The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-12-03
Bv M. QUAD

leave the house WueQ MuCy, WHO was
a good girl and understood the situa-
ton, gave his hand a squeeze and re-
piled:
"Yes, Josiah, l will marry you and
make you q good wife. We will be mar
ried in about two weeks If you want
to-"
II Josiah was driving to town or hoe
ing corn alongside of another man he
could talk about the weather, politics.
religion or anything else without q
stammer. but let something happen to
excite him and he was of his perch
at once. This was not to be laid up
against him: it was simply inconven-
lent for him. One day when he was in
his potato field he saw a blacksnake
about FIVE feet long. The snake was
probably more excited than the man,
but Josiah gave q shout and ran q mile
and q half to ring the fire bell. When
the crowd which came out in response
asked him where the fire was he could
only gasp out:
There is no fire. It's the gol darn
dest. biggest. savagest whOpper Of a
observation-disclosures
And it took ten minutes for him to
explain, and by that time the snake
had had time to get into the next
county.
When Josiah Snider was introduced
to the widow Oliver it did not take
him two minutes to make up his mind
that she should be his second wife.
One night in going home from the
widows at a rather late hour he
caught sight of a man in her garden.
He was surprised. but he did not in
vestigate. The same thing happened
three times in a week. but yet he said
nothing about it to the widow for fear
Of frightening her. He would investi-
gate for himself. 1t was very likely
some one who was stealing her vege-
tables.
Meanwhile the widow had caught on
to the fact that she was the victim of
a thief. She went to a blacksmith's
shop and asked the smith If he had
such a thing IS a bear trap. He re-
piled that he had. The teeth were cut
out, and the good natured smith not
only carried the trap home for her.
but set it on the spot. she designated.
The night passed away without an
alarm. The. widow was IN early riser,
and she was up this morning betimes.
As she had heard nothing. great was
her surprise when she looked out into
her garden to find a man in the trap.
He was sitting down. but he did not
look very comfortable. He had a ia
miliar look to her as she stood in the
door. and on going closer she was
forced to gasp out:
why. Mr.. Snider. this can't be you?"
Eyes. It is me-" he replied. with a
sickly grin on his face.
"But l set this trap for a thief!'
Eyes. widow. l was going to tell you
that I had seen a mar in your garden"
but why-why-why'-
"You mean why did your trap catch
me instead Of him? It's because he
didn't show up and l did. was wait.
ing for him."
"How long have you been here?
about five hours, | guess
I'LL run for the blacksmith and have
him let you loose in a jifry. oh. Mr..
Snider. why on earth didn't you hol-
ler::'
Josiah stopped her going. He had
been caught in a trap. and he realized
that the gossip about 1t would never
end. With the help of a bean pole and
the widow lie managed to pry open the
jaws OF the trap far enough to get his
leg out. Then while leaning his weight
house. His leg was badly swollen and
needed attention at once. His trousers
leg was cut of and the limb bathed
and rubbed and nursed for two long
hours before he thought he could make
his way home across the fields. 1t was
! while the severed trousers leg was be-
ing basted on to hide his shank while
going home that he found himself say
lug to the widow:
II know you didn't set out to trap
me. but I am caught just the same.
| Will you be my wife"'
why. Josiah. you Fever stammered."
softly exclaimed the widow.
$50 you expected me to-" he asked.
II don't know whether l did or not.
but l had heard
Never mind what you had heard"
he interrupted. II have asked you q
question"
"And the bear trapf" she softly asked.
"Oh. well throw that away. 1t has
done ito duty. It has caught me a
| wife and Won \ husband"
And the garden thief never came
back again. and the bear trap was
hung up In the woodshed with closed
Jaws. Besides bringing about a happy
marriage. It had cured Josiah Snider OF
stammering. A doctor to whom be re-
lated the incident In his confidence told
him that It was the shock Of the thing.
In other words. Josiah was shocked
into two things at once.