The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-05-07
THt WINDOWS OPPOSITE
BY CHARLES B. LEWIS.

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 had been knocked down by a cab on the streets ot Paris and taken to a hospital | was hurt about the head and shoulders. and. though 1 had no broken bones ta mend. was so badly bruised that 'he surgeon told me l wouldn't get ont for month. Hard up though | wi.s In financial sense, l had enough nancy in my pocket to set me Into a pay ward. and they gave me one of the II cots on the third floor front. It was summer. and ! was close to the seventh window. counting from the left
 The routine Of a hospital for an in' iured 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 could not leave my bed. and lt was against the rules Co converse with the other patients. lt was read. sleep. thluk and plan. with one visit day from the surgeon. | could not see the street from my window as l sat proppcd Jp on my cot. The only sight Co greet my vision was a quaint old house opposite The structure was two stories high. and l could see the upper halves of fOur windows. The house looked Co have been built 100 years ago and was ln sad state of neglect and unfeuanted l don't know why | should have been interested in that house except that a sick man will turn Co the veriest trlhe Co make a di. version. | saw by the state of the win dows .hpt the hous" was tenantless. and yet had the curiosity Co question the nurse about it.
 That house has been empty for many years" she replied. "and as it Is In law lf 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 Co keep tramps out. have often wondered lf the place has not ghost"
 ten Into the habit of watching thos" rcur windows qs closely as if had been employed as a watchman. lt seemed that lf waited long enough | should sec a face at one of them. When evening came. there was an electric light somewhere which struck tho front of the old house. and l would' watch those windows until the nurse enjOlned me Co turn away and go to sleep. lt got so at last that felt certain of mak- lpg Q discovery. and one evening. when had been ln the hospltrl nine or ter days. the face | had looked for appear cd at one of the middle windows. lt was that of a man.
 The window was 1JO feet from me. but by the assistance of the electric light | made out the face very clearly. lt came into view gradually, as if the man slowly advanced across the room, and lt remained at the paneless sash Cor a full minute lt was the face of an evil man. It was dark and bearded, and the eyes trayeled up and down and across the street as 1T looking for dan ger. Whoever the man was he was no tramn. nor had he a lawful right in that house. As he left the window l eaucd to the nurse and told her of hls presence. but she laughed and replied:
 "Ah. but we are not Co concern our selves about what goes on over there If it Is some prowler who has broken ln. the police must take care of him."
 now had something Co occupy my ruIl attention. and l gave up every thing Co watch the windows opposite Nothing appeared next day. but at about half past s o'clock in the even Ing saw the same face again. There was more boldness In the way the man approached the window. and be seem- ed Co feel himself more secure as be surveyed the street. IT be were not o fugitive In hiding. why should be be taking peeps at the neighborhoodf A vagabond. having entered to obtain shelter for the plight. would keep clear of the windows. On this second night the Gan seemed Co be looking lntently at the sidewalk running In front of the hospital. and by and by he started and turned away as if he had received some signal When the nurse came, l ,old her of tho incident She was as much amused as before.
 "You certainly hsve a mlnd for mys- teries." she laughed but 1T you be- come too interested you will develop a fever and have a pullback. When you are able to leave us. you can tell the police about the man. who will proba- bly, turn out to be a shadow"
 gave the vi. dows but little atten- ton In the daytime after that The tace appeared on the third eyeDing at the same hour. and felt so sure that confederate made signals from the sidewalk that I took a conyalescent in- Co my confidence. He was an old sol dier who was being treated for an old wound and was allowed the run of the place. told him of the face and the confederate, and be was Interested at once. It was arranged that he should be in front of the hospital at half past 8 and watch for the confederate, and