New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT-

ing upon us as golden surprise and making us
At present We have spent two shiIlings." and
irette giggled over with recollections of the Old
1t had rained little. and we drew up
chairs TO the first fire OF the year under the
I little chimney piece with the two shellhouses
and the clock that had stopped
The window blind tapped and creaked until
fVette reused herself from the comfortable
chair nook to fasten IL. Her fingers were touch
Ing the blind cord when the bottom OF the blind
was pushed back suddenly. and fvette jumped
back with little cry. IL was the demon of Far
4 ringwater the huge pink cat who putting his
forefeet carefully together on the ledge leaped
thence to the shelter of the tablecloth. from
which a minute later he deliberately emerged
to stretch himself on the rug. with loud purring
4 that invited familiarity.
We are hOspitable peOple-my wife and land
We found ourselves kneeling beside the demon.
uttering solicitOus ''poo-poOs' or 'pussys," and
pronering milk and hard roe, parcel of that with
which our last herring had been delicately fur
nished.
Il believe he's dyed" said Yvette: I'm certain
he is. he comes on on my handkerchief now he's
little damp. That woman must be very halter
mad And what on earth has the pussy Persian
tied round its neck2''
A little cooked hat note a soaked leaf from
a metallic notebook. We united the piece of
twine il was strung 10, 1attening il carefully,
and this is what read, knocking our heads
together i'm excitement:
/ If you get this bring the police and lock her
up. There will be a reward il you like. but look
sharp: You'll hear me shout if you make row
fVette. deyOuring the sodden pencil legend. 'un-
less il means her familiar the cat And who is
il she has locked up? Do you think it is the
! prosecuting ancestor appealing from durance
under The Morning Post'?'
IT'S too weak-this little handwriting
And he's modern enough to know about the
police" said Yvette. and look how he spells
him. There's only one II in police. isn't there?'
We have no chance | said of arriving at
a consensus of the opinion of the force for there
is only one Of him in Lymchurch. and he's p. c.
Kelly who is staying on leave with his mother.
way of spelling him"
. We can't go tonight" said Yvette. decidedly;
. your boots are Wet"
In the morning, then" said /, the CaValcade
shall start, and this time we'll hire a wagon
We won't walk there again"
HNette was biting her thumb and gazing at the
pink cat who was sleeping on his We'll warmed
side, replete with milk, purTng mildly in his
dreams he followed droves of purple mice to
catty doom.
! said she: My theory is that the old family
butler is kept chained up by that woman while
she bioats on his board wages"
1t may be-" | answered. but OH YYette,
what an adventure for two shillings,"
/ ~.
1t was early morning-earIy. that is. FOR US 10
have arrived al far distant FarTingwater. Po-
1 iiceman Kelly. with whom l had often shared
/ tobacco when l met him in his holiday short
sleeves on the seafront, had put on the official
with his blue coat and silver buttons. and be-
tween the jolts Of the cart that brought had
I in luminous but disconnected sentences sketched
me the respectful attitude which the instructed
citizen should assume in his relations with the
] force.
/ listened to his artless talk which mingled
with the babble of YVette. who was explaining the
/ advantages of a seafaring career that Of an
author to kellys cousin Jim. who remained an
1 unc0nyinced seaman. Battle and breeze were
absent from his OWn professional tiOn
which ran with some hat excessive detail to
description of the provisions consumed unWill-
ingly by himself ard others, on board the coaster
John and Charles Wesley off Cardiff.
MAS little nervous for it occurred to me
that even the presence Of II. &. Kelly would not
Justify a fOrcible entry into Farringwater Hail.
bat ! think ! betrayed little difIidence as / led
my posse frCm th- lane where We left the wagon
! in charge of an open mOuthed boy. up the ave
nue. and across the neglected garden the
green. moist pOrticO. Halted there. a struggling
line of four. I gained time by again handing
round the crumpled leaf from the metallic note
/ book, almost legible.
Then. as / reckoned all along. Yvette, who
had got the pink Persian in a basket, took the
reins of power. l handed over my command
very cheerfully.
/ Come she said. were going to deliver thi/
/ thing, whatever il is. that wrote this. So, N
Kelly, you to the door with me. and Zen