Iron County register., 1899-03-23
A CLEVER TRAP

By Claude Oliver

IAih Is DeautlfCi little place on
ID that famous river made dear to the
hearts of all the world, because on its
banks Shakespeare was born. 1t is
IN fertile valley, surrounded by tow
sring hills whose yerdant sides make a
restful picture for wearied eyes.
Sixty or 40 years ago it was a IA
-vorite resort for health and pleasure
seekers, who found there something
that they were not seeking. 1t was
the scene of a series of the most mys-
teriCus robberies that baffied the keen
est sleuth-hounds Of the detective
forces
just as l 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.
l knew that the big, fine-looking
Englishman was deeply in love with
out little brown American wren. and
that he corld have wished me i'll Hal
flax rather than have company of
three.
That sounds like e. possible ro-
nance i said to myself as I pricked
up my ears like a war horse at the
first sound of the bugle's call; and l
sat demurely down and took out pencil
and paper.
The little brown wren was sitting
with her hands clasped around her
knees. and her pretty, dark head
poised to one side. She turned her
sweet head slightly toward me and
smiled a cordial welcome.
No hor liSh hrno NJ
He frowned at me until his scowl was
like 4 thundercloud.
4'Oh. YOU needn't look at me like
that. DIR. Gilbert 1 said saucily, MAX
ing a little moue at him, and thrusting
my chin defiantly outward. Il am here
to stay until l hear the end of that fish
story"
''Go away" he said with mock anger.
IF you say that to me again." /
cried threateningly, ''I'll sit right down
at the piano and play 'Therefl Be a
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
l knew how the doctor hated that
song. and by this means l always used
to cow him into submission. We were
stopping at boarding house in the
mountains of Tennessee, and we had
all become like one large family and
said what we liked to each other in
our playful way.
As l uttered my fearful threat the
doctor dropped his hands helplessly at
his sides, drew down the corners of his
mouth and made himself look the very
picture OF fear and submission.
I've never turned my back to the
-enemy's guns" he said in a serio-comic
.I,,I4 I al hpf he
fire of a woman's eyes"
We'll. if you will proceed with the
romance l will turn the fire of my eyes
on Wrennie," l said playfully. while
Y take If down, skeleton-like. Then l
will weave it into a story.
And now 'perceed with the prece-
.dence.' 1 added dictatorily.
But he didn't proceed. He only sat
and looked at Wrennie as if he would
like to drink her into the waste places
of his SOUL
'.Wrennie, will you kindly command
that slave of yours to finish his recital
for nv benefit? Here am l at the very
verge of despair for material to make
:he not boil, and this wretched old
brain of mine won't bulge an inch.
It's like Jamie's old donkey; when it
gets tired it won't go for love or
money
Resume your story, doctor" she
said, sweetly. And the big man imme- |
.diately obeyed. Love is wonderful
mystery
{ 'Well-but where was l at ," the doc |
tor laughingly questioned, while he |
looked askance at Wrennie to see how
she would take his slang.
''Oh. yes! Now 1 remember. 1 was
saying that 60 or 20 years ago Bath was |
the scene of a series of mysterious rob- !
berries.
Every day some man or woman |
would find himself or herself relieved |
of n valuable watch. or brooch. or brace |
let. or money, and not the slightest |
clew could be found to the robbery.
The most noted detectives were con-
tinually baffled, and the mystery grew
deeper and darker.
Finally young man presented him |
self to the head of the detective forces
nd offered his services to ferret out |
the seemingly fathomless mystery. The |
young man was tall and angular, and |
awkward. But he had a head like |
Napoleon Bonaparte's, and the head |
of the detective force, in sheer despera- |
tion over all the other failures, told /
the young man he might try his hand.