that so far as he could recall it had eaten almost nothing he had set out for it since his aunt's death. Even then, the affair did not really bother him much. It was just an irritant in the back of his mind. Nevertheless, some time later he had an experience which definitely upset him. There was certainly nothing very unusual about it--and he felt a little like a fool at times when he realized how he permitted the incident to prey on him. He had gone to bed late and had had a vague but unpleasant dream. It seemed that he was lying somewhere in the darkness unable to move, pinned down by a deadly paralysis, a smothering weight. He awoke suddenly drenched with sweat and saw two yellow eyes staring into his own. For just a moment he was on the verge of a scream; then he remembered the cat and felt at once relieved and rather angry. The beast was lying flat on his chest and made no move until he swung his arms and swept it roughly to the floor. It sprang toward the door, turned once and scurried down the hall. The next morning he laughed at himself. The cat had often slept on his aunt's bed and had happened to climb up on his for a cozy place to spend the night. He felt uneasy though, when he recalled how wide-awake the cat had been when he opened his eyes. For well over a week nothing further happened to upset him. The cat skulked out of sight most of the time. Then he had an experience which thoroughly frightened him and he determined to get rid of his aunt's old pet. Again he had a dream. Again he was in darkness. And this time he was being smothered. He was rigid, unable to stir, struggling to breathe, and there was no air to be had. He awoke as before, suddenly, cold with sweat, and felt his spine tingle when he realized that something soft and black was pressed firmly against his face. He sat up violently and groped wildly for the switch. Something plopped on the floor just as light flooded the room and then the cat paused at the door as before, turned its yellow eyes on him and disappeared. He sat still for some minutes, while his head whirled. He was frightened and shocked at the things which he dared not admit to himself and now a determined rage took possession of him. The next day did not shake his determination. He brooded about the cat and purposely planned his work so that he could leave early. He let himself in quietly, entered the kitchen and picked up the iron poker, and then softly started down the cellar stairs. It was here the cat usually hid itself when it sensed his approach. Pressing the light switch at the bottom, he quickly crossed toward the coal bins. He had left some wooden crates piled near a window in one of the bins and now in the light he saw the cat's yellow eyes shining behind the bottom slats. Springing toward 

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