The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-24
Ic,pyright 1895. by Bachelor. Johnson
and Bacheller.)
PART 1.

pearance in great
CITY where the inevitable brown stone
holds dominant sway i'm the endless
rows of streets. and where even an ir-
regularity in the bell pull is conspicu-
ous.
The air of complete desertion and sol
itude which hung about the place IN
street where everything else was tecm-
ing with energy and life had often
called forth wandering speculation 10
NV mind. wondered how long it had
stood so, idle-what state of former
,nagniicence, now falling To decay, was
hidden behind those green shutters;
whether il would ever again throw
them open 10 the air and sunny cheer
& 1niness which it's neighbors enjoyed.
l was at the time junior member of
private firm of detectives with head
quarters i'm Fifth street, and with. on
my own part, "A vast amount of conceit
concerning the Importance of my
chosen profession. ! had, rs il then
seemed to me, "a natural bent toward
the foxy game of getting in my nose
and then making the body follow;
s while fondness for adventure and a
leaning toward anything in the way OF
The mysterious gave me the notion that
K was particularly adapted to the work.
] was. BESIDES "A young man OF strong
athletic habit. energetic and deter
mined 10 make my mark in the world,
my fortune, which usually is put for
ward first, being already sufficiently as
surcd.
ffvrd I'm buchrfor apartment ia
East 36th street IL had been my home
for three years. and il was, therefore,
with good deal of annoyance ard
chngrin that received from my land
lord. at the end Of this time. the in
1cllicence that no leases were 10 be re-
ncwed, as the old building was about
10 give place TO new business block.
had therefore. 10 look about for
new place i'm which TO set up my PEN
ntes. and in this quest my late landlord
was abl- to render me good service.
He recommended 10 me "A house which
stood directly facing my friend of the
Green Blinds. Upon investigation I
found the place 10 be admirably suited
10 my needs. and week later found me
as comfortably installed in my new
quarters as a young bachelor could
hope TO be. In order. however. to escape
from the actual moving of my effects
from the old place to the new. had left
everything TO the merces of the van
men. and elected to spend the eventful
day In playing tennis at the G. club.
up the river. From this place returned
nt night, accompanied 10y a severe and
obstinate attack of In grip~c. In the
ten days confinement 20 my new home
which followed. | frequently amused
myself i'm spcculating about my visa
Wis. 1t was. 10 tell the truth. an or
dinary house enough. brown stone, like
its neighbors. with the usual four
stories. the heavy outside shutters, al
ways SO tightly closed, being it's most
distinctive feature. The entrance was
boarded over on line with the vesti-
bule. while even the area region pre-
aented no sign OF occupancy.
The entire blanlSness which the front
thus presented TO my view had the ef-
feet of annoying my weakened sensi-
bifities tn such Il tiryrt.t,- THAT the taina
became positive fascination 10 me-
could scarcely keep my eyes or even my
mind oil il. For hours az time. pre-
vented rs ! was by an illness from any
more serious diversion, sat i'm my
window. gazing across the hot street.
Sometimes ! smoked. oftener did moth
ing. until the lazy action o. the light or
the soothing monotony OF the street
sounds lured me finally 60 sleep.
IL was when i'm this semi-somnolent
condition one afternoon at the end of
my convalescence, that | was startled
by "A very unusual manifestation Ny
half closedeycs had been lazily scanning
the green blinds for some moments
when. suddenly, one OF the blinds on
The third story middle window opened
To Us full width. disclosing to my view
the head and shoulders of a man. For
an instant j saw him plainly. \
strange figure. small judging his
height from that of the window-a
dried. attenuated face, with sharp eyes
g,ancinC this way and that, "A white
shirt on bed gown seemingly his main
attire. while cotton night cap ludi-
crously framed his face. After a hurried
scrutiny of the street his eyes fastened
'nehAelNeS upon myself: thin, nerv-
Gus hand went with ha'f hesitating
movement two or three times across his
forehead. and then the blinds closed
with a snap, leaving the space blank
and impenetrablc as before. Being half
inclined so doubt the evidence of my
own senses and 20 think tnat | had
been dreaming, for some minutes al
lowed mvSelf to watch cpnSnicuonsi,,
for repetition of this strange occur
renee. Nothing more, however. np-
peared.
On the third day. with my breakfast,
letter was brought Co me. II was un-
addressed. and the maid told me that
messenger boy had just left II. with the
instruction that IL was go be given to
tiI~ ccntIemnn In the third floor front
Aron osscninkll lOun't . ~ilsctuf tuis.N
white note paper upoD which wns