William DeMille (1878-1955) was an American writer, most well-known for screenwriting and film directing. In this short story, a man sets a trap for a suspected thief at his summer vacation home.
Purpose for Reading: To understand how different points of view between characters create tension. To learn about how authors use situational irony to affect readers.
In this lesson, you’ll practice analyzing how a character’s choices and actions affect plot development. This means paying attention to how characters react to specific dialogue or events and how those reactions move the story forward. As you read, take notes on Judson’s dialogue and actions and how these lead to the story’s conclusion.