The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-09

| frying ham myself. Only thought
you wouldn't, and
She finished with gaspins cough,
the ccmmingled stenches of gas, cigar
cite and meat nearly strangling her.
He looked at her cynicaIly and blew
acrid puffs and badly made rings to-
ward her shrinking nostrils. The stray
cat was tapping milk out of a saucer
in the sink, and Hobus. putting his legs
| down, scuffled his feet on the linoleum
covered floor suddenly to see her Jump.
When she answered his expectations
by splitting and scuttling beneath the
stove he grinned delightedly.
say, ola girl" he called in loud
voice, in order to make himself heard
above the suffering and sizzling OF the
ham, tits cheaper to feed cats n what
It's humans-ain't it?'
She was so fully occupied with her
! fears for her property and her bodily
safety that she did not take in the
sarcasm of his remark.
''Oh. 1 don't mind that, she said. au-
tomatically. Il am sure you're well
come to thisr'
Yes" he sneered, and then, "Ain't
yer gonter give the pore little kitty
none? Say, yer oughter give the dear
little kitty the ham and eggs, after
keepin' 'em away from that young fell
Ter jest now. She's more importance
n what he wasi Yer know what come
of that sick boy yer sent away hungry,
on top of tongue Iashin'?"
She was not following him In the
least. Her mind was deeply intent on
turning over various plans of escape or
calling help, but his words set vibrat-
ing within her certain chords of arsu-
ment Which, from long use, acted me-
chanicaliy when touched. and she said,
hardly conscious that she was speak
ing:
"A man has free will He can take
care of himself. If he doesn't it is mis-
own fault, and he doesn't deserve help.
If human being is destitute. look
back into his or her record and you'll
find the reason for it. But the animals
are helpless. they
With howl of rage Hobus TIN ew
himself upon her, and, Selling her
wrists, bent and twisted her arms back
until the joints cracked and she sank
TO her knees on the floor
Humans has got free will, has thev ?
On, yes. humans can do jest what they
want to- III bait. I'll bait YOU can
do just what yer want to now! A lot
you know about what humans en- do,
l wisht you had to go through what I
mad, that's all-yer ign'rent old cross
You stand up here and fry them aies.
and when you say anything you tax
sense, or I'll know the reason why"
He flung her hands down, and as she
rose quickly stood glaring at her.
Then, as she spaded out the ham into
a plate, setting il on the range To keep
not, and broke the eggs into the grid
die. he resumed his seat. muttering and
Sowing. She went on with her work
as If nothing had happened. perfectly
coWed, anxious to conciliate him.
Do you like your eggs turned?" sne
asked, looking UP and hanging on his
answer as if it were a matter of in
ternational importance.
Give EN- here jest s they be-" he
Growled, hitching his chair to the table
He ate Voraciously, leaving not a scrap
behind, while she waited on him ASST
duously. Once she started to another
room, ostensibly for the sugar, but he
seowled and motioned, and she re-
returned instantly.
You got any more cats i'm the
house? ," he asked abruptly, when he
had Tapped his plate clean.
Yes, l have seven" she answered
promptly Il expect a man from the
animal home to call for them any mo-
ment. I sent for him yesterday
He examined her narrowly.
Yer sech a liar that I dunno how +
take yer Yer said there was a fam
bly, UP stairs. and there amt. I dun
no whether there's a man comm er got
put you show me where them cats is
Wanter see en-
They are in the cellar" she said.
Wal. come on, show 'em to me-" ne
commanded, rising.
She was greatly perturbed over the
thought of being alone in the cellar
with this horrible vagrant that she for
got the lamp. which was necessary TO
dispeF the gloom of the wiiidowIess
place, and with shaking hand with
drew the bolt to the door, which opened
on the stairs directly from the kitchen.
and started down with him close On
her heels. He did not proceed farther
than the door at the foot. Gazing into
the damp. gloomy beyond he grunted
with satisfaction.
Say" he growled, as he STONED
seems to me this is just about the
kino Of place an old addle-head like
you oughter live in-along with yer
dear little kitties. Yer amt fit fer hu-
man society, that's straight So I'm,
agunter leave yer here And when yeh
mind runs out of other pleasant things
TO think of-haw yer en- do Jest as yer
wanter. bein' human. not a cat. and all
Itdl-Sef Cali jest 1emSmDe that that
sick young feller yer turned away is
dead. He died jest down to the corner.
1t was starvation. You killed him
yer high minded, lovely gentle wo-
man."
He shut and hasped the door as he
spoke and hobbled upward to the
kitchen.
This was on Monday On Thursday
morning the neighbers notified the DO
lice that Miss Wetchell had not been
seen around her home lately. and after
a conference at the station, il was oe-
cided to force an entrance and investi-
gate the suspicious circumstances.
Then Miss Wetchell was found in the
cellar, cowed and frightened. but in
good bodily condition. for the cellar
was well stocked with food and water.
The moment she was released she
rushed into her sleeping room, and no
sooner had entered than she uttered a
shrek of anguish and terror A board
had been removed from the side of the
iisused fireplace. revealing cavity
behind. which was now empty. All her
ready money and all her teWelry had
been taken. she lamented, and she had
nothing left to live on.
Then she told her story and the DO
lice Spending the net for the criminal
N.I -.