The Case of Kate 



sure I did hear tonight it will be re- 

 peated. Of that we may be absolutely- 

 sure. If it is not, then we shall know 

 that I was only dreaming." 



I knew from past experience that 

 there would be no further evidence 

 that evening of the presence of the 

 only one in the world who each year 

 thus heralds his coming, and so I was 

 not at all surprised that the only fur- 

 ther sound that broke the silence of 

 the night in question was a sudden 

 piercing scream, followed by a series 

 of muffled tremulous notes that came 

 from the black cover of the trees on 

 neighbor Alexander's place. There 

 could be no mistaking that. A pre- 

 datory undesirable citizen of the forest 

 of whose nocturnal habits and wan- 

 derings we do not approve — brer owl — 

 had possibly made a kill. Presently 

 this was heard again in the farther 

 distance. Then all was still. 



At almost precisely the same hour 

 on the following night Billy called : 



[63] 



