The Washington times., 1907-08-11

come OF that sick boy yer sent away
hungry. on top Of tongue lashin'?''
She was not following him in the
least. Her mind was deeply intent on
turing over various plans Of escapes
or calling help. but his words set Vi
brating within her certain chords OF
argument which. from long use. acted
mechanically when touched, and she
said. hardly conscious that she was
speaking:
"a man has free will He can take
care OF himself II he doesn't IL is
his own fault and he doesn't deserve
help. If a 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 a howl OF rage Hobus threw
himself upon her. and. seizing her
wrists. bent and twisted her arms
back until the joints cracked and she
sank 10 her knees on the floor.
Humans has got free Will. has
they? On, yes. humans can do jest
what they want TO. III bait III
bait you can do just what yer wants 10
now A lot you know about what
humans en- do. 1 wish you had 70 20
through what I had. that's aI-yer
Ign rent old cross atween a rhinoceros
and a Jackassi You stand Up here
and fry them aigs, and when you say
anything you talk sense. or III know
the reason why"
He flung her hands down. and as she
rose quickly. stood glartng at her.
Then. as she spaded out the ham into
a plate. setting It on the range 70
keep hot. and broke the eggs into the
griddle. ne resumed his seat. NUT
tering and growing. She went on
with her work as II nothing had hap
pened, perfectly cowed, anxious 20 cor
ciliate him
do you Ike your eggs tUrned7" she
asked. looking Up and hanging on his
answer as II IL were a matter OF inter
national Importance.
Give 'em here Jest 3 they be- he
growled. hitching his chair TO the table.
He ate voraciously. leaving not a SCRAP
behind. while she. waited on him as
Giduously. Once she started TO another
room. ostensibly for the sugar. but
he scowled and motioned, and she re-
turned instantly.
You got any more cats. In the
hOuse?" he asked abruptly. when he
had tapped his plate clean.
Yes, 7 have seven" she answered
promptly. 7 expect a man from the
animal home 20 call for them any mo-
ment. I sent for him yesterday"
He examined her narrowly.
Yer sech e liar that dunno how
Z take yer Yer said there was family
upstairs, and there aln't. dunno
whether there's man comm er not,
-. q
I wanter see en-
They are IN the cellar she said.
''wal. come on. show EN- TO me-"
he commanded. rising.
She was greatly pertUrbed over the
thought OF being alone IN the cellar
with this horrible vagrant that she
forgot the lamp, which was necessary
70 dispel the gloom Of the windowless
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 pro-
ceed farther than the door at the foot.
Gazing into the damp. gloomy beyond.
he grunted with satisfaction.
Say" he growled. as he stopped,
''Reens 10 ne this Is just about the
kind Of a place en- old aidle-head ike
you oughter live in-along with yer
dear little kitties. Yer amt At fer
human society. that's straight So I'm
agonter leave yer here, And when
yer mind runs out OF other pleasant
things TO think of--how yer en- DO Jest
as yer wonter, bein' human not cat,
and al that-yer can jest remember
10 Rn 81 Al al
away is dead. He died Jest down to
the corner. II was starvation. You
killed Eim-yer hish-minded. lovely
Eentlewoman.'
He shut and hasped the door as he
spoke and hobbled upward 10 the
kitchen.
This Was on Monday. On Thursday
morning the neighbors notified the po-
ice that Miss wetcheI had not been
seen around her home lately, and.
after a conference at the station, II
was decided TO force an entrance and
investigate the suspicious circum-
stances. Then Miss Wetcheu wGs
found IN the cellar cowed and fright
ened. but in good bodily condition, for
the cellar was we'll stocked with food
and water The moment she was re-
lessed 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 disused fireplace,
revealing a cavity behind, which was
now empty. All her ready money and
all her jewelry had been taken. she
lamented, and che had nothing left &c
live on.
Then she told her story, and the po-
lice. spreading the net for the crimi-
nal. had HObus IN charge inside OF
twenty-four hours.
But the story OF HObus differed me-.
terlally from that Of Mics WetcheU.
In the first place, he declared thai
he had not taken a thing out OF the
house except the diner she had giveI
him. Moreover, IL was only for ar
hour or two that she was confined II
tho cellar. not three days, for some
body had come and let her out. He
fad been there at the time, and IL was
the arrival Of this somebody that had
frightened him away.
OF course, he was not believed. But
though he vas given the third de
gree IN the endeavor 70 sweat th'
truth from him. he stuck 10 hi!
original statement and would no
uvOrd cf said