The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-02-18

Q nsue Gfawes. We MAJ decSoea 70
stay all sight, there being nothing
else to Do. suggested q game Of
| Nouble-dunny bridge, but did not
urge 1t when my companion asked II
It resembled euchre. Gradually, ~
the ecclesiastical candle palsA in the
freight, We grew drowsy. drew
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 IRE. smoking . pipe.
have NO idea how much time had
passed when something threw itself
violently on my chest. I reused with
q start and leaped ON my feet, and q
large Angora cat fell with q thump
to the floor. The IRE 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
The curtain at the door into the
hallway bellied slowly out into the
room and fell again. The cat looked
toward it and opened its mouth for
another howl. l thrust at it with my
foot, but it refused to move. Hotch-
kiss stirred uneasily, and his pipe clat-
tered to the floor.
The cat was standing at my feet,
staring behind me. Apparently it was
following with it's eyes an object I'M
seen to me, that moved behind me.
The tip of it's tail waved threatening
ly, but when wheeled / saw nothing.
took the candle and made a circuit
OF the room. Behind the curtain that
had moved the door was securely
closed. The windows were shut and
locked, and everywhere the silence
was absolute The cat followed me
majestically. l stopped and stroked
its head, but it persisted in its uncan-
ny watching of the corners of the
room.
When l went back to my divan. aft
er putting a fresh log on the fire,
was treasured. l took the precaution
and smiled at myself for doing it, te
put the fire tongs within reach Of my
hand. But the cat would not let me
sleep. After a time l decided that II
wanted water, and l started out in
search of some, carrying the candle
without the stand. l wandered
through several rooms, all closed ant
dismantled, before l found small
lavatory opening off billiard room
The cat Tapped steadily and I fillet
a glass to take back with me. Thu
; candle fickered in a sickly fashion
that threatened to leave me there los
in the wanderings of the many hall
ways, and from somewhere Their
came an occasional violent puff O
wind The cat stuck by my feet, wit
the hair on it's back raised menacine
ly l don't like cats; there is some
: thing psychic about them.
Hotchkiss was still asleep when
got back to the big room. | move
i his boots back from the fire an
: trimmed the candle. Then, with slice
> gone from me, lay back on my diva
and reflected on many things; o
my idiocy in coming; on Alison Yves
- and the fact that only week befoI
she had been guest in this yer
!. house; on Richey and the constraiI
II that had come between us. From tia
l drifted back to Alison, and to tn
y barrier my comparative poverty woul
>. be.
y The emptiness, the stiffness wei
oppressive. Once l heard footsteI
coming, rhythmieal steps that neitht
hurried nor dragged, and seemed
mount endless staircases witho,
I, coming any closer. / realized final
= that had not quite turned of the ia
!. and that the lavatery, which had CT
. cled to reach, must be quite close.
= The cat lay BY the fire, it's nose c
its folded paws, content in the warmt
and companionship. l watched II idl
, Now and then the green weed hisse