The Pulaskian., 1920-09-16
CHAPTER v.

ticle in the ghost story l am ration
alistic But7ss the legend OF rthe pond
took shape, Hy imagination began to
give substance to it's shadows.
Yet the place was genial ana cordial.
Mr.. Sidney's joviality was the dora
inant note in the house. An aging sick
man miglst naourally have been testy..
He might have been impatient, have.
had whims aad 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 a yellow Persian cat rested on
his knees. 1t was difficult If not
dangerous matter for any one else than
Mr. Sidney to touch the cat, named
Algol
"The Winking Demon" said Mr..
Sidney, lingering the cats ruff as it
lay on his lap, and purred. knew just
enough ofAthe star AIgol and its rari
ability to understand the whimsicality
of an old mans naming a cat for the
winkng sHn. AlgoI in Mr.. Sidney's
lap blinked at me. and the old mans
genius for understanding and classi
fcation seemed u1eanny.
Mr.. Sidney's room was of great size.
1t had two firepIaces and a large cove
of windows bullying toward the west
At the smaller of the two fireplaces
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 eat MIR. Sid
rey had three eanaries I'm the room.
Aigol respected them after a fashion
that I thought uncertain. have seen
a canary sitting en- the cats head, but
L thought it was decided case of mis-
placed confidence. Algol wanted that
canary and would continue to want it.
He was deferred from natural action
In the matter by his affection aor the
strange but kindly master who want
ed cats and eanaries TO live together ia
amitX.
I know I .neyer fully grasped Mr..
Sidney's scheme of life, but l thought
that he found existence ironic. 4Iis
graciousness and his Gheerfulness, I
thought. represented the garlands Of
his conquest of morbidIny. His per-
sonal charm was sextraordinary. Every
one in the house felt it. Bat an aston
ashing thing about Mr.. Sidaey was an
occasional emotion which. as it msni-
tested itsesf in his expresss0ns-bnd
that was the only fashion saw it Cor
a long time--was one of savage h"te.
1t was only by comkng on hia when
he was not expecting me that i saw
this. I remember that the first time
saw the expression on lais face / was
dumfounded. That | was NOT expected
in his room was entirely without inNen-
ton on nay 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-ro0m he Insisted should be
open without formaliEy
On the occasion l speak of had come
In quietly, but it was without intention
to surprise my patient. He was sitting
la his large chair with Algol on his
knees. His eyes were closed, and on
his face was an expression Of malevol-
ence that was almost demoniac. 1t
was so startling that the sight of it
stopped me in my step and made me
feel more than uneasy. almost afraid.
Mr.. Sidney was quiet, except that with
hn c+pAIyAa AIOni ahOHf the
head AID, ears. The caress was al
most inrperceptible In motion, but AL
gol was purring SO loudly that the
sound filled the otherwise quiet room.
The malevolence-th malignancy,
hatred, concentrated essence of feroc-
ity--in Mr.. Sidney's face would have
stopped anyone. To one who had af-
lection for him as I had, it was alb
horrent to see him so. 1t was con-
fession of something l did not want
10 know.
/ was in fear that he might hear me
and, opening his eyes, find that | had
discovered him. l was embarrassed
and uncertain what to do. 1t was a
silly predicament, as / saw afterward.
NY part was quite simple. I should
have paid no attention to any such
phenomenon as the expression on a
mans face and have acted perfectly
naturally.
The common-sense thing-and | con-
slider myself fairly sensible-was APP
parent afterward It indicates the as
fonfshing shock of the thing that was
unable to act sensiby. What was the
expression in an amiable, charming
mans face, to kSock a sensible person
out of all his senses? Here was
doing man merely toying with cats
ears. and the very sight Of what was
expressed in bis face, made nae numb.
| cannot understand It now the ter
rifvine sensation being one which dis
appeared as the recollection OF the
emotions faded What ! did was 70
hack toward tie door, open it as avlef-
.fa no asr n,1f and Their re-