"
well, 1 should say SOL" said Uncle
Joe. in great establishment, as he look
ed into tho kitchen and saw Willie's
game"
II was bound to save your money!
said the boy. ''Here it is. wouldn't
leave ii in the box after this if were
you.''
Uncle Joe took the advice, and the
next day, when he carried the tramp to
town and turned him over to the au-
thorities, he sent the fifty dollars to the
man he was owing, thankful that he
had it to send. II wouldn't have had
it if it hadn't been for your pluck" he
said to his nephew. Il tell you what
it is, Willie, you did something a good
many men wouldn't have dared do.
And Uncle Joe was right.
Mad Dogs In London.
Sir Charles Warren, The London
Chief Commissioner of Police, has just
issued some statistics with regard to
mad dogs and deaths from hvdropho-