Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-01-25

dS we'll Co De prepared Ill more ways than one, but there was point upon which she was very positive.
 ''When George William is old enough to go about tho house by himself,'' she said, 'those decanters must not be left exposed upon the table. Of course do not expect him to go about the house drinking wine and every thing that he finds, but there is no knowing what child in tho first moments of his inves- tigative existence may do.''
 For myself I became somewhat tired of acting my part in this little farce every night and morning, but when have undertaken any thing of this sort am slow to drop it.
 It was about three weeks since had begun to set my trap when I was awakened in tho night by sudden noise. l sat up in bod, and as did so my wife said to me, sleepily:
 What is that? Was it thunder? There it is again!' she exclaimed, start ing up. 'What a crash. It must have struck somewhere" did not answer. It was not thunder. It was something in the house, and it flashed into my mind that perhaps my trap had been sprung. I got out of bed and began rap idly to dress.
 ''What arc you going to do?" anxious ly asked my wife.
 '1 am going to see what has hap | pened," said l. Al that moment there was another noise. This was like two | or three heavy footsteps, followed by | sudden thump, but it was not so loud a., the others.
 ''John,' cried my wife, ''don't stir an inch, it's burglars and she sprang out of bed and seized me by the arm.
 Il must go down;' said; ''but thers: is really no reason for your being fright. ened. I shall call David, and shall carry my pistol, so there is really no danger: if there are thieves in the house they Lave probably decamped by this time, that is if they are able to do SO for of course they must know that noise would awaken the soundest sleepers.'
 My wife looked at me and then slow ly withdrew her hands from my arm.
 You promise me-" she said, If yOL find burglar downstairs in the posses. sion of his senses you will immediately come back to me and George William?"
 promised her, and slipping on some clothes I went out into the second-story hall. I carried no light. Before I had reached the bottom of the back stairs I heard David, my man, coming down. To be sure it was he and not burglar I spoke to him in low voice, my pistol raised in case of an unsatisfactory reply.
 II heard that voice, sir,'' he whis- pered, ''and was going down to see about it.
 Are you ready if it's thieves?" I whispered.
 II have got the biscuit-beater, he TO- piled.
 "Come on, then," said I, and we went downstairs.
 hal left no light in tho library. but !.1rc was one there now, and it shone through the open door into the hall way. We stopped and listened. There 1 was no sound, and then slowly and cautiously we approached tho door of !!c library. The scenc l beheld as- to:ndod me, and involuntarily sprang back step or two. So did David, but in an instant we saw that there was ID need of retreat or defense. Stretched upon the floor, not far from the door, way, lay tall man, his face upturncd to the light of bull's-cyo lantern which stGol by the mantcl-piece. His fE;.> were shut, and it was evident that he Was perfectly insensible. Near by, in the wrock of the small table, glasses and deoanters, lay another man, ap- parcntly of heavier build. He also was as still as a a.corpse. 4 little farther back, half sitting on the floor, with the upper part of his body resting against the lounge, was Another man with black mask over his face:
 Are thcy dead:' exclaimed David, in an undertonc of horror. tS\ T have been caught in my trap. And 1 must admit that the conscious ness of this created a proud exaltation of spirit within mo. I had ovcrmatchod these rascals, they were prostratea be- fore mo. If one of them moved David and could kill him. But did not be- 1ieve there would be any killing, nor any moving for the present.
 In high whisper which could have been heard distinctly all over the house my wife now called to me from the top of the stairs. What is it?' she said. ''What has happened?"
 stepped quickly to the stairway,
 livery thing is all right" said in loud, distinct voice, intended to assure my wife that there was no necessity for caution or alarm.
 ''I will be with you presently"
 ''I am glad to hear that nothing is the matter" said Aunt Martha, now for the first time opening her door. II was afraid something had happened"
 But l had business to attend to be- fore l could % upstairs. In thinking over and ara ring this plan for the capture of burglars had carefully con- sidered its various processes, and had provided against all the contingencies l could think of, therefore I was not now obliged to deliberate what I should do. keep your eye on them,' said I to David, ''and if one of them moves be ready for them. The first thing to do is to tie them hand and foot''
 l quickly lighted a lamp and then took from another shelf of the closet