The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-11-21

the bathroom window, whence my vision
of few months before had been seen.
Whenever lay awake, went some time
during the night and stared out toward
that uncanny lodging house. Night after
night ] saw nothing, and turned away,
relieved at the assurance that one symp.
tom Of my former illness was wanting.
Finally, at 1 o'clock on cool April
morning, after three hours Of vain toss.
ing in bed, entered the bathroom, with
my eyes directed toward the house. For
an instant ] could not credit the vision
that met my gaze. On the luminous cur
tain where had seen the shadow panto.
mime before. the same tragedy was being
enacted. This time had arriveda little
later in the progress of the scene, for all
| saw was the falling woman and the
withdrawn dagger in the hand of her
companion. The man stopped. as before,
toward his victim, and ! waited to see
him rise, in hopes Of obtaining some as.
surance that what had seen was real
saw nothing further. II the shadowy
slayer had stopped to real victim, he
must have risen in such spot that hi,
figure was not brought again before the
light and the curtain.
Filled with forcboiings Of new i'll.
ness, awokc Holt and told my vision.
We went TO the window, looked toward
the lodging house, and saw only the faint
CLEAN Of unlightcq paues. Holt gave
me an opiate, and next morning the doc
tor had me removed to the country.
remained out of town all summer,
bathing, fishing and boating. For three
months went TO bed tired every night.
and slept ten hours. Then took long
sea voyage, and arrived back in about
the middle of September, more robust
than had ever been before. Holt and
laughed at the old hallucinatiou, aud the
doctor rallied me considerably upon my
detective spirit of the winter before. On
the first night in my lodgings forgot
the fatcful window, and slept without
disturbance. The next night, however,
| came in late, and yielded to a sudden
whim that led me to the bathroom win
dow.
As ! entered the bathroom | looked
over toward the lodging house. and gave
n little start st seeing light in the very
apartment that had so long possessed for
me fascinating interest. The night
was warm, and the window whence the
light shone was hoisted. The curtains
were drawn also, and could see pretty
clearly man and woman sitting oppo-
site each other near the center of the
room. | shivcred a little on discovering
that the couple were very like those of
As gazed saw the woman suddenly
start toward her companion with some
cleaning weapon in her upraised hand.
felt my heart quicken and my breath
rome thick. The man rose to receive
the attack. and | saw shining dagger
plunged into her bosom. Trembling
with horror, was about to cry out, when
4 hearty, natural laugh burst upon my cm
from the hall.
On looking round saw my friend
Holt in the doorway.
"Merciful powers, man, did you see
hat" | gasped.
Certainly" he said, with another
augh.
"Then how can You stand there laugh.
ngl If we both saw ii there can be nc
ioubt Of its reality"
"It was real and unreal, old man
Your sight is vindicated and the doctor
md ! are put to shame, bat there is no |
'MiSe for horror. See, the light has been
urncd ont and there is nothing more to
,c learned. Take something 20 steady |
'our nerves and I'll explain the mystery"
Wondering at his language. but con-
iderably reassured, followed him to his
oom, and sat down.
"Now," said Holt, ''thc thing you saw
o-night' q shuddered again ms he spoke) !
and on two other occasions is easily cx-
blamed. James Carr and his wife, who
ave lived in that apartment off and on
or eight months, are known to many
hcatre- goers here and elsewhere AS
Arthur Leroy and Mile. Picard. What
'ou saw tonight was rehearsal of an
Incident in n play which is to be pro-
luccd at the " Theatre early next
week. You'll find the very scene on
lo2en boardings in the streets. It's a
Iuarrcl. The woman attacks the man
With pair of scissors, and he responds
With dagger. The play was produced
u the provinces last winter, and at one
n two watering places in the summer.
tou've seen three rehearsals."
"Holt, don't believe you, 4" I cried, as
t flashed upon me that my old illness was
eturning, and that Holt had taken this
method Of diverting my mind from the
calamity.
Holt promptly went over the whole
occurrence and his description differed
n no important feature from my own
'ision.
On the next day I went round to my
loctor, laughed at his learning, and ac-
.epted his apologies for the dscredit he
lad cast upon my visual sanity.
That evening at dinner while reading
N afternoon paper / came upon con-
picuous heading in these words: "Slain '
It Rehearsal" | started, read on, and
discovered that James Carr, alias Arthur
.eroy, had killed his wife the night be-
ore in their rooms in c. street.
Then ! knew that Holt and l had ac-
ually seen the crime committed.
According to the newspapers account,
jarr, on being arrested, had confessed
he homicide and pleaded self defense.
lie had been married five wears, but he