The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-12

keep awke. Ten minutes later he had lost
his drowsiness. The cat slumbered quietly
on the rug and the clock and the figure
gave no sign of irregular behavior. Eleven
o'clock arrived. He took up his familiar
position facing the clock. Slowly he came
under the influence of the old spell; his
face paled and hardened; he became rigid.
In two seconds more the doors would fly
open and the execution would occur. ~
second passed. Then the clock stopped. At
the same moment the cat, which had been
asleep on the rug, sprung to his feet; the
hair rose along his spine, his tail swung TO
and fro: his eyes. glowing with a strange
light. were fixed on the clock, and he gave
a cry of distress and alarm.
That any clock should stop is not an ex-
tr ro71,d thing b. but pd that this clock o. =
ment, and that simultaneously the cat
should have manifested so great uneasiness.
constituted, with the strange occurrences Of
the two last preceding nights. a coincidence
which could not be ignored and which
brought terror with it. Mr.. Wheeler sat
white and aghast- He spoke softly to the
cat, hoping thus to find some clew; but
~TheophiluS paid no attention for a full min
ute or twas and though even after that he
noticed his master, he would suddenly turn
every few seconds and fix his anxious gaze
on the clock. Very soon, however, he was
quiet again.
1t was some time before Mr.. Wheeler
could get his courage in hand. When he
had done so he went to the clock. opened
wise apparently in order, and then started
it again. The pendulum swung easily, the
little doors opened, the execution went for
ward with the accustomed precision. and
the clock attended to its business without
any further ado. Mr.. Wheeler pushed for
ward the hands seven minutes, after con-
sulting the illuminated dial of the tower
clock, and then sat down, weak and i'll,
and watched the clock from his chair all
during the night. Nothing further went
amiSS.
In the morning his hands trembled, his
knees were unsteady, his eyes were blood
shot, and his face was haggard and white
ThpODhiiuS haha we'd STRANGELY This UiSpSt
most complacent, most decorous of cats eX-
hibited an unusual conduct in divers ways,
all ascribable undoubtedly to apprehension.
Although he no longer paid attention to the
clock, he strobe about the room stealthily,
his tail swinging, his ears erect, and his
whole bearing indicating the presence of
strange sounds. Mr.. Wheeler himself, atten-
lively as he listened, could hear nothing
peculiar Yet tie conduct of the cat alarmed
him. He strained every sense to catch the
least uncommon happening. He examined
the walls inch by inch, putting an ear to
them now and then, watching Theophilus
Presently the time arrived for him to
take his breakfast, but as he was i'll and
groaned. In a little while the Frenchwoman
came in, started in fright when she saw his
face.
All, what a peety. l bring you some cof-
fee quick, monsieur"
IF you please, madame weakly re-
sponded the wretched man.
Afterwards he felt a lit.le better; but a
violent headaches came on, and it seemed as
though his temples would burst. He forgot
all about his morning walk. and, lying back
in his CHAIR could only watch Theophilus.
He had not let any light into the room, and
that which was strained through the oil
shades, though to him seemingly so bril-
liant that il burned him, was insufficient
for Jenny, who, a few minutes before her
accustomed time. burst into the room, in
extraordinary excitement.
I'm sure 1t was the same she gaSped
breGthleSsly, speaking to herself, and sup
posing that her master was away; 'Dut I'll
see"
Not observing him crouching in his chair,
she hastily threw up the shades, went
straight to the clock and pulled open the
little doors. Then she drew the figure from
the trap, with fierce eageTneSs, looSened
the nose and removed the black cap, and
then, letting the figure fall TO the end )f
it's cord. she staggered back to the mantei,
clutched her throat, and painted, her widt-
staring eyes fixed on the distorted features
OF the figure.
~'.Jenny!' called her master.
She screamed and sprang away. Her ex-
element must have been great, for she ex-
hibited neither shame nor contrition for
being caught in the act of violating her
masters orders. On the contrary, as soon
as she could realize that il was he who
was present. and not some dreadful thing
that evidently she feared, she ran 70 him
and threw herself on her knees at his feet,
Selling his hands and clinging to them for
protection. Every one of her features and
was filled with sobS and gaSpS. She sWayed
and writhed in an effort to speak.
"Oh. Mr.. Wheeler" she finally found
voice TO say. i've seen him-the same as
THAR pointing TO the figure.
Mr.. Wheeiers face became livid. and his
eyes seemed to sink back into his skull.
"Where?" he whispered.
'Out there. He was slipping away from