The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-15

else to do. 7 suggested game OF
6cahlo dummy bridge but did not
urge il when MY companion asked il
It resembled euchre. Gradually as
the ecclesiastical candle paled in the
iirelight we grew drowsy. drew a
divan into the cheerful area and
stretched myself out for sleep. Hotch
Kiss who said the pain in his leg
made him wakeful, sat wide-eyed by
the fire, smoking a pipe.
J have no idea how much time had
passed when something threw itself
violently on my chest. ! reused with
start and leaped on my feet, and a
large Angora eat fell with thump
70 the floor The fire was still bright,
and there was an odor Of scorched
leather through the room, from Hotch-
kiss shoes. The little detective was
sound asleep, his dead pipe in his
fingers The cat sat back on its
launches and walled
Tile curtain at the door into the
hallway belied slowly out into the
room ana fell againrg The cat looked
toward il ana opened its mouth for
another howl thrust at it with my
foot, but it refused to move. Hotch-
kiss stirred uneaslly, and his pipe clat.
tered to the floor
The cat was standing at my feet,
staring behind me. Apparently it was
following with its eyes an object un-
seen to me, that moved behind me-
The tip Of its tail waved threatening
ly, but when | wheeled saw nothing
| took the candle and made circuit
OF the room Behind the curtain that
lad moved the door was securely
closed. The windows were shut and
locked, and everywhere the silence
was absolute The cat followed me
majestically. ! stopped and stroked
its head, but 1t persisted in It's unean-
ny watching OF the corners Of the
room.
When | went back to my diyan, aft
er putting fresh log on the fire. |
was reassured. | took the precaution,
and smiled at myself for doing it. to
put the fire tongs within reach Of my
hand But the cat would not let me
sleep. After a time decided that it
wanted water, and | started out in
search of some, carrying the candle
without the stand wandered
through several rooms, all closed and
dismantled, before ! found small
layatory opening off billiard room.
The cat Tapped steadily and filled
glass to take back with me. The
candle hickered in sickly fashion
that threatened to leave me there lost
in the yanderings Of the many hall
ways, and from somewhere there
came an occasional violent puff OF
wind. The cat stuck by my feet. with
the hair on its back raised menacing-
ly | don't like cats6 there is some.
thing psychic about them
Hotchkiss was still asleep when
got back to the big room ! moved
his boots back from the fire and
trimmed the candle Then, with sleeI
gone from me, lay back on my divan
and reflected on many things, on
my diocy in coming; on Alison West
and the fact that only week before
she had been guest in this very
house; ON Richey and the constraint
that had come between us. From that
/ drifted back to Alison, and to the
barrier my comparative poverty would
be.
The emptiness, the stiffness were
oppressive once | heard footsteps
coming, rhythmical steps that neither
hurried nor dragged, and seemed tC
mouu, endless staircases without
coming any closer ! realized finally
that had not quite turned off the tap
and that the layatory which had cir
clod to reach, must be quite close.
The eat lay by the fire, It's nose oI
its folded paws, content in the warmth
aud companionship. | watched 1t IDLY
Now and then the green wood hisseS