Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-10-03
a NAN
OF GALL

Harkable men l ever knew. Fr%s T.,
'erest in other peoples business was
ohiv equaled by his disinterestedness
III MS own affairs. His next most
prominent trait was persistence. Once
iet MN get an idea of obliging a friend
INTO his head and he would stick like
an adhesive plaster,
John Ford was in the burglar alarm
business. l had no sooner met him
than he proposed to connect me with
the nearest engine house and police
station. | managed to shake him off.
nut the next night stumbled over him
lying in the grass on my grounds. He
maze up cock and bull story about
seeing light In the bushes and felt it
ms duty to investigate ending with,
Let's go into the house and have
something to drink and smoke"
meant to take that man by the
neck and heels and throw him over
the fence, but l didn't. l went in and
drank and smoked with him instead.
His monumental gall dazed me and
made me subservient.
was hardly clear of its influence
next day when l went to my safe to
consult memorandum. In doing so
moved a bundle of legal papers in
trusted to my care by friend. and all
or sudden my suspicious were
aroused against Mr.. Ford. Those pa
pers represented bitter legal fight
a 10
was involved. Was Mr. Fords mis-
sion to get possession of them? After
an hours reflection | decided that it
was. | did not rush off to the police
after coming to this conclusion, nor
did | hire men to guard the house. /
simply took the papers to a safe de-
post vault and then bought a bear
trap. This trap l set directly in front
of the SAFE which stood in a recess in
the wall, and the chain was padlocked
to leg of it. l had feeling that Mr..
Ford would return Not only would
he return to the grounds, but effect en-
trance to the house in hopes to get
into the safe. Even after seven days
and nights had passed that beartrap
y L
of well doing
1t was on the eighth night that the
man Of gall arrived. 1t was half an
hour after midnight when he forced
open one of the French windows and .
entered the library He knew the lay
Of things. He steered a straight course
for that safe and put his foot into the
tror no, no, 30 e,i,aIy Il
knees before the door. There was one
yell and no more, but in response to it
James and | dressed and came down.
Mr.. Ford was present. He was seated
on the floor. with the jaws of the trap
fast about his left leg, and he was not
looking happy. .
Good evening, Mr.. Ford" said as
l set the lamp down and took chair
in front of him.
my dear boy" he replied as he
worked up smile, "if have disturbed
you at this unseemly hour l am sin
cerely sorry for it,
"Oh, not at all"
Being q victim of insomnia and be-
ing extra wakeful at night, l strolled
ILLS way. " dhN .oa w pHN
have a little chat with YOU /,
Exactly. And not finding me up
II took the liberty of entering to get ,
q glass of sherry and one of your CT 8
CARS. If you think l displayed too
much zeal, ! can only beg your par s
don. l have felt at home here ever
since the first day, you know" {
You are certainly welcome l re- T
Piled did you find what you want
ed?'
mot exactly"
James, a glass of wine and cigar !
for Mr. Ford, and you may retire. An t
other glass, Mr.. Ford? Then / will
smoke with you. So you are troubled
with insomnia?'
II have been for months. | know OF
nothing to shatter the nerves quicker. |
That sherry of yours is excellent. G
Yes. it is called fair
And these cigars have no superior {
Thanks /
I knew the man to be suffering ago 3
MES. but the only sign he betrayed c
was the perspiration on his forehead
He leaned on his elbow and putfed q
away as if in lounging chair, and for
half an hour we conversed on various q
topics. Then admiration for his nerve 8
and pity for his sufferings got the bet
Ter of me, and l SAID:
Il beg pardon, Mr.. Ford, but you b
seem to have a queer attachment 10
your leg there. Does it make you
well, slightly SO; but don't trouble
Yourself"
Indeed, but you must permit me.
Let me also throw open the door OF the
,afe and call your attention to the
'act that the papers concerning the
.ase of Robbins versus Jones are here
10 longer. | will call James,
When James came in answer, we I.
,ried the jaws of the beartrap open
md assiste, Mr.. Ford to chair He
occupied i for a quarter OF an hour
before oh wing that he felt bit
,leepy an would return to his lodg-
ngs. ,. 6
~ trus. ur call has been pleasant !
mo ~ ca ms assisted him TO hobble I
o the doc
"You have left nothing undone," he 9
eplied.
.Drop in again whenever you can.
N, alvavS at home to you. L