The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-06-27
A CLEVER TRAP
By Claude Oliver

OATH is a beautiful little place on
ID that famous river made dear to the
hearts of all the world, because on it's
banks Shakespeare was born. 1t is
in fertile valley, surrounded by tow
ering hills whose verdant sides make a
restful picture for wearied eyes.
"Sixty or 70 years ago it was ia
vorite resort for health and pleasure
seekers, who found there something
that they were not seeking. 1t was
terious robberies that baffled the keen
est sleuth-hounds of the detective
forces"
Just as I entered the parlor heard
my English friend relating the above
to his little companion, who was lis
tening to his words just as have often
pictured Desdemona listening to the
recitals of the love-mad Moor.
I knew that the big, fne-looking
Englishman was deeply in love with
out little brown American wren, and
that he could have wished me in Hal
flax rather than have a company OF
three.
That sounds like a possible TO-
NANCE" 1 said to myself as pricked
up my ears like a war horse at the
first sound of the bugle's call; and
sat demurely down and took out pencil
and paper.
The little brown wren was sitting
with her hands clasped around hel
knees, and her pretty, dark head
poised to one side. She turned he1
sweet head slightly toward me and
smiled cordial welcome.
Not so her handsome Englishman!
He frowned at me until his scowl was
like thundercloud-
""Oh, you needn't look at me lik.
that, DR.. Gilbert" said saucily, max
ing a little moue at him, and thrustinf
my chin defiantly outward. 81 am her.
to stay until hear the end of that isl
story"
go away" he said with mock anger
eff you say that to me again."
cried threateningly, "I'll sit right dow
at the piano and play There'n Be ;
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
I knew how the doctor hated tina
song, and by this means always uset
to COW him into submission. We wer,
stopping at a boarding house in tn
mountains of Tennessee, and we ha,
all become like one large family ans
said what we liked to each other il
our playful way.
AS 1 uttered my fearful threat tn
doctor dropped his hands helplessly a
his sides, drew down the corners of hi
mouth and made himself look the YER
| picture of fear and submission.
"I've never turned my back to tn
enemy's guns" he said in serio-comi
tone, 'but I always quail before th
| fire of a woman's eyes,"
"Well, if you will proceed with tn
| romance I will turn the fire of my eye
on Wrennie," said playfully, "whil
will weave it into a story.
"And now 'perceed with the prec'
dence,'" 1 added dictatorily.
But he didn't proceed. He only ss
and looked at Wrennie as if he woul
like to ''drink her into the waste place
of his soul"
"Wrennie, will you kindly comman
that slave of yours to finish his recit'
for my benefit? Here am I at the yer
verge of despair for material to mai
the pot boil, and this wretched oil
brain of mine won't bulge an incl
It's like Jamie's old donkey; when
gets tired it won't go for love {
money"
Resume your story, DOCTOR" 81
said, sweetly. And the big man imm
diately obeyed. Love is a wonderf1
mystery.
| "Well-but where was I at?" the do
tor laughingly questioned, while l
looked askance at Wrennie to see no
she would take his slang.
"Oh, yes! Now 1 remember. w;
saying that 60 or 70 years ago Bath W;
the scene of series of mysterious ro
heries.
Every day some man or woma
would find himself or herself relieve
of a valuable watch, or brooch, or brac
let, or money. and not the slighte
clew could be found to the robber
The most noted detectives were co
tinually baffled, and the mystery gre
deeper and darker.
FINALLY a young man presented hi1
self to the head of the detective fore
and offered his services to ferret o