The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-12-30
CHAPTER v.

ucle IN the ghoSt story. i am ration
alistic. But as the legend of the pond
took shape, my Imagination began to
give substance to its shadows.
Yet the place was genial and cordial.
Mr.. Sidney's joviallty was the DOM
inant note in the house. An aging sick
man mlglx naturally have been testy.
He might have been impatient, have
had whlms and crochets. He might
have been irascible In his demands
upon and acceptance of service. But
Mr.. Sidney was always cordial and
considerate. A great deal of the time
he spent in bed. When he was not in
bed, he sat In great chair, and very
often yellow Persian cat rested on
his knees. 1t was a difficult II lot
dangerous matter for any one else than
Mr.. Sidney to touch the cat, named
Algol.
"The Wlnking Demon" said
Sidney. lingering the cats ruff
lay on his lap, and purred. l knd
enough of the star Aigol and its u
ability to understand the whlmsicality
Of an old mans naming cat for the
wlnking sun. Algol In Mr.. Sldney's
lap blinked at me, and the old mans
genius for understanding and classi-
fication seemed u1canny.
Mr.. Sldney's room was of great size.
It had two fireplaces and a large cove
of windows bulging toward the west.
At the smaller of the two flreplaces
he had his breakfast. Either at the
large fireplace or in the outward bulge
of windows, he had his dinner.
In spite of the Persian cat, Mr.. Sid
ney had three canaries In the room.
Algol respected them after fashion
that thought uncertain. / have seen
canary sitting on the cats head, but
I thought 1t was decided case of mis-
placed confidence. Algol wanted that
canary and would continue to want 1t.
He was deferred from natural action
| In the matter by his affection for the
strange but kindly master who want
! ed cats and canarles to live together In
amity.
know l never fully grasped Mr..
Sidneys scheme of life, but l thought
that he found existence ironic. His
graciousness and his cheerfulness,
thought represented the garlands of
his conquest of morbldity. His per-
sonal charm was extraordinary. Every
one In the house felt 1t. But an aston
ishlng thing about Mr.. Sidney was an
occasional emotion which, as 1t mani
tested itself in his expressions-and
that was the only fashion ! saw 1t for
long time-was one of savage hate
II was only by coming on him when
he was not expecting me that / saw
this. / remember that the first time
| saw the expression on his face l was
dumfounded. That / was not expected
in his room was entirely without inten
ton on my part. People who were &C
customed to being with him walked
Into the room without ceremony. His
bedroom and bath were to one side
His living-room he insisted should bs
open without formality.
On the occasion speak of l had come
in quietly, but 1t was without intention
to surprise my patient. He was sitting
In his large chair with Algol on hi
knees. His eyes were closed, and OF
his face was an expression of malevol
ence that was almost demoniac. i
was so startling that the sight OF l
stopped me In my step and made m'
feel more than uneasy, almost afraid
Mr.. Sidney was quiet. except that win
one hand he stroked Algol about tn
head and ears. The caress was al
most imperceptible In motion, but Al
gol was purring so loudly that tn
sound filed the otherwise quiet room.
The INTERCHANGEABLE malignancy
hatred, concentrated essence OF feroc
Ity--in Mr.. Sidney's face would hav
stopped anyone. To one who had af
fection for him as ] had, II was ah
horrent TO see him so. II was a con
fesslon Of something / did not wan
To know.
| was in fear that he might hear m
and, opening his eyes, find that ha
discovered him. was embarrasse
and uncertain what to do II was
silly predlcament, as | saw afterwart
NV part was quite simple. l shoul
have paid no attention to any sue
phenomenon as the expression on
mans face and have acted perfect
naturally.
The common-sense thing-and / cor
slider myself fairly sensible-was al
parent afterward. II indicates the al
tonishIng shock Of the thing that wa
unable to act sensibly. What was tn
expression in an amiable, cbarmin
mans face, to knock a sensible perso
out of all his sensesi Here was
doing man merely toying with cat
, ears, and tine very sight Of what wa
: expressed in his face, made me NUM-
/ cannot understand II now, the te
! rifying sensation being one which di
: appeared as the recollection Of II
/ emotions faded. What l did was
back toward the door, open 1t as quie
/ ly as / could. back out, and then n
| enter the room noisily.
Mr.. Sidney was looking at me sm'