The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-16
Burglar alarms were unknown in

Burglar alarms were unknown in
small towns in those days. and Win
dows were secured by driving nail
over the sash. No dwelling house in
| town was secure enough to keep a
| burglar out if he wanted to get in.
L spent half an hour surveying my
! house from the outside to decide by
which avenue Mr.. White would seek
to make his entrance. L finally con-
cluded that he would come across the
common, climb my back fence, and
! keeping along under the shadow of a
row of fruit trees, reach the west Win
dow of the dining room. He could
work there unseen, and his chances
of getting in were at least as good as
| anywhere else.
To hurry up his plans a little and
have the affairs off my hands, invited
him to lunch one day. On that day
the east dining room window was Sc
cureiy fastened, but the west one was
not. We walked in the grounds, that
he might note the best means of ap-
proach, and at lunch I managed to con-
| vey the idea that 1 was sound sleeper
and never feared burglars.
| To the best of my knowledge and be-
| lief Mr.. White was we'll pleased with
the outlook-well pleased. He saw his
way clear to accomplish certain OBJ
/ iect, and after he had departed l got
down the family almanac to consult
the moon. I deduced from it that |
might expect visitor about the thlrd
night, and I therefore began to prepare
for him Neither my wife nor children
knew my suspicious. nor what 1 nad
! in view, but at IL o'clock on the thlru
night I was ready and waiting
Mr.. White arrived at quarter past
the hour seeming to be in hurry TO
close up the deal and get out of town.
7 heard the first noise he made at the
window. but my policy was silenee; -
went the sash and in came Mr.. White.
and I may say that he was consider
ably surprised at finding his right foot
caught fast in a big bear trap before
it had touched the floor. The yelI ne
uttered as the trap closed around ms
ankle proved that he was not altogether
i1nperturbable. and also awoke every
member of my household.
I had a match ready to light the
lamp. and as soon as the room was
Illuminated 1 saw the man lyinS on
the floor. 1 wished him good evening
and inquired about the weather out
side and asked him if he had dropped
ANYTHING.
had supposed him to be. He swore
and raved and called names and his
loud talk kept the baby bowling and
my wife on the verge of a chill. He
had come armed with a big knife. but
as he could not get at me this did him
no good. He had also taken the trouble
to put on false whiskers and an old
hat, and l could and did truthfullv tell
MN tnat they Ql0 not dQQ TO MS D6E-
sonal appearance.
The talk I had with Mr.. White lasted
about an hour. That is. he did r-ost
of the talking. and his conversation
was all in English and of the most
vigorous kind When he wasn't speak
ing, and L wasn't running upstairs to
assure my wife that things were all
right. I got off a few words of we'll
meant advice. He didn't like it a lit
tie bit.
When I advised him. for instance, to
go out of the burglary and bank rob-
berry business, he consigned me to a
temperature far hotter than Turkish
bath, and when 1 laughingly asked him
how much cash he had souandered in
hanging around town for four or five
months to get caught in a bear trap at
last. he got so mad that he dug his big
knife into the floor.
1t was very interesting while 1t lasted.
and I made it last a great deal longer
than Mr.. White cared for I was selfish
enough and mean enough to want re-
venge for the worry he had caused me,
and so I took things easy and let the
trap get in it's work.
Three months after Mr. White had
been released from the trap and taken
to Jail he was tried, found guilty and
sentenced to ten years in state prison.
About the last thing he said before his
departure from the town was that he
would get even with me, but if he has
yet served his time and this meets his
eye I wish him to know that my bear
traps now number half dozen, and
that unless he brings q lantern with him
on his next visit and rings the front
door bell besides, I shall not be resDon-
sible for damages.
An old fashioned bear trap with teeth
an inch long beats anything that mod