Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1900-11-15
THE WINDOWS OPPOSITE
BY CHARLES B. LEWIS.

%94@4@&&@14.S>a9aa44@@.@~@
l had been knocked down by cab
on the streets of Paris and taken to a
hospital. | was hurt about the head
and shoulders, and, though l had no
broken bones to mend, l was so badly
bruised that the surgeon told me
wouldn't get out for a month. Hard
up though l was in financial sense,
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.
jured man is a monotonous one. After
the first three or four days they put
me on full diet and gave me books to
read, but l could not leave my bed, and
it 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. | could not see
the street from my window as | sat
propped up on my cot. The only sight
to greet my vision was quaint old
house opposite. The structure was
two stories high, and | could see the
upper halves of four windows. The
house looked to have been built 100
years ago and was in sad state If
neglect and untenanted. l don't know
why | should have been interested in
that house except that.a sick man will
version. l saw by the state of the win
dows that the house was tenautleSs,
and vet l had the curiosity to question
the nurse about It.
"That house has been empty for
many years." she replied, land rs it s
in law if 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. | have often
wondered if the place has not ghost"
fell into the habit of watching those
four windows as closely as if had
been employed as Waterman. II
seemed that if waited long enough I
should see face at one of them. When
evening came, there was an electric
light somewhere which struck the front
OF the old house, and | would watch
those windows until the nurse enioined
me to turn away and go to sleep. 1t
got so at last that felt certain of max
ing discovery, and one evening" whap
[ had been in the hospital nine or TEL
days. the face | had looked for appear
ed at one of the middle windows. II
w9s that of a man.
The window was $50 feet from me-
but by The assistance of the electric
light / made out the face very clearly
It came into view gradually ar if the
man slowly advanced across the room,
and it remained at the paneless sash
for a full minute. It was the face Of
an evil man. 1t was darE and bearded,
and the eyes Travelled up ard down and
across the street as if looking for dan
ger. Whoever the man was he was no
tramp, nor had he a lawful right In ,
that house. AS he left the window
called TO the nurse ard told her of lis !
presence, but she laughed and replied: |
"Ah, but we are not to concern our. |
selves about what goes Oh over there. |
II IT Is some prowler who has broken |
IN. the police must take care of him"
now had something to occupy my
Full attention, and I gave up every
thing to watch the windows opposite.
Nothing appeared next day, bnt at
about half past 8 O'clock in the even
me l saw the same face again. There
was more holiness in the way the man
approached the window, and he seem
I'd to feel himself more secure as be
surveyed the street. If he were not
fugitive in hiding, why should he be
,aking peeps at the neighborhood'
TsgahOnd, having entered to obtain
shelter for the right, would keep clear
" the windows. On this second night
he man seemed to be looking intently
vt the sidewalk running in front of the
hospital, and by and by he started and
'urned away as If he had received
some signal. When the nurse came,
old her of the incident. She was as
much amused as before.
You certainly have a mind for mys-
cries" she laughed, but if YOU be-
come too interested you will develop
lever and have pullback. When you
are able to leave us. you can tell the
police about the man. who will probs-
ply turn ont to be shadow"
l gave the windows but little etten-
ton in the daytime after that, The
lace appeared on the third evening at
The same hour, and felt so sure that
confederate made signals from the ,
sidewalk that l took convalescent in
TO my confidence He wss an old SOL
1ier who was being treated for on old |
wound and was allowed the run Of the [
place. l told him of the face and the
and he was Interested at
once II was arranged that he should
be In front of the hospital at half past
: and watch for the confederate, and
luck attended him. He saw well
dressed but evi' looking mar make
signals to the man at the window. The
signals were made with folded news
paper and would not have been noticed
BY any one not on the watch for them.
snow, then" said the old soldier -