Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-02

1 knew not. 1 thought it good scheme and
determined to experiment with it and if posi-
bic to make trap which should catch a burg
lar. would reveal this plan to no one but my
friend. the physician, and my wife. Secrecy
would be an important element in its success.
Our library was a large and pleasant room on
the ground floor of the house and here | set
my trap 1t was my habit to remain in this
room an hour or so after the rest of the family
had gone to bed. and as / was an early riser |
was always in it again before it was necessary
for a servant to enter it in the morning
Before leaving the library for the night l
placed IN a conspicuous position in the room a
small table, on which was tray holding two
deeahters partially filled with wine, in the one
red and IN the other white. There also
upon the tray an open box of biscuit and three
wine glasses, two of them with little wine at
the bottom. i took pains to make it appear
that these refreshments had been recently par
taken of. There were biscuit crumbs upon the
tray and drop or two of wine was freshly
spilled upon it every time the trap was set
The table, thus arranged. was left IN the room
during the night and early in the morning /
put the tray and its contents into closet and
locked it up.
A portion of my narcotic preparation was
thoroughly mixed with the contents of each of
the decanters in such proportions that u glass
OF the wine would be sufficient to produce the
desired effect.
1t was my opinion that there were few men
"HO' dlteE d nlSnI Walk ana perhaps some
labor IN forcibly opening door or a window
shutter, would not cease for moment in pur-
suance OF their self-imposed task to partake of
the refreshments so conveniently left behind
them by the occupants of the house when they
retired to rest. Should my surmises be cor
rect might reasonably expect. should my
house be broken into, to find an unconscious
burglar In the library when L went down in the
morning. And was sure, and my wife agreed
with me, that if l should find burglar in that
highly desirable that he should be an uncon
scious one.
Night after night l set my burglar trap and
closet. / cannot saw that / was exactly disap-
pointed that no opportunity offered to test the
value of my plan, but it did seem a pity that l
should take so much trouble for nothing 1t
had been some weeks since any burglaries had
been committed in the neighbOrhood and it was
the general opinion that the miscreants had
considered this field worked out and had trans
ferred their labors to better paying place.
The insult of having been considered unworthy
the attention of the knights of the midnight
jimmy remained with us, but all our goods
and chattels also remained with US we could
afford to brook the indignity.
As the trap cost nothing my wife did not
object to my setting it every night for the pres
ent something might happen" she re-
marked, land it was just well TO be prepared
In more ways than one" But there was a point
upon which she was very positive.
When George William is old enough to 90
about the house by himself" she said. those
decanters must not be left exposed upon the
table. or course / do not expect him to 60