Trapped

Most men have a hobby, nad Silos Blaud of Tlie Beecbes, in tho fair connty of Snrrej , was no exccption to the rule. As a matter of fa'ct, he dabbled in everything - chemistry, pbotography, geology, numismatics, mechanica, mesmerism- all had their attractions for him, but of recent years the inventions ot Edison, the famous electrician, BRd absorbed the greater part of hisattention. A complete set of electric burglar alarm attached to every door and window on the ground floor had hitherto aft'ordcd him immunity from noctural visitors, but as he contemplated shutting up the house for i month or so while he sought a change ot scène it behooved him to think of some method of subduing a burglar who, knowing he was in an empty and isolated house, rnight defy the noisy demonstrations of the bells and proceed with his looting. Now, Silas Bland's very latest "'pet" was an improved Edison phonograpu, which ue had managed to smuggle into the country in deflance of the patent rights supposed to be held by an English syndicate. Here, then, was Silas Bland's opportunity to defend his hearth and home duriug his ! absence and that of the servants. He iuvited an actor friend to dinner one evening, and afterward got him to deliver certain carefully prepured sentences in a stentorian voice and in a most realistie j style into the phonograph. A trial showed that the effort was most successful, and Mr. Bland soon afterward cornpleted his little arrangements, shut up his house and departed on his holiday with a light heart and a curiously self satisfied smile. Now, it bappencd that soon after Silas Bland's departure, one of these poor oppressed and downtrodden "knights of the jimrny," commonly known as Bill Mac, being in the neighborhood of The Beeches one day "on business,'1 cast an envious eye upon the apparently deserted mansión. William feit partieularly low just then, as his old and tried pal, Augustus i gomery, had just been sentenced by a pessimistic judge to "18 months hard" for some alleged trifling inaccuracy on the part of "Monty," as Bill atïectionately called him. Bill had made it a rule never to work single handed, but this looked like a safe thing, and in any case "needs must when the devü drives," and Bill wauted money badly. Guarded inquiries in the neighborhood satisfied him that the house was absolutely unoccupied. Rumors were indeed current that extraordinary precautions had been taken with regard to window fastenings, etc., but given a dark. night and an uninhabited and isolated house what true burglar gives a thougbt to such trifles? A survey of the premises led him to the conclusión that the library was the weakest point of attack. On the ground floor, with doublé French Windows leading directly on to the lawn and easy of approach, there would be no difficulty in cutting a hole in the thick glass and undoing the bolts or catches. Now, by a strange coincideuee, Mr. Silas Bland had arrived at a similar conclusión in regard to the point of attack and had made his arrangements accordingly. So when one dark evening Mr. William Ñamara had effectively used his diamond j cutter upon the library pane, had undone ' with as little noise as possible the folding ! glass doorB and had carefuHy slipped iutu the room, this was the sort of reception he met with. There was no fussy alarm of bells as lie had half expected, but as he feit his way along the wall before displaying the liglit of his lantern, a gentle whirring sound caught his ear whieh he attributed to a dissipated moth haviug followed him into the room. Then he received a severe shock as a strong, hearcy voice from out the darkness broke npon his ear with the remark: "Ha, so you've come along then! Glad to see you. Been expecting you for som-e I time. Got you covered all right with both barrels, so take my advice and don't move. These express bullets make a nasty hole. Now just drop that revolver on the floor, and ah! would you? bang!" William thotight his last hour had come as a shot, so close was he to the spread of the powder, nearly blinded him. He had made a movement as if to use his pistol, and this was the result. He Was on lus knees in an instant crying out: "For heaven sake, guv'uor, don't shoot. I am a lamb, I am. Starvation druv me to it. Gie me in charge, but spare my life." Above his piteous appeals the commandiug tones of the voice were heard: "Now, then, take that chair, doublé quick, turn your face to the wall. Dare as much as to move aninch or wink an eye, and I'll blow you iuto small pieces. 1 shan't talk to you any more, but just you recolleet that I am behind you, and that the slightest movement means eternity for yon." William realized that sooner or later in response to that shot assistance would appear, and he resolved after many internal tremors to make an appeal to the owner of the voice for clemeucy. So, still with his face turned to the wall, and in a most apologetic tone he unanaged to falter: "I feel my bloomin 'air a-tiunin graj'. sir. This 'as bin a hawful night for me. I can't hardly slt on this chair wi' fright. Won't yer let a pore bloke off tbistime, sir? This shan't 'appen agaiu, you bet, sii I am on the straight after this little bit o' fun, I tells yer. Just think o' the old 'oom an an the kidn, guv'nor." But the genlle William 's appeals seeined thrown away. and as footsteps were heard approaching lio resigned himself to the inevitable. ' The policeDjíin's bullseye soon discoveren Mr. MacXam.ira in a most abject state of terror. Bearing in mind the awful result if he moved without instructions, he yelled to the officers, who were now in the room, to keep their bands off. " 'E 'ad 'is instructions, 'e 'ad," and he wasn't goinK to move till they had altered what he feit suj-e to be the deadly aim of that rifle or had its owner's permission to remove him. The policeman grinned broadly, and in spite of William's protestations faced him round on his feet and securely handcuffed him. "That's all right," one of the men said. "The guv'nor won't interfere just yet. This'll biip.g him liome sharp lliough." "BrinL 'im'ome,"echoed Bill. "íshould jest like t-oknoww'ere 'e's been for the last 'alf hour.' "Oh, Mï. Bland'g in Scotland -afe enough, but I expect liis little machine madethings lively for you in his absence," and the two men laugiied. "Machine," ejaeulated Bill inan increduI0U8 tune. "f wants 10 see the machine that can talk nd Bhool liKethat." BilI's language and reflections on his graspii:g the tnie posit ion must be left te the reader's iinaiiiiüition. As the gentleman was sent to join liif comrade for a similar perioct, he was heard to remark in solüoquy: "Billy, my boy, yer don't know enough te be a decent cracksman. After this yer bet ter run straight." And he E.tchange.