Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-07-28
BAGGING A BURGLAR.
IT. K. nm. Y. News.

Mrs. Merton was our landladv's
name, and more good natured, ami
able woman never presided at a
clearinghouse table.
A pung man, friend of ours,
nicknamed "Short," on account of
his small stature, but whose real name
was William King, occupied aroom
Immediately below that which Fred
and / had possession of. He was a
wild and noisy fellow, and frequent
were the maledictions launched at
him for the racket he occasionally
made at the most unreasonable hours
of the night BY kicking anything that
came in his way. But he was SO good
natured and companionable that all
liked him in spite of these peculiar
tiles.
Our neighborhood had recently
been infested with burglars. Scarcely
night passed but some house was
visited, and they successfully escaped
the man traps and spring guns that
were constructed and set for their
especial benefit.
We three--Fred, Short and had
some serious and prolonged discus
sion on the subject, our object being
to invent some sort of trap that would
be SO different from any that had been
used or heard of, as to insure the
the capture of any these daring fell
lows who might pay us visit.
After we had puzzled our doddles
for a considerable time as to what
would be the best means to adopt,
Fred seemed to be inspired with an
idea.
How would it do to bag themp
said he.
bag them?" Short and excl&im-
ed, simultaneously. "What on earth
do you mean?"
"Oh, l have concocted very
simple plan for the capture ofat least
one of them"
pray tell US your plan,' exclaim-
ed; II confess l can't see it."
"Why, you see the fireplace there?
1t is boarded, you know; take up that
board-you can see right into Shorts
room. My plan is to get strong can
vass bag and fasten it securely around
the edges of the fireplace; then fix
the board in such manner that, If
an one treads upon it, down he goes
into the bag. Short can then guard
him below, and we in this room; then
give general alarm for police. What
do you think of it?'
Don't like the plan," said Short,
dubiously. "You leave me to face
the most danger. Suppose he cuts
bis way out and then cuts his way in
me2"
"Oh, we'll fix that" SAID Fred.
laughing, in which l joined; 'you
will have to have revolver, and as
soon as the burglar falls you are to
threaten him with instant death if he
attempts to escape. 1t is all easy
enough"
''But," said Short, still dissatisfied,
Chow are you to make him walk into
the trap? and who is to give the
alarm after he is caught2"
awe will try and bribe him on the
trap, replied Fred. II will place my
pocket. book and watch ON the mantle
over the trap. | think that will an
swer. AS for the alarm, we can raise
a hue and cry"
"Then it is all settled" said Fred;
1--WE have nothing 10 do now but to
set the trap and wait for the burglars.
We had better prepare everything at
once"
We then, the next morning, went
to sail-maker and ordered large
bag to be made of strong canvas;
when it was sent around to us we
fastened it strongly according to the
plan determined; and having fixed
the board SO that1t would act proper
ly, we had nothing else to do than
but to await the course of events.
The reader will see that the entire
success of our plan rested ON the sup.
position that the burglar woald enter
the room that Fred and | occupied.
To make the more certain we resolv-
ed to leave our door unfastened, and +
our room being the first one of the
head of the stairs, We supposed that
it would be the first one that it would
be attempted to enter. AS no obsta-
Gle would prevent this, it was very
probable that we would receive the
first visit A light was to be left
burning, SO that the pocket-book and
watch would be seen at once.
Fred. and | went to bed about III
o'clock, and--wo cannot count for 1T
we fell asleep. M
About 3 o'clock we were reused
ont of our sleep by the widest yells
that we ever heard. At FIRST we were
so bewildered that we were half
frightened out of our wits, but we
soon recognized the voice to be
Shorts, and then we knew what was
the matter.
We saw that the watch and pocket
book we're gone, and of course, con-
cIuded that burglar was in the bag. 4
We ran to the window and shout
ed police as loud as we could below
meanwhile kicking up the
most internal racket in the room be-
low, We could hear him hallooing
thieves and police one minute, and
the next threatening to blow out the
burglars brains if he did not stay in
4 hn han --.- -L--