Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-01-26

like one Of those dear Italian despots
and get ones assassination done for
one. Though there are better way.
than hiring a brave. even. An ances.
tor Of mine" and here he stopped
suddenly.
We'll, what did your ancestor dC?''
asked I.
"oh." said Macbane coolly, abe
raised q devil of some sort and got
scrsgged by it himself. s- ats
As be spoke these trivial words,
there came faint sound at the door
ssofsonsthing scratching very gently
on the panels. / turned to Macbane
and asksd: -
1 1t that your dog. Mac?"
. "My dOgr hs said lxitA a shudder,
"why. I hate dogs. I.nevsr have one
near my room by..any chance-except
when the lsndlady sends me up sau.
ssges." TT. =
Perhaps it is another cat come 10
make friends with you" suggested
Standish. There it is again. will
let it in, whatever il is."
He flung the door open, and the
chill air rushed in from the draugh.y
passage and stairs. There was moth
ing outside or in sight, and he shut
the door again with.a bang.
Il heard it distinctly" he said, in
the aggrieved tone of one who fan.
cies he has made. himself ridiculous.
What could it have been2"
Wind. perhaps. or a rat" said
Macbans lightly. There are plenty Of
rats in the place, and am glad of it,
for it is the only thing that prevents
me from expecting the house to fall
every moment. Whsni it is going to
fall the rats will oil run out, and my
cat Mephistopheles will run out after
them, and shall run out after Me.
phistopheles; and the landlady and
the first.foor dodgers, and the land
ladys cat that eats my tea and sugar,
will all be squelched together, to the
JOY Of all good cats and men-eh, Ne
phisto? Why, what sils the cat?"
For Mephistopheles was standing
upon his masters lap, with back arched
and tail rigid and bristling, glaring
into the darkest corner of the little
room and kissing in a passion OF min.
gled rage and fear. Then, before any
one could stop him, the cat made one
leap at the window, with a yell and a
great crash of glass, and was gone,
leaving US staring at each other.
Angus Macbane spoke first, with
forced laugh.
"Thsre goes my cat, he said, "and
there goes one.and-nine for broken
glass. Cats may get again, but one
and-nins- -penee-never. A cat with
nine lives, q shilling with nine pence
all lost, all lost l''-and he went on
laughing in q shrill. hysterical way
that did not at all like. During
the pause that followed Standish look.
ed at his watch. .... -
at is pretty late now" he said,
''and ] have lot Of working draw
ings 10 prepare tomorrow. Good
night Macbane. If / come across
your cat I'll demonstrate with him for
quitting US SO rudely. But no doubt
he will come back of himself"
As Standish said this the rest of the
large pane through which the cat had
leaped suddenly fell out with start.
ling crash into the street, making us
all vince.
at was cracked already" remark
ed Angus; land the glazier does not
allow for the pieces. Good night,
both Of you. / fancy / have some.
thing to do myself"
/ was surprised and little hurt at
being thus practically turned out by
ny friend (for had expressed no in
tention Of departing, and it was not
really very late), but I was not sorry
to 80 now and have the solace of Stan
dish cherry company home. A GU
rious underlined feeling of apprehen.
non was creeping over me. and /
wanted to be ont in the night air and
shake of my uneasiness by q brisk
walk. z-... ..a..
We went down stairs, leaving Mac.
bane brooding in his chair. As the
landlady saw rs out / slipped a half
crown into her hand.
"Mr. Maebane's window got broken
tonight" said. "Will yon have it
msDded and not say anything about
it to him r
! knew that he would probably for.
gel the occurrence if not reminded Of
it. Standish nodded approval, and
we went out into the mist. We walk