Pages 216 - 246 Summary

The wildcat is still on the prowl, searching the countryside for food. She smells some squirrels and goes searching for them, but finds nothing. Instead, an owl screeches and takes her up in its claws to devour her. While Mr. Eller is closing up his shop, he hears the cat's final scream, but it barely causes him to pause.

An agent from the welfare department arrives at the jail to talk to Ownby, ostensibly to prove some assistance to him. He asks him a few basic questions like his age or address, but Ownby, either out of genuine ignorance or just obstinacy, gives only vague answers, if he provides an answer at all. Frequently, he just turns the questions back on the agent, as if they were just casually trying to get to know one another. The agent realizes that Ownby...