The Press., 1889-04-18
THE PARTNERSHIP BEAR TRAP.


 At the end of 8 row of struggling cabins, such as one finds in any new country, stood Jonas Brodie's backwoods forge. When work was dull, as often 1t was, the blacksmith lent hand. at log-rollings, and was in much demand because of his strength that he would be absent for weeks at time.
 During these absences his son, Dick, stout, ingenious boy of 16, did the easy work that came in.
 He could shoe horse and sharpen a pick with good deal of skill; but when he was not engaged thus he was making some trap for catching the various wild animals of the neighborhood.
 In trapping the young blacksmith had a partner, 9 boy of his own age, and many a day and night sparks flew from beneath the hammers of Dick Brodie and Hiram Strong.
 For several weeks the settlement had been annoyed by the nocturnal visits of 8 sly old bear that carried off number of pigs, besides overturning some hives and making away with the honey.
 Nobody had ever caught sight of the prowler, but his tracks were proof enough of his identity, and several rewards had been offered for his capture or death.
 LICK DFOul0 pIOpOSSu tO mah0 OChL trap. He thought he knew how 8 suc- day after his proposal he and Hiram pull ed off their coats and went to work. The trap was to be made in part at the anvil.
 It was to have a strong spring and 8 great spread of jaws, and on the whole was to be made to hold the largest bear in the neighborhood,
 Day after day the boys hammered away on the partnership trap.
 All who dropped in wished them suc- cess, but nearly every one said that the bear would prove too willy for them.
 "What are you boys making ?" said a rough voice at the door of the forge one afternoon, when the young trap makers were sweating over their work.
 Dick and Hiram looked up.
 They saw roughly dressed man with g dark face He had slouching look and was slovenly all around. But they knew I him.
 "What are we making, Dan ?" said Dick
 '.That's what 1 said, pritty nigh," an swered Dan Gillet, the tramp, well knowr throughout the district and liked by none
 "We are finishing bear trap"
 "Hey ?" said the fellow, coming forward 'You can't hold bear in that sort O trap Besides, the animal what is said to be giv ing you folks trouble is too old to be caugh by boys"
 "We'n give him trial, anyhow" an swered Hiram.
 'And lose all your work. If was bear and couldn't break out O that tral I'd walk into Buttonwood some day ant be shot," And, with laugh that nettlet the trap-makers, Dan Gillet slouched ava, and disappeared toward the ravine tt which the bear had several times beer tracked.
 The two boys talked for awhile abou the visit and the character of the man wh had made it, but all the time hammerini away on the partnership trap, finishing at last just as the sun went down behin' the western hills.
 When night had fairly set in the trap makers carried their work over the trai pursued by the tramp, and set it in tn : heart of the ravine, at a spot where the had seen unmistakeable signs of the lat visit of bear.
 bend the well-made spring and to hold down while the catch was lightly set.
 A strong chain was attached to the~tr | S1AO OAC CilU LII 1U WAS luduC 1dSt tO IuG IOI of sapling, so as to prevent the gam when caught from carrying off the prize.
 'sI think we'll show Dan Gillet that ou trap will hold anything sit catches P e1 claimed Dick, as he and Hiram wake home after setting the trap. "We ma not catch Bruin tonight. nor for sever, nights, but my word for it, that the ol fellow will find himself neatly caught b. fore long,"
 The next day the sinking figure of Da 3 Gillet was seen coming toward the forge. "Where's your bear, boys?" he laugl L ed, as he poked his frowsy head and dar face beyond the door. ''I thought I have seen his coat drying in Buttonwoo l before this. Where did you set it, boys Dick and Hiram exchanged quick look "'The bear will find that out," said Die to Gillet.
 "Hey, you don't want to tell, see sneered the backwoods tramp. "Whe you catch the particular bear that has bee ] plaguing Buttonwood I'll buy his pelt at dollar hair p and away went the wortl less fellow, laughing till his sides fairl shook.
 The next night and the next the be. did not visit Buttonwood, nor was the ira in the ravine disturbed. Dick and Hiral visited the place with good deal of cal tion, but did not approach too near, ft fear of leaving an alarm for the expecte game.
 In this manner week passed.
 Dan Gillet, the tramp, did not return taunt the young trap-makers with his d. risive smile and sarcastic words, and tI boys hoped they had seen the last of hin
 One morning, just when the settler were rejoicing that the bear had change it's territory, it was discovered that son more honey had been taken. Sever1 hives had been thrown over, and the sweets scraped out in reckless manner.
 The bear had come back
 Il thought you boys were going to cato the old thief with your partnership trap said one of the exasperated men 10 Die and Hiram, while they contemplated th havoc wrought by the strong paws.
 "He hasn't given us chance yet, r piled Hiram, a little out of humor for, | tell the truth, he had of late lost a goo deal of confidence in the scheme to entra the bear.
 "No, and he never will. I've seen bear | hnfOrn hnf nnvor Ono oa c1iok c,,