Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-07-13

W DG SuIC, ID
not much of an electrician, but he
understands a good deal about cleo
tricity, and is always inventing some
thing for the alienation of trouble in
his family. His last invention was a
burglar-alarm, and what success it
was the story will tell
Several houses in the vicinity had
been broken into bya gang of thieves,
and silver and valuables amounting to
quite large sum had been stolen; and
Teddy's mother possessed some silver
which she priced highly After Mrs.
Brown had been relieved of her dia-
monds, and Mrs. Gray obaby had been
almost carried away by the burglars,
the Shows commenced toobe fright
ened
Tied, you're the only member of the
family who has brains" said Alice one
day; why don't you go to work and
invent something to alarm the house if
burglars should break IMP"
"Humph" replied Teddy, That's
been tried before now. There's the
scheme of having bathtub full of
water at the foot of the stairs, into
which the burglar is meant to fall,
and which Mary Ann always tumbles
into after she has been out sparkling on
the sly; then there's the dinner bell
connected with cord that's concealed
somewhere about the sideboard. which
the burglar should pull unlnow-
ingly and which the cat always
rings by playing with the cord,
and so alarms the house unneces-
sarily Those schemes are de-
cidedly unpleasant. don't want to be
awakened in the middle of the night
and go cropping around in the pitchy
darkness without the least idea where
the burglar is. The Shows house
was situated on the outskirts of the
city, and had no connection with the
gaspipes.
NO" said Alice, that wouldn't be
very nice. You could never be certain
that somebody wouldn't put out hand
from under the bed, or behind the
door and grab you. But use your
brains, Ted, and fix us new-fangled
alarm which will work we'll"
After thinking awhile Teddy came
to the emphatic conclusion that it
would be folly, under the circum-
stances, to invent a burglar alarm to
alarm the household; what was want
ed was an alarm for the burglar
something that would brighten him be-
fore he had a chance to break into the
house. There would then be no need
of anyone staying awake at night to
antness of hagding fellowman over
to the hands of the law would be a Dol
ished.
So he cudgeled his brains for few
days, and finally hit upon satisfac-
tory plan. He purchased some toy
pistols, bought some large caps, and
then, with the help of what he knew
about electricity, set to work to adjust
the alarms. He made minute exam
nation of the house to see where q
man could possibly force an entrance,
and came to the conclusion that the
front door was as safe as it could be
made burglar wouldn't attempt an
entrance in that way, anyhow. The
kitchen door was very heavy one, and
had plenty of bolts to keep it
shut against a great deal o.
pressure, or burglars tools. All OF the
windows on the first floor were guard
ed by strong and solid wooden shut
ters On the second floor there were
several weak spots; in fact, all the
windows needed alarms. The spare
the piazza, which man could easily
gain by climbing up the pillars of the
piazza. Mr.. and Mrs, Shows room
could be easily entered with the as
sistance of a long ladder, Just outside
of Alice's window was large tree
which made her room unsafe; and as
for Teddy's room, the windows opened
on the roof of the kitchen porch.
So he fixed the alarms, and, after tea
that night, the family was invited tC
examine them
You see, explained Teddy, they're
very simple indeed. All there is tC
each one is couple of these small PTS
tolls Now, the trigger of each pisto
Is attached to the end of this wire
which is fastened to the window, and
If the wire is jostled, off go the pistols
just as an electric bell rings when you
press the button, and the sound will
scare the thief off They're only load
ed with caps, but the caps are big ones
and sound almost like shot. Aren't
they fine?"
Mr.. Snow laughed. You're ge.
Mus, indeed, Ted" he replied, "but
don't care to have those appliances in
my room. If man takes all the
trouble to borrow ladder and clint
in one of the windows there, he de
serves to get in. And after he gets in
ri settle him with larger weapon
man your alarm. You can try youl
invention on the other windows if you
like"
Not on mine" cried Alice. 81
wouldn't even touch one of those
things with ten-foot pole. Put EN-
In your own room
81 will, said Ted, ''and in the spare
room. too, for that's the easiest place
to get in, Just like you girls to be
afraid of little toy pistol. because il
makes a noisew
The spare room will be an excel
lent place for your invention" inter
rupted Mrs. Snow, land I've no doubt
that itll scare dozens of burglar,
away. We always bring the silver up
stairs at night and keep it in oui
room, and the thief would naturally
come in the spare room window, es
pecially if he knew our room connec
ted with the spare room. believ,
your plan will work admirably
Teddy, dear, and | shall sleep NOR,
souRdly for knowing that we ar,
guarded so well.