Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-30

the sobs back to listen. Was she dreaming, o.
was she haunted? A faint little meow tha
had startlingly familiar sound came to her iron
somewhere out in the stormy night. a curlou
chilly sensation ran over her. A murderer, how
ever irresponsible, doesn't like to hear the voice
of his victim crying in the night; and Miss Jane
regarded herself as a murderer.
But presently she so far overcame her trepida
tion as to open the window and put her head out
to listen. For n minute or two all was darkness
and there was no sound save that OF the rain and
wind. Then gradually her eyes made out small
white object on the veranda steps. Nancy may
We left a rag" she began, but paused as she
became conscious that the white object was NOV
ing.
"M-e-o-w!"
Miss James heart leaped into her throat.
''Bless my SOUL" she gasped and, seizing a
shawl, she crept stealthiy out into the passage
and past Miss Rebecca's door, when on down
the stairs and through the deserted living room
to the door that opened upon the veranda. AS
softly as possible she undd the astenings and
opened the door few inches, and in moment
the small white object had crept through and
rubbing its cold wet little sides against her
feet.
"M-e-ow!"
Bless my soul! It's little Dickl Alive!
Alive!" she almost shreked, her first impulse be-
ing to proclaim the miracle from the house-tops
But a second thought suggested Miss Rebecca
and the advisability of keeping the wonderful re-
surrection secret from her Of course she must
tell Nancy Such secret too great Tor one
slender breast to hold. But in the mean time
the little wang mouth must be stopped, or Sis
ter Becky would surely hear A fire! warm milk!
that was what was needed; and, smothering the
wet little creature in her shawl, she groped her
way to the kitchen.
The Goals smouldering in the wide fireplace
were easily kndled into blaze, and soon little
ninlx S1uiyn was m
hearth and tapping milk with relish that pro-
claimed him anything but spook kitten
A great load had rolled off Miss James heart.
She might be murderer STILL in act but not in
result. Her poor little victim lived, chloroform,
gum boot and "cric<" to the contrary notwith-
standing Oh, how she loved the little creature
for coming back to her! how she fonded him and
shed joyous tears over him, while she cast about
in her mind nervously, for some way to insure
his safety henceforth for evermore! So engrossed
was she with him and her thoughts that she did
not hear, the soft opening of the door, nor the
cat-lille tread of Miss Rebecca, until that per-
sonage was standing over her and saying, coolly-l
Huh! come to- has he? / reckon you hadn't
sense enough to tie stone to the boot! Give
i'm to me-"
= Miss Jane clutched the kitten and sprang up.
"You can't have i'm, sister Becky!' she said
and there was look in her eyes that Miss Re-
becca had never seen there before. Every bit
planted in poor Miss James soul sprang now into
sudden life, and the look in her eyes meant des
peration. But Miss Rebecca was incapable Of
the look. Dick Swiveller himself
had not less of the maternal instinct than she
So she only repeated more loudly the command
"Giye i'm to me- Jane.
''You can't have i'm, sister Becky"
"Jane Bates!
Miss Jane was very pale, and Miss Rebecca
could see that she was trembling violently; but
her eyes did not waver and fall was their
wont before the terrible orbs of her sister.
s'Sister Becky" she said, lifting her hand inn
pressvely don't you try to fly in the face of a
miracle like this. Hain't you ever read in your
Bible that all bein's are created free an equal
an have right to life liberty, an the pursuit O
happiness? \Haint you read them words in
your Bible, sister Becl<y?'
'.Don't know but 1 have admitted Miss Re
becca. for the words certainly had familiar ring
about them. "But that don't refer to cats, |
Jane"
eyes, it does, sister Becky an Thou shalt not
kill refers to cats too, just much as to peo-
pie; an if it don't, I'd just like TO know why it
dont!"
s.Stuff an nonsense!' cried Miss Rebecca. con-
temptuousy T've had enough O. this foolery,
Jane Bates. Gimme that cat"
flash shot from Miss James pale-blue eyes
She took step forward.
"Take care, sister Becky" she said; "take
care! If you touch i'm, IllI'll run OFF,
For an instant Miss Rebecca was staggered
nv the unheard-of audacity of the threat. Then
she laughed disagreeably as only Miss Re
becca Bates could laugh.
run off" she echoed, scoffngy. 'You run
off, at your time O life! You look like it! II