The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-12-28
THE WINDOWS OPPOSITE
BY CHARLES B. LEWIS,

ulu Deeu huOCheu uOWu ny q CuD
on the streets of Paris and taken to a
hospital I was hurt about the head
and shoulders, and, though had no
broken bones to mend, was SO badly
bruised that the surgeon told me I
wouldn't get out for q month. Hard
up though was in a financial sense, 1
had enough money In my pocket to get
me into pay ward, and they gave me
one Of the IA cots on the third floor
front. 1t was summer, and was close
to the seventh window, counting from
the left.
The routine of hospital for an In
the first three or four days they put
me on full diet and gave me books to
read, but could not leave my bed, and
1t was against the rules to converse
with the other patients. 1t was read,
sleep, think and plan, with one visit a
day from the surgeon. l could not see
the street from my window as I sat
propped up on my cot. The only sight
to greet my vision was a quaint old
u'usc OppoSllt. liz bti uCtlIc was
two stories high, and l could see the
upper halves of four windows. The
house looked to hove been built 100
years ago and wes in o sad state Of
neglect and uptenanted. l don't know
why I should have been interested in
that house except that sick man will
turn TO the veriest trifie TO make a d.
version. saw by the state of the win
dows that the house was tenantless.
and vet had the curiosity to question
the nurse about It.
THAT house has been empty for
many years." she replied, "and as 1t is
in law II will probably fall down be-
fore the heirs come into possession.
You cannot see that far down, but the
lower doors and windows are boarded
up to keep tramps out l have often
wondered 1.-THE place has not ghost"
fell into the habit Of watching those
four windows ss, closely as IL had
been employed as Waterman. II
seemed that II waited long enough
should see face at one Of them. When
evening came, there was on electric
light somewhere which struck the front
OF the old house, and l would watch
those windows until the nurse enioined
me to turn away and go to sleep. II
got so at last that felt certain of max
ing discovery, and one evening, when
I had been In the hospital nine or ter
days, the face l had looked for appear
ed at one Of the middle windows. 1t
w9s that Of a man. a
The window was $50 feet from me.
but by the assistance of the electric
light I made out the face very clearly.
1t came into view gradually, as If the
man slowly advanced across the room,
and II remained at the paneless sash
for full minute. 1t was the face Of
an evil man. 1t was dark and bearded,
and the eyes Travelled up and down and
across the street as IL looking for dan
ger. Whoever the man was he was no
tramD, nor had be a lawful right IN
that house. As he left the window I
celled to the nurse ard told her of his
presence, but she laughed and replied:
"Ah, hut we are not to concern our.
selves about what goes on over there.
II II Is some pr"wler who has broken
in. the police must take care of him."
now he'd something to occupy my
full attention, and l gave up every
thing TO watch the windows opposite.
Nothing appeared next day, but at
about half past o'clock in the even
ing saw the same face again. There
was more boldness In the way the man
approached the window, and he seem
ed to feel himself more secure as he
surveyed the street If he were not q
fugitive In hiding. why should he be
taking peeps at the neighborhood' A.
vagabond, having entered to obtain
shelter for the pight. would keep clear
Of the windnws. On this second night
the man seemed to be looking intently
Mt the sidewalk running In front of the
hospital, and by and by he started and
turned away as II he had received
some signal. When the nurse came,
told her Of the incident. She was m
much amused az before.
"Y0u certainly have mind for mys-
teries." she laughed. "but II you be-
come too interested You will develop a
fever and have pullback. When you
are able to leave MS. you can tell the
police about the man, who will proba-
bly, turn out to be a shadow"
! gave the windows but little atten-
ton In the daytime after that. The
face appeared on the third evening at
the same hour, and / felt SO sure that
confederate made signals from the
sidewalk that took convalescent In
to my confidence. He was an old sol
dier who was being treated for on old
wound and was allowed the run of the
place. told him of the face and the
confederate, and he was Interested at
once. 1t was arranged that he sborld
be in front Of the hospital at half past
8 and watch for the confederate, and
luck attended him. He saw well
dressed but evil looking man make
signals to the man at the window. The
signals were made with folded news
pApsr and would not have bean noticed
~ sny ons not On the wateh ter them.
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