The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-27

he was there. At the last stroke |
heard the same sound and again I
saw my cat.
"lt was seated beside me.
II waited a moment without saving
anything, hoping that my servant
would notice the animal and would be
the first to speak. But he came and
went in my room without appear
ing to see anything.
II chose q moment when, in the line
in which he would have to 90 to obey
an order | meant to give him, he would
pass near the cat.
Put my bell on the table, John
said to him.
"He was at the head OF my bed, the
| bell was on the mantelpiece. In or
Ger to so from the head OF my bed to
the mantelpiece, he would necessarily
be compelled to step on the animal.
"He began walking, but just as he
| was about to step on the cat it jump
ed into my lap.
| John did not see it, or at least he
did not pretend to see it.
'I will admit that q cold sweat
stood out on my forehead and that
the words Master must be losing his
mind came back to mo with an un-
| pleasant force.
John, said to him, don't you
see anything on my knees?'
"John looked at me. Then, like a
man who had made up his mind to q
certain course:
Yes, sir he said, L see cat.'
II breathed freely.
'l took the cat, and said to him:
If that is so, John, take it out
doors at once, beg OF you'
His hands came under my hands.
placed the animal on his arm; then,
at Il sign from me, he left the room.
III was little reassured, but fer the
next ten minutes looked around me
with a shade OF anxiety still remain
ing; but seeing no living thing belong
ing to the animal kingdom. l deter
mined to see what ohm had done with
| the cat.
81 left my room with the intention
OF asking him the question, when, just
as l was entering the parlor, l heard
a loud peal OF laughter coming from
the direction of my wifes dressing
room. | approached and listened. l
uearu JOnn voice:
"'My duck, master is not losing his
mind; he has lost it. Heisstark, star
ing mad. You know what his idea
is-that he sees black cat with fiery
eyes. This evening what do you think
he asked me-if / did not see the cat
on his knees?'
"'And what did you answer?' ask.
ed the maid servant,
"'Why, l said that I did see the
cat, said John. Il was not going to
put out the poor old fellow. Then,
what do you suppose he did?'
"'How do know
"'Well, he took the alleged cat on
his knees, put it on my arm and said
to me, Take it away! take it away!'
took the cat away and he was salts.
fed
"'But if you took the cat away, the
cat must have existed
"'No, no! The cat did not exist
| tell you, except in his Imagination
But what good would it have done
him for me to have told the truth:
I'd only get discharged. Not tol
,1osephl Pm well fixed here, and here
l stay. He gives me forty dollars q
month to see a cat; l see Il cat. Ii he
gave me fifty dollars month I'd see
two cats
81 did not have the courage to lister
further. l gave u groan and went
back into my room.
''Aly room was empty.
"fThe next day, at six o'clock, as
usual my companion took his seat by
my side, and did not disappear unit
the morning OF the next day.
"What shall / say to you, my
friend?" continued the sick man. Dur
ing a whole month the same appari
ton renewed itself each evening be
gan to accustom myselfto it's presence
when, the thirtieth day after the exc
cution, six o'clock sounded and tn,
cat did not appear. l could not sieel
for Joy. All the morning pushed TIL,
time before me, SO to speak, eager to
approach the fatal hour. From fv,
to six o'clock my eyes did not leav,
the clock. l watched the hand as il
moved from minute to minute. Al
last the hand arrived at XII; tn,
rumbling of the works we're heard; tn,
hammer struck the gong once, twice
three times, four times, five times, 81,
| times!
cat the sixth stroke my dool
opened" said the judge, when maj
In black entered"
"Imagine my surprise. My frs
idea was that 1t was all attorney who
wished to see me on some pressin,
business. 1held my hand out to him
He paid no attention to the gesture
. but sat down behind my chair.
IL did not need to turn around il
order to see him. l was in front of (
glass, and in this glass I saw him.
81 got up and walked; he FOLLOWED
, me few steps off.
'"I went to my table and rung.
. "My servant appeared, but he die
not see the man in black any NOR
than he had seen the cat.
81 sent him away, and remained
with this strange being whom hat
the time to examine. He was neatl,
, dressed, very polite, but very vagu
in his expression. He carried his ha
in his hand.
i, "At ten O'Clock I went to bed; s,
that he might pass the night as com
fortably as possible, he sat down in
chair in front OF my bed.
| 'He, like myself, did not sleep.
"At last ! saw the first rays OF tn
, morning light peep through my blinds
: l turned around one last time toward
, nay man in black. He had gone, tn
chair was empty.
A'until evening was rid ofmy vision
"That evening was invited out t.
} dinner. l called John ct five minute
before six; told him to lock the doc
and take my dress SUIT out of m
bureau.
"He obeyed me.
'AGn the last stroke of six fixed m
, eyes on the door; the door open
] Il