The next day they went to the cobbler’s shop again. The front door was closed and locked and a sign on it said:
NO SHOES DELIVERED TODAY
“I wonder where he’s gone?” said Dick.
“Around in his back room, I’d say,” ventured Teddy.
“Yes, here he is!” called Joe who had gone around the side path. “And he’s working on the trap,” he added as he looked in a window. “Come on, fellows!”
Mr. Crispen was glad to see the boys. He let them in when they tapped at the rear door. In the middle of the back room was a box about twice the size of a dog kennel.
“The trap is nearly finished,” said the cobbler. “It works this way,” and he demonstrated and explained. “The deer goes in this end,” he said. “It has an up-and-down sliding door. The other end is closed. As soon as the deer goes in, the sliding door drops and the deer is caught. It’s a regular box trap. Doesn’t hurt the deer at all.”
“But what makes the sliding door fall?” asked Teddy.
“The deer shuts it himself,” said Mr. Crispen.
“How?” inquired Joe.